What to do if…
officials contact you because a person who died was involved in a legal case and they need family input quickly

What to do now

1. If anyone is in immediate danger or you feel unsafe, call 999 first. If not, get to a calmer pause before you continue the conversation.
2. Write down the basics. Time/date, name, organisation, phone number, email, what they asked for, and any “reference/case number”.
3. Verify the contact independently before discussing details.
   • Police: end the call and dial 101 yourself (or use an official force switchboard number you find independently) and ask to confirm the officer and reference.
   • Court/coroner/prosecution: end the call and call back via the organisation’s main published number (not the one they gave you), quoting the reference.
4. Ask three grounding questions (and don’t answer anything substantial until you have them).
   • “What is the case reference and which office is handling it?”
   • “What exactly do you need from the family (one decision, a document, a contact name, identification, a statement)?”
   • “What is the deadline and what happens if we can’t respond by then?”
5. Ask for the request in writing. A genuine office can usually provide a letter/email stating:
   • the case reference,
   • what they need,
   • how to send it,
   • and a contact route via the official switchboard.
6. Decide which UK system you’re dealing with (this affects the “right” office).
   • England/Wales/ Northern Ireland: deaths and related hearings may involve a coroner and potentially an inquest.
   • Scotland: death investigations are handled by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) (and some cases may lead to a Fatal Accident Inquiry).
   • If you’re unsure, ask: “Which nation/area is this being handled in, and which office has carriage of the case?”
7. Choose one temporary family point of contact. Pick one person to:
   • take calls,
   • keep notes,
   • and relay information to others (this prevents contradictions and repeat stress).
8. Be clear about what authority you do (and don’t) have right now.
   • If there is a will: identify the executor(s) named.
   • If there is no will / you don’t know yet: you may be next of kin, but you may not yet have legal authority over the estate.
   • Use a simple line: “I’m next of kin, but probate/administration isn’t in place yet—tell me what you need urgently and whether it must come from an executor/administrator.”
9. If the contact is linked to a criminal case (the deceased was a victim, witness, defendant, or the death is part of an investigation):
   • Ask if there is a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) (police) or a dedicated victim/witness contact.
   • Ask what information they can share now, and what they cannot share yet.
   • If you’re being asked for a statement/confirmation, request the questions in writing so you can answer accurately.
10. If the contact is linked to coroner processes (England/Wales/NI):

• Ask who is recorded as the next of kin / family point of contact and update them if that needs to change.
• Ask whether you are treated as an “interested person” and what that means in practice for updates, documents, attendance, and deadlines.

11. Protect your information while you comply.

• Share the minimum needed.
• If sending documents, send copies and keep a note of exactly what you sent, when, and to whom.

12. If you feel pushed, use a delay script that still cooperates.

• “I want to cooperate. I need this request in writing with the reference, and I will respond as soon as we’ve verified the correct contact route.”