When someone dies.....

[Wiltshiregirl06]

Posting for traffic here, all suggestions welcome.

A relative lives a very reclusive life, think a farm house in the middle of nowhere, not much contact with others, apart from occasionally getting shopping delivered from another distant relative.
If he dies, how would we find out or be notified? The distant relative doesn't have my contact details, I don't have theirs. The relative in question is elderly, doesn't see or hear well, can't read be or write very well and isn't likely to have our details to hand, or be able to read it if they did.
Is there anywhere we can register that we (my family and my father) are next of kin? Just to complicate matters, my father and them fell out some years ago and don't speak.
Thank you.

I do the same with a delivered newspaper.

I'd take a few days out of my life and just go see him. Op's friend will regret it if she doesn't. I understand it's not an easy thing to do what with work and kids and pets, etc for most people but I'd book somewhere nearby (a pet friendly caravan and drag the dc along if needs must) for a couple of nights and just turn up so at least I could see what is actually happening.

Mine too! They each checked each other's kitchen window curtains first thing.

How would that help? They live 100's of miles away. How would they know? They'd phone and get no answer, same as the CMHT nurse.

Read the full thread.

Where does this poster say her adult children live “100s of miles away”?!

I think wise to at least put in your adult children’s contact details in your “death book” alongside your bank account details etc!

From this thread it would appear that a lot of people confuse the difference between 'Next of Kin' and 'Emergency Contact'.
An emergency contact should be someone local to you, who could/would help you if you fell over in the street, or locked yourself out, etc; and sometimes take/collect you from a hospital appointment. Ideally a local keyholder, etc.
Next of Kin, is your nearest relative (if you have any), who would deal with your residence, belongings/funeral after your death.
If you have a relative that lives close by, then this may be the same person.
If you do not have any relatives, and have nominated someone who is willing to do this, or act as an executor of your will, then that person has assumed the role of a next of kin.

I didn't.
I was commenting on DinoLil's comment:

My comment was how would this help