The hours after a death are overwhelming. This guide gives you a clear sequence — not everything at once, just what matters right now. Most things can wait longer than you think.
The immediate steps
If the death was unexpected
Call 911. Do not move the body. Police will respond and, if needed, notify the medical examiner or coroner. This is required by law in most states for deaths that are sudden, unattended, or otherwise unexpected — including deaths at home with no doctor present.
The responding officer will tell you what happens next. In most cases the body will be taken to the coroner's office for examination before being released to a funeral home. This can take 24–72 hours.
If the death was expected (hospice or home care)
Call the hospice nurse or the on-call number. They will come to pronounce the death and handle the required notifications. You do not need to call 911 unless something feels wrong or you were not enrolled in hospice care.
If the person died in a hospital or nursing facility, staff will handle the pronouncement. Your next call is to a funeral home.
Do not rush this
Unless the body needs to be moved by authorities, you are not required to call a funeral home immediately. Take the time you need to be with your loved one before making that call. Most funeral homes understand and will not pressure you.
Who to notify first
Notify people in this order, and at a pace that feels right. There is no rule that says everyone needs to know within the hour.
- Immediate family — spouse, children, siblings. Call; don't text for this.
- A funeral home — to arrange transportation of the body. You don't need to make any other decisions yet.
- The person's employer — to stop payroll and begin any benefits processes. This can wait until the next business day.
- Close friends — at whatever pace feels right.
Wait on social media
Don't post on social media until all immediate family has been personally notified. Finding out through a Facebook post is a wound people don't forget.
Selecting a funeral home
You don't need to make final service decisions right now — you just need a funeral home to take custody of the body. You can plan the service over the next few days.
If you don't have one in mind, ask a trusted person for a recommendation, or search your state's funeral director association directory. Avoid making this decision under pressure from a sales call.
By law (the FTC Funeral Rule), funeral homes must provide itemized pricing over the phone. You are not obligated to buy a package. You can — and should — ask for the General Price List before agreeing to anything.
Find these documents
Within the first day or two, try to locate the following. Don't tear the house apart — just look in the obvious places first.
- Will or trust documents
- Life insurance policies
- Social Security card and number
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Military discharge papers (DD-214) if the person served
- Recent bank and investment account statements
You'll need these for the death certificate process, benefits claims, and estate administration. More on each of those in the guides below.
What not to do in the first 72 hours
Hold off on these
- Don't cancel accounts or subscriptions yet. You may need access to email and financial accounts to manage the estate.
- Don't pay any bills yet. Some debts may not be owed by the estate. Get clarity before paying anything.
- Don't empty the home. Even if you're the heir, distributing property before the estate is settled can create legal problems.
- Don't accept calls from unknown creditors. Scammers target the recently bereaved. You are not required to respond to anyone claiming a debt in the first days.
- Don't make major financial decisions. Everything can wait a few days. Grief impairs judgment more than people realize.
Secure the person's home and property
If the deceased lived alone, make sure the home is locked and secure. Let a neighbor or building manager know what happened if it seems appropriate. Collect any mail so it doesn't pile up and signal an empty house.
Don't change locks or limit access to property until you understand the legal situation — especially if there are other potential heirs.
Death certificates — order more than you think
The funeral home will file for the official death certificate. Ask them to order certified copies — not photocopies — and order more than you think you'll need. A good baseline is 8–12 certified copies.
Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and courts all require certified originals, not photocopies. Running out means ordering more later, which takes time and costs money at a bad moment.
See our full guide to death certificates for state-by-state costs and a complete list of who needs one.
What comes next
Once the immediate steps are handled, the work shifts to benefits claims, estate administration, and the longer process of closing accounts and settling affairs. That process typically unfolds over weeks and months — not days.
Use the guides below as your checklist. You don't have to do any of it right now.