When someone passes away

Most people are unsure of what to do when someone passes away in their family. It is important to contact us as soon as possible. This will allow us to assist you during this time. The majority of deaths are from natural causes and can occur in hospitals, aged care homes or at the family home. In most of these situations a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be issued by the treating doctor.

If a death occurs in a hospital, the family are required to make the initial contact with us. However in an aged care home, the staff will make contact once the family have been notified. If someone passes away at home, the initial contact should be their doctor, who may agree to write a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. Once the doctor has been advised, you would then contact us to transfer the person into our care.

In the case of a sudden and unexpected death and a doctor is not prepared to write a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death; you then need to contact the police who will attend the place of death. The police will then report the death to the Coroner. The person is then transferred to the Coroners Court in Melbourne. We will work closely with you and the Coroner to ensure your relative or friend is brought into our care as soon as possible.