How do you register a death in Scotland?
Who can register, what you need, what it costs, and how it works in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
Read the guideThe short answer
When someone dies in hospital or a care home, the staff contact the nearest relative, and a doctor issues the medical certificate of cause of death, which is sent to the registrar. If the death was expected, the person is taken to the hospital mortuary or cared for in the home until the family's funeral director collects them. The family then registers the death, collects the person's belongings and lets the executor deal with any outstanding fees. If the death was sudden or unexplained, it is first reported to the procurator fiscal.
More than half of deaths in Scotland happen in hospitals, hospices and care homes. The staff there deal with the practical and medical steps, which can make the first hours feel strangely out of your hands. This guide explains what happens, what you will be asked to do, and what to keep in mind for the estate.
If someone dies in hospital
- The ward contacts the family. Usually the charge nurse or doctor phones the nearest relative. If you were not there, you can normally visit the ward or the hospital's viewing room to see the person.
- The body is cared for. Staff wash and prepare the person. Tell them about any religious or cultural wishes, as hospitals will make other arrangements where they can.
- The medical certificate is issued. If the death was expected, a hospital doctor completes the medical certificate of cause of death and sends it to the registration office you choose. You do not normally need to collect it.
- The person is taken to the mortuary. They stay in the hospital mortuary until your funeral director collects them.
- You instruct a funeral director. The funeral director deals with the hospital and mortuary directly.
- You register the death. The registrar contacts you once the certificate arrives. Our guide on how to register a death explains the local arrangements.
If the death was sudden, unexpected or unexplained, the doctor cannot issue a certificate until the death has been discussed with the procurator fiscal. See our guide on what happens when a death is reported to the procurator fiscal.
If someone dies in a care home
- An expected death. Staff contact the GP or out of hours doctor, who confirms the death and issues the medical certificate. The family chooses a funeral director, who collects the person from the home.
- A sudden or unexpected death. Staff contact the police, and the death is reported to the procurator fiscal. The person may be taken to a mortuary for a post mortem examination.
- The room and belongings. The home will ask the family to collect the person's belongings and clear the room. Ask how long you have, as this can affect the fees.
Collecting belongings and valuables
Clothes and everyday items are usually packed by ward or care home staff for the family to collect. Money, jewellery and other valuables held in the hospital's safe are released to the next of kin or the executor on signing a receipt, and you may be asked for identification.
Everything the person had with them belongs to their estate. Before sharing out jewellery, cash or other items, check whether the will leaves them to someone in particular. Our guide to clearing a house after a death explains how executors deal with belongings. If the procurator fiscal is investigating the death, some items may be kept until the investigation has ended.
Hospital bereavement services in our areas
| Health board | Main hospitals and support | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire) | Hospitals include the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. The Macmillan Information and NHS Bereavement Centre is based at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and the Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Service supports families of all faiths and none. Child Bereavement UK supports families after the death of a baby or child. The chaplaincy can be emailed at chaplains@ggc.scot.nhs.uk | Chaplaincy: 0141 201 1100. Child Bereavement UK: 0141 370 4747 |
| NHS Lanarkshire (Hamilton, East Kilbride, Motherwell) | University Hospitals Hairmyres, Wishaw and Monklands. The Spiritual Care and Wellbeing team runs a bereavement service and helpline, and the board publishes bereavement booklets for families | Bereavement Care: 01698 751040 |
| NHS Dumfries and Galloway | Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer. There is no formal NHS bereavement service, but charities such as Cruse Scotland, which has offices in Dumfries, offer support | Your GP, or Cruse Scotland: 0808 802 6161 |
Our guide to bereavement support in our areas lists more local and national organisations. Our local pages cover the practical steps for each area: Glasgow, Paisley, Renfrew, Barrhead, Hamilton, East Kilbride, Motherwell and Dumfries.
Care home fees after a death
- Check the contract. Care home contracts usually say how long fees continue after a death, often until the room is cleared or for a set number of days. Clearing the room promptly can reduce the final bill.
- Fees owed are an estate debt. Any unpaid fees are paid by the executor from the estate. Family members are not personally responsible unless they signed the contract as guarantor. See our guide on who pays a parent's debts.
- Refunds. If fees were paid in advance, the part covering the period after the death should be refunded to the estate.
- Council funded care. If the council paid towards the fees, it will work out any contribution the person still owed. If the council took a charge over the person's home under a deferred payment agreement, that has to be repaid from the estate, usually when the house is sold.
- Free personal and nursing care payments stop at the date of death, so the care home and council will adjust their final accounts.
Other things to return or cancel
- Equipment on loan. If the person had equipment at home, such as a hospital bed or hoist, arrange for it to be collected. In Glasgow, the EQUIPU service collects equipment on 0141 287 6300.
- Blue Badge, bus pass and benefits. The Tell Us Once service, offered when you register the death, can notify most government departments and the council.
- Medicines. Take any unused medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
What comes next
Once the death is registered and the funeral arranged, the executor starts dealing with the estate. Our executor's checklist sets out every stage, and our guide to funeral costs and who pays explains how the funeral bill is usually met from the estate.
How we can help
You do not need a solicitor for the first few days after a death. But once the funeral is over, we can take on the rest: settling care home accounts, collecting the person's money and belongings, applying for Confirmation and paying out the estate. Your first appointment is free.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the death certificate when someone dies in hospital in Scotland?
A hospital doctor completes the medical certificate of cause of death and sends it electronically to the registration office. The family does not usually need to collect it. The registrar then contacts the person registering the death. If the death was sudden or unexplained, it must first be reported to the procurator fiscal.
How long can a body stay in a hospital mortuary in Scotland?
There is no fixed national limit, but hospitals expect the family to instruct a funeral director promptly, usually within a few days. The funeral director collects the person from the mortuary once the death certificate has been issued and any procurator fiscal enquiries are complete.
How do I get my relative's belongings back from the hospital?
Ward staff usually pack clothes and personal items for the next of kin to collect. Valuables and cash held in the hospital safe are released to the next of kin or executor on signing a receipt, and the hospital may ask for identification. If the death is being investigated by the procurator fiscal, some items may be kept until the investigation ends.
Do care home fees stop when someone dies?
Not always immediately. Care home contracts usually say how long fees continue after a death, often until the room has been cleared. Any fees owed are a debt of the estate, paid by the executor, and any fees paid in advance for the period after the death should be refunded to the estate.
What happens if someone dies suddenly in a care home?
If the death was expected, the GP or another doctor confirms the death and issues the medical certificate, and the family then contacts a funeral director. If the death was sudden, unexpected or unexplained, staff contact the police, and the death is reported to the procurator fiscal before a certificate can be issued.
Need help with an estate?
Our executry solicitors can take the whole process off your hands, or answer a single question. Your first appointment is free.
This guide is general information about Scots law, correct at the date shown. It is not legal advice for your circumstances.
