When the Time Comes

Many people are unaware of who they should contact when someone dies. This is dependent on where the person has died and the manner of death.

The following provides a guide as to what the next step should be when the need arises.

When Someone Dies In A Hospital Or Nursing Home
When someone dies in a hospital or nursing home there is a doctor or a
registered nurse that will take care of the appropriate paperwork
required. Then, by contacting Turnbull Family Funerals as soon as
possible, we can begin the process including the transfer.

When Someone Dies At Home
If a relative or friend dies at home, the first person you should contact is their Doctor. Provided that the Doctor has treated the deceased in the past three months and can confirm the cause of death, a death certificate will be issued.

The next step is to contact Turnbull Family Funerals. We can arrange for the deceased to be transferred to our funeral home and attend to the other funeral arrangements on your behalf.

When Someone Dies Interstate or Overseas
As a large number of people travel today, it is quite possible that the death of a loved one may occur away from home. If this happens, Turnbull Family Funerals should be notified immediately so that arrangements can be made to transport the deceased home, and attend to any statutory or customs requirements. Do not contact another funeral director interstate or overseas, we will do that for you.

Occasionally, Australians who were born overseas may want to send the deceased back to their homeland for burial. Again, contact us immediately, as this can be an extensive process of liaising with the Consulate General of the deceased's homeland and relevant Australian government departments.

When Someone Dies Suddenly
If the death is sudden or accidental, or the cause of death cannot be confirmed, it is the Doctor's or ambulance officer's responsibility to notify the police. It is important that the deceased is not moved or disturbed in any way without the authorisation of the Coroner. The police will contact a government appointed ambulance to transfer the deceased 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 procedure may slightly delay the funeral arrangements until the necessary clearance is obtained.

In these circumstances, it is still your right and responsibility to contact the funeral director so that we can attend to the funeral arrangements according to your wishes. Please be aware that you do not have to wait until cause of death has been determined before contacting Turnbull Family Funerals.