When Someone Passes
Death can occur in various ways and in some cases you are required to follow a specific protocol. Below we have explained the various ways in which a person may pass away and the relevant processes you will need to follow.
You Can Contact Us As Soon As You are Ready.
- Rest assured that you can take whatever time you need to make your funeral arrangements. Michael Hutchinson Funerals are ready to assist you at your convenience.
- Michael Hutchinson Funerals can conduct all arrangements over the phone and email, online, or in person.
- If your loved one has completed a Funeral Pre-Arrangement or has a Funeral Bond Prepaid for a funeral, please advise us when you call.
- If the deceased has completed a Funeral Pre-Arrangement or has Prepaid for a funeral, please advise us
- Michael Hutchinson Funerals will liaise with the hospital, nursing home, coroner or yourself as needed for the retrieval of your loved one to perform the funeral. The funeral director liases with the coroner and family for the retrieval of the body to perform the funeral.
- Funeral service dates and times may be impacted by a variety of factors and we suggest that an initial contact to discuss preferred timing will help you.
A Doctor must be called to attend. Once the doctor has signed a certificate the family should call us to come to the residence and attend to the transfer of the deceased person.
- A medical professional (doctor, nurse or paramedic) must be contacted to confirm passing. They will issue a certificate (called a Verification of Life Extinct) that is the first certificate issued.
- Once this certificate has been issued, the family should call us to come to the residence and attend to the transfer of your loved one.
- We will ask you for contact details for the person who will be making the funeral arrangements and you can nominate how and when you would like to be contacted.
- You can do all arrangements over the phone and email, online or make an appointment to meet with us in person.
** Please advise us when you call if there is a Funeral Prearrangement or Funeral Bond held.
When someone dies in a Public hospital
You just need to call to advise us and we will arrange the transfer of your loved one.
- The Hospital will care for your loved one in their facilities until your funeral director makes arrangements with the Hospital.
- You can do all arrangements over the phone and email, online or make an appointment to meet with us in person.
** Please advise us when you call if there is a Funeral Prearrangement or Funeral Bond held.
When someone dies In a private hospital
Please advise the Hospital that Michael Hutchinson Funerals are your chosen funeral directors. They will call to advise us when they are ready for us to attend and we will arrange the transfer of your loved one.
We will contact you once your loved one is safely in our care, or you can contact us to make arrangements.
- You can do all arrangements over the phone and email, online or make an appointment to meet with us in person.
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Most Private Hospitals do not have specific facilities to care for your loved one for an extended time and will require us to collect your loved one promptly.
** Please note that this may incur additional costs for transfer outside of hours.
** Please advise us when you call if there is a Funeral Prearrangement or Funeral Bond held.
When Someone dies in a nursing home
Please advise the Nursing Home that Michael Hutchinson Funerals are your chosen funeral directors. They will call to advise us when they are ready for us to attend and we will arrange the transfer of your loved one.
We will contact you once your loved one is safely in our care, or you can contact us to make arrangements.
** Please advise us when you call if there is a Funeral Prearrangement or Funeral Bond held.
When someone first enters a Nursing Home, the name of a Funeral Director will be requested.
This allows you a simple and easy way to select your funeral director and make decisions about the funeral before the death occurs. It takes a lot of strain out of locating the answers to the questions at a time that you’re unlikely to be able to concentrate properly.
Michael Hutchinson Funerals can help you Pre-arrange your funeral wishes, or you can take out a Funeral Bond. Please see our Preplanning page for details.
When someone dies as a result of an Accident
When a death occurs as a result of an accident, the Police must be called.
After the Police come and talk to you they may direct that the deceased person be taken to the Coroner’s facility for autopsy.
The Coroner’s investigation can take a number of days.
While the investigation is taking place, you can contact us to start to make your funeral arrangements.
We will liaise with the Coroner’s Office to arrange for the transfer of your loved one as soon as possible.
You can do all arrangements over the phone and email, online or make an appointment to meet with us in person.
** Please advise us when you call if there is a Funeral Prearrangement or Funeral Bond held.