In the event of a sudden or accidental death, the death must be reported either to the police or to the Procurator Fiscal.

As a formal record of the death, it is also a legal requirement for the family to register the death with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The registration of a death varies according to whether the death takes place:

In the event of a suspicious or unexplained death, or a death occurring at work or in custody, the police should be contacted immediately. An investigation will be conducted by the police and/or by other government agencies (e.g., Health and Safety Executive) to determine the cause of death.

After the investigation has been completed, Crown authorities (normally the Procurator Fiscal) decide if criminal proceedings should take place.

If a prosecution does not proceed, the family are normally informed by the Procurator Fiscal, who will explain the position and decide whether a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is to be held.