Medical certificate of cause of death
The doctor will normally issue the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) just after the death or the next day. The certificate will be written by the doctor who was looking after the person who has died. On occasion, it may take longer than a few days for the MCCD to be completed, for example if the doctor needs to find out more about why someone died.
Further information can be found in the leaflet: After a Bereavement.
Visit the Scottish Government website to find out what to do after a death in Scotland.
You'll find practical advice about the legal steps you have to take after someone dies, including:
- registering a death
- planning a funeral
- if the death is reported to the procurator fiscal
From 25 March 2020, due to the social distancing requirements for coronavirus (COVID-19), the death registration process has changed. Visit the National Records of Scotland website for the latest information on registering a death during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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- LAST REVIEWED ON: June 29, 2020