Deaths Abroad (outside the UK): The role of the Death Certification Review Service

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Everett Manning
5 years ago
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1 Deaths Abroad (outside the UK): The role of the Death Certification Review Service

2 What this leaflet is about Following the introduction of new legislation, the arrangements for burial or cremation of a person who has died outside the UK, and will be returned to Scotland, have changed. This leaflet explains these new arrangements. Background Deaths outside the UK must be registered according to the regulations of the country where the death occurred. Before you can have a body repatriated to Scotland, you will need to obtain the death certificate or equivalent and authorisation for the removal of the body from the appropriate authorities in the country where the death occurred. From 13 May 2015, the new Death Certification Review Service (the review service) run by Healthcare Improvement Scotland will be responsible for checking relevant paperwork and authorising burial or cremation of people who have died outside the UK and have been returned to Scotland.

3 The process The person applying for authorisation to bury or cremate (often a funeral director or arranger) must supply the review service with the following: a completed application form a post-mortem examination application (if applicable), and a completed declaration. These are available from deathcertification The person applying must also supply the review service with the following certified documents: the death certificate (or equivalent) and/or certificate of registration of death (issued by the country where the person has died) passport of the deceased (or equivalent identification) a completed Form A for cremations only (application for cremation), and any other relevant paperwork.

4 Certifying a document Documents may be certified by the following professionals: doctor bank or building society official councillor dentist police officer solicitor/advocate/justice of the peace teacher or lecturer veterinary surgeon trade union official civil servants clergy, and funeral officiants. The person you ask shouldn t be: related to you living at the same address in a relationship with you the certifying doctor, or funeral director dealing with the repatriation. On each page of the document: state Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me sign and date print name under the signature, and add occupation, address and telephone number. The person certifying the document may charge you a fee.

5 You should electronic copies of these documents to the review service at Alternatively, you can post hard copies to: Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Death Certification Review Service, Norseman House, 2 Ferrymuir, South Queensferry, EH30 9QZ. We recommend that items are sent recorded delivery. One of Healthcare Improvement Scotland s medical reviewers (all of whom are experienced doctors) will review the application to make sure that the funeral can be carried out safely. What happens next? When the medical reviewer is satisfied that the paperwork is in order, they will issue the person applying for burial or cremation with: a certificate declaring documentation is in order a certificate authorising burial or other type of funeral a cremation certificate (if applicable), and a general information letter. This process will normally be complete within five working days from receipt of the application.

6 What happens if insufficient information has been supplied? If the medical reviewer requires further information, they will attempt to obtain any missing documents or information and make reasonable enquiries to allow the case to be completed as quickly as possible. For cremation requests, if the medical reviewer is unable to conclude that it is safe to cremate, only a burial will be possible. Assistance with post-mortem examinations For some deaths that occur outside the UK the paperwork provided by the country where the person died may not contain information on the cause of death. If, following reasonable enquiries, the cause of death is still not clear, the family may be able to apply to the review service for assistance (including financial assistance) to arrange a post-mortem examination. This may help to establish the cause of death. This is not an investigation of a suspicious death. An application form for assistance in arranging a post-mortem examination is available at deathcertification

7 Useful links More information about what to do when somebody dies outside the UK is available from More information on deaths abroad is available from the Foreign Commonwealth Office website

8 For more information about Healthcare Improvement Scotland s Death Certification Review Service, visit deathcertification or telephone

Death Certification in Scotland. Joint Guidance Information for Those Involved In Burial and Cremation, Prepared By the ICCM & FBCA.

Death Certification in Scotland. Joint Guidance Information for Those Involved In Burial and Cremation, Prepared By the ICCM & FBCA. From Wednesday 13 th May, 2015, all deaths must be registered before