Depending on where a death occurs, different steps will need to be taken. We hope the following information will be helpful.

If the death has occurred at home

If the death occurs at home with family or friends present, a family member should contact the deceased person’s doctor. If the doctor has treated them in the past and can confirm the cause of death, the doctor will usually issue a medical cause of death certificate (required by law). However, if the death occurs at home and no one is there at the time of death, the police will need to be notified. They will need to come to the home before the deceased can be transferred to an appropriate facility.

If you are unsure of who to notify or what to do, we are here to help. Simply call us on (03) 5248 3444.

If the death has occurred under supervised care

When a death occurs in a care facility such as a hospital or nursing home, their staff will notify you and the necessary authorities. If they have been given the name of the funeral company, they will notify them at the time of death.

After the deceased person has been transferred into our care, we will contact you to help you proceed. For extra assurance, you are welcome to contact us for confirmation that everything has been taken care of according to your wishes.

In the event of a sudden or unexpected death

If a death is sudden, accidental or the cause of death cannot be confirmed, it is the doctor’s responsibility to notify the police on 000. In these cases it is important that the deceased person is not moved or disturbed in any way. The police will contact a government-appointed funeral contractor to transfer the deceased person from the place of death to the Coroner’s mortuary. The Coroner will then investigate and determine the cause of death, which may involve a post-mortem examination. This may slightly delay the funeral arrangements until the necessary clearance is obtained (usually 6–9 days).

We recommend that you contact us as soon as possible so we can liaise with the Coroner’s Court and arrange to care for your loved one.

If the death has occurred interstate or overseas

If the death occurs away from home, please contact us when you are ready for us to start making arrangements to transport your loved one home and attend to any legal, statutory or customs requirements.

If the family’s wish is that the deceased person be returned to their homeland for burial, we can liaise with government departments and airlines for you, prepare the necessary documentation and complete all necessary health and customs procedures.

The meeting will generally take place either at one of our venues or in the comfort of your own home. This will be with you and any other family members to arrange the funeral.

Together, we will go through the styles of services we offer and provide guidance on how best to recognise and celebrate the life lived.

Simply call us on (03) 5248 3444 or ring Louise King Funerals by Women on (03) 5222 6363. We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We know it may not be easy but this is a time for calm and measured action. Take some time to consider the points below and, as always, feel free to reach out to us for help and advice.

Some important things to consider when planning a funeral are:

• Selecting a day and time that will allow for family and friends to attend, including those currently residing interstate or overseas.
• Choosing a minister, priest or celebrant and making sure they will be available for the service.
• Choosing between cremation and burial.
• Choice of a coffin or casket.

For further details on these and other matters, please see the section of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on this web site.

We will assist you in determining the content of the service and looking after specific details for a reception. Some of the special touches that we can co-ordinate are:

• Bookmarks – See our full range
• Order of Service or Mass booklets – See our full range
• Catering
• Floral tributes
• Precious Moments DVD presentations
• Thank You stationery – See our full range
• Dove releases
• Selection of music

With knowledge and guidance you will be better equipped to deal with this time in a healthy manner. Maintaining contact with friends and family can be helpful. Of course, we at Kings are here to share our learning and experience with you. Plus there are many local sources of valuable support you can call upon.

For further details on contacting support groups, please see the ‘Support’ section or Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on this web site.