First Steps
What to Do When Someone Dies:
A Guide to Navigating the Process
When a death occurs, it can feel overwhelming. There are many decisions to be made, and it’s important to follow the necessary steps. This guide will help you navigate these important actions, whether the death occurred at home, in a hospital, or elsewhere.
Our funeral directors at Jerh O’Connors Undertakers Cork, want to assist you in making arrangements that suit you. With a choice of funeral home locations in Cork our role is to care for the bereaved and to care for the deceased.
If the Death Occurred at Home
Step 1: Contact the deceased’s GP, who will visit to confirm the death.
Step 2: If the GP is unavailable, an out-of-hours doctor (i.e South Doc) can be contacted to confirm the death. The GP should be informed the next morning.
Step 3: Once the death is confirmed, you can contact Jerh. O’Connor Funeral Homes to begin funeral arrangements.
Step 1: Contact the GP who attended to the deceased. The GP may advise notifying the local Garda station, as they may need to inform the Coroner. If this is the case, the Gardaí will outline the next steps.
Step 2: If the GP is unavailable, an out-of-hours doctor will confirm the death.
Step 3: Contact Jerh. O’Connor Funeral Homes for further guidance, regardless of the circumstances.
There is detailed information available on the Coroners website.
If the Death Occurred in a Hospital, Hospice, or Nursing Home
A doctor or senior nurse will confirm the death and advise the family if a post-mortem examination is required. Regardless of whether a post-mortem is necessary, you should contact Jerh. O’Connor Funeral Homes as soon as possible so we can guide you through the next steps and begin making arrangements.
In some cases a post mortem will be directed by the coroner.
If a post-mortem is required, there is the possibility of a delay by several days, which may be longer over weekends, holidays or other exceptional circumstances.
A post-mortem (autopsy) is a medical examination performed by a pathologist to determine the cause of death.
Most deaths do not require a post-mortem if a doctor can certify the cause of death based on prior medical history.
If the Death Occurred Outside of Ireland
If the death occurred away from home and you plan to repatriate the deceased or have services in your hometown, contact the team at Jerh. O’Connor Funeral Homes. They can facilitate repatriation and coordinate with a funeral home where the death occurred. Learn more here
What to do next
After the death has been confirmed, there are important people and organisations to contact as soon as possible:
- Relatives and Friends: Notify immediate family and friends of the passing.
- Personal Representative: Notify the deceased’s personal representative.
- Employers: Notify the deceased’s employer and the employers of any relatives who will need time off.
- Insurance Agencies: Contact life, health, and accident insurance companies.
- Full legal name (include any “Also Known As” names).
- Date and place of birth.
- PPS number.
- Home address.
Certain documents may be required for insurance, pensions, social welfares etc. These documents may include:
- Will
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- Insurance Policies
- Grave Deeds (if applicable)