A death reported to the Coroner: what Cairns families can do while they wait

Nothing can go ahead until the Coroner releases your loved one, and that timing is entirely theirs. What you can do is ring us now. We take your details, get every arrangement ready, and step in the moment the release comes through, so nothing is held up at our end.

Some families ring Shane and the first thing they tell him is that the death has been reported to the Coroner. It changes the order of things. It can leave a family feeling like everything is on hold and out of their hands, and part of it is. This guide is about the part that is not: what you can sort out now, what we do while you wait, and what happens once your loved one is released into our care.

What changes when the Coroner is involved

One thing changes: when everything starts. Until the Coroner releases your loved one, the transfer into our care, the cremation and everything after it waits. How long that takes is up to the Coroner, and we will not guess at their process here. If you have questions about why the death was reported or what happens on their side, the Coroner's office is the one to ask.

Everything else stays the same. Your loved one is cared for with the same dignity, the direct cremation includes the same things, and everything is still put in writing before anything proceeds. You will never be asked to commit before you have seen the cost in full. Our guide to what is included in a direct cremation goes through it line by line.

What you can sort out while you wait

The waiting is hard. It is also time you can use, so that the day the release comes through is simple.

• Ring us with the details. We can take them now and have the arrangements ready, so there is nothing left to set up later.
• Settle who signs. The legal next of kin, or the person named as executor, signs the cremation authorisation. If anyone in the family is unsure who that is, now is the time to work it out.
• Tell the people who need to know. Our guide to telling people when there is no funeral covers who to ring first and what to say when someone asks about the service.
• Hold the memorial date loosely. A memorial can be whenever and wherever suits your family once the ashes are back with you. Setting the date after that means nobody is planning around a timeline that is out of everyone's hands.

If you are organising this from interstate, none of it needs you in Cairns. Everything can be handled by phone and email, including the paperwork. Our guide to arranging a direct cremation from interstate has the detail.

What we do in the meantime

Once you have rung, we get our side ready. We prepare every form and tell you exactly where to sign, so you do not need to work out which document goes where or deal with the registry. Shane keeps you updated on our side at every step, so you are never left wondering where things are at with us.

The phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Office hours for paperwork are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If something changes for your family while you wait, ring and tell Shane.

When the release comes through

We step in straight away. We can bring your loved one into our care from a hospital, a hospice, an aged care facility or wherever they are in the region, and we speak to the facility directly to arrange the transfer. You do not need to organise any of it yourself.

If the release lands after hours or on a weekend, we can still arrange the transfer. An after-hours or weekend transfer may cost more, and we will always tell you the amount before we do anything. From there it is the same direct cremation as any other, through to the ashes being delivered to your family or a friend you nominate. Our guide to how long a direct cremation takes walks through those steps.

Ring now, not later

It can feel like there is no point ringing anyone until the Coroner is finished. There is. Every form ready and every arrangement made means the release is the last thing you are waiting on, and the moment it comes, we take it from there.

We look after families across Cairns, Port Douglas, the Atherton Tablelands, Atherton, Mareeba, Innisfail, Mossman and the surrounding Far North Queensland region. If you are not sure whether we reach you, ask Shane and he will tell you straight away.

Common questions

Can we arrange a direct cremation while the Coroner is involved?

Yes. Nothing can proceed until the Coroner releases your loved one, and that timing is entirely theirs. We can still take your details and get every arrangement ready now, then step in the moment the release comes through, so nothing is delayed at our end.

Who signs the paperwork?

The legal next of kin, or the person named as executor, signs the cremation authorisation. We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to sign and lodge everything ourselves. You do not need to work out which document goes where or deal with the registry.

What if the release comes through at night or on a weekend?

Ring us. Someone answers the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we can arrange a transfer at any hour. An after-hours or weekend transfer may cost more, and we will always tell you the amount before we do anything.

Can we still hold a memorial?

Yes. Once the ashes are back with you, you can hold a memorial whenever and wherever suits your family, in your own time. Setting the date once the ashes are home means nobody is planning around a timeline that is out of everyone's hands.

Need help now? Call Shane, any hour. 0461 543 517 · How a direct cremation works