Independent, family-owned funeral directors in Heathfield Immediate assistance: 01435 868844 Urgent telephone assistance available 24 hours a day Contact us

Independent family funeral directors in Heathfield

Someone has died — what happens now?

If someone has just died, you may be unsure who to call or what you are expected to decide. You do not need to have arranged anything before speaking to us. Call and we will explain the immediate next steps and what can wait.

For immediate assistance, call us at any time

01435 868844

A member of our family answers urgent funeral calls 24 hours a day.

Call 01435 868844 See what to do next
Stacie answering a telephone call at the Wealden Funeral Services office

What you do not need to decide now

You do not have to arrange the funeral tonight

During the first call, you do not need to choose a coffin, book a venue, select music, decide between burial and cremation or know how much you want to spend.

After the immediate arrangements are complete, we will arrange a separate conversation and guide you through each funeral choice at a manageable pace.

How funeral arrangements work
24-hour telephone help Call us whenever the death occurs
Clear guidance We explain each immediate step
Local family team You speak directly with Wealden
No pressure Funeral choices can wait until you are ready

What to do now

The first steps depend on where the death occurred

Select the situation that most closely matches what has happened. You can still call us immediately if you are uncertain.

At home, when the death was expected

Contact the doctor or appropriate community nursing service if this has not already happened. They will advise on confirming the death and the medical paperwork.

You can call us straight away for guidance. We arrange to bring the person into our care once the relevant professional has confirmed that we may attend.

Read the detailed guidance

In a hospital

The hospital bereavement team will explain the Medical Examiner and certification process, and how to collect personal belongings.

You can contact us before the paperwork is complete. We can begin discussing the next steps and liaise with the hospital when appropriate.

Read the detailed guidance

In a care or nursing home

The care home staff will normally contact the appropriate medical professional and notify the family.

You can choose your funeral director and ask the home to contact us. The first call can be made immediately; we will establish when we are authorised to attend.

Read the detailed guidance

Unexpectedly or in unusual circumstances

Emergency services, the police or the coroner may need to become involved. The person who has died may initially be taken into the coroner's care.

You may still contact us for support. We can explain what is likely to happen and wait for the coroner's authority before proceeding.

Read the detailed guidance

Your first call to us

What we need to know on the first call

You do not need paperwork in front of you. We will listen first and ask a few practical questions. If you do not know an answer, that is fine; we can work through it with you.

We may ask for the name of the person who has died, where they are, when the death occurred, who is present and which medical or official professionals have already been contacted.

You do not need to decide the type of funeral during this call. Immediate care and funeral arrangements are separate stages, and there will be time to discuss the funeral after the urgent steps have been taken.

Where we are able to attend, we will explain what will happen, when we expect to arrive and anything the family needs to prepare.

What happens after the first call

  1. We establish what needs to happen immediately.
  2. We arrange for the person who has died to come into our care when appropriate.
  3. We give you time to speak with family.
  4. We arrange a funeral meeting at a suitable time.
  5. We provide clear choices and a written estimate before arrangements proceed.
What to expect when arranging a funeral

Death at home

When the death was expected

If a person was receiving end-of-life care, the family may already have been told who to contact when the death occurs. This could be a GP, district nurse, hospice team or another authorised healthcare professional.

  1. Contact the appropriate medical professional. They will advise on confirming the death and completing or arranging the medical documentation.
  2. Call Wealden Funeral Services. We will ask what has happened and confirm whether we are able to attend.
  3. Take the time you need. Unless there is a particular reason for urgency, family members can usually spend some time with the person before we arrive.
  4. We bring the person into our care. Our team will attend respectfully and explain what we are doing before we leave.

Where the coroner is not investigating, a Medical Examiner independently reviews the cause of death before registration. This is separate from the immediate steps to bring someone into care. GOV.UK explains the certification and registration process.

If you are uncertain who should confirm the death, telephone us and we will help you identify the appropriate next call.

Death in hospital

The hospital will guide you through its procedure

The ward team will notify the appropriate hospital department. The bereavement office or patient affairs team will then explain the documentation, collection of belongings and any appointment that may be necessary.

You can appoint us as your funeral director before the medical paperwork has been issued. We can begin taking details and wait for the hospital to confirm when the person can be released into our care.

The hospital will explain the Medical Examiner’s review and when you can register the death. You do not need to wait for registration before contacting us.

If the death is referred to the coroner, the hospital will explain this. A referral does not always mean there will be a post-mortem or inquest.

There is usually no need to rush to the hospital solely to appoint a funeral director. Call us when you feel able, and we will explain the next practical steps.

Death in a care home

The care team will normally begin the immediate process

Care and nursing homes usually have established procedures for contacting the appropriate medical professional and the person's family or representative.

The home may ask which funeral director has been chosen. If you would like Wealden Funeral Services to act, either you or the home can call us.

We will confirm that the necessary professional has attended and that we are authorised to bring the person into our care.

You do not have to begin detailed funeral arrangements with the care home. Those conversations will take place privately with our team when you are ready.

Unexpected death

Emergency services or the coroner may take responsibility initially

If someone dies unexpectedly, do not move them unless instructed to do so. Call the emergency services and follow their directions.

The police may attend on behalf of the coroner. Their involvement is a normal part of establishing the circumstances and does not in itself suggest that anything improper has occurred.

The coroner may arrange for the person to be taken to a designated mortuary. The family can still choose Wealden Funeral Services, but we must wait until the coroner gives authority before bringing the person into our care or confirming the funeral date.

You can call us while the coroner's enquiries are continuing. We will explain what can be arranged immediately and what must wait.

Andy carefully preparing the Wealden Funeral Services hearse outside the Heathfield office

Bringing someone into our care

We explain what will happen before we attend

Our team will arrive in a suitable vehicle and introduce themselves to the family or professional responsible at the location.

We work quietly and respectfully. Before doing anything, we explain the process and give the family an opportunity to ask questions or say goodbye.

Personal items can usually remain with the person if the family wishes, although we may advise removing valuable or irreplaceable belongings for safekeeping.

Once the person is in our care, we will contact you to arrange a suitable time to begin discussing the funeral.

How we care for someone who has died

The following days

What will happen after the immediate arrangements

Medical documentation

The Medical Examiner reviews deaths not investigated by a coroner. Wait for confirmation from the Medical Examiner’s office before registering the death.

Registering the death

We will explain whether an appointment is needed and which documents or information the registrar may request.

Meeting the family

We arrange a conversation at our Heathfield office, at home where practical, or through telephone and email.

Planning the funeral

We give you clear choices and a written estimate before arrangements proceed. Read about funeral costs.

Common questions

Questions families often ask immediately after a death

We will ask where the person is and whether the necessary professional has attended. Once we are authorised to act, we will explain the likely attendance time and keep you informed of any change.

In many expected-death situations, yes. We can discuss this with you and advise if there is a medical, practical or official reason why arrangements need to proceed promptly.

No. You can call us immediately. Registration and medical documentation may take place later, depending on the circumstances.

The coroner investigates certain deaths and decides when the person can be released. You can still appoint us and begin discussing arrangements, although the funeral date may need to remain provisional.

Yes. Tell us what you know and we will help you identify the appropriate immediate step. In a medical emergency or where you believe someone may still be alive, call 999 first.

Available at any time

Call us and we will help you through the next step

You do not need to have the paperwork, know the funeral wishes or understand the procedure before contacting us.

Call 01435 868844

Answered 24 hours a day

Call now — 01435 868844