What to do when someone dies

In the first few days

A medical practitioner must certify the death. If the death happened at a hospital, staff issue the medical certificate of cause of death. If it happened at home, call the attending doctor or the district medical officer. You will need this certificate before you can register the death or arrange a funeral.

Speak to a funeral home early. They can guide you on what they need and can often help you gather documents.

Registering the death

By law, a death in Grenada must be registered at the Civil Registry, usually within a few days. You cannot get a burial order or a death certificate until the death is registered. Take the medical certificate and the identification of the person who died. Once the death is registered, you can order the certified copies you will need to settle the person's affairs.

In the following weeks

A certified death certificate is what banks, employers, insurers and government bodies ask for. Order a few copies at once so you are not waiting later. If the person was married, you may also need the marriage certificate to claim a survivor's pension or to deal with jointly owned property.

Notify the person's employer, their bank, and the National Insurance Scheme. If the person was receiving a pension or paying contributions, the NIS can explain what a surviving spouse or dependant is entitled to and what proof they require.