The first next step after a loved one passes away is to get a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death. This certificate is an important step in the process of registering a death, as without it you won’t be able to register it at register office.

When someone dies, a doctor involved in their care has to complete a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD), which is then forwarded to the register office to register the death. Books of MCCDs are available to doctors and hospitals from their local registrar. These books have short notes at the front on how to complete the MCCD and when to refer deaths to the coroner.

WHAT IS A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF CAUSE OF DEATH?

A Medical Certificate of Death includes the following information about the deceased:

• Name

• Age

• Place of death

• Cause of death

If the cause of death is clear, a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be issued straight away.