If someone has just died at your home, who you call first depends on whether the death was expected. For a hospice patient or someone with a known terminal illness, call the hospice provider’s 24-hour line or the attending physician — not 911. For a sudden or unexplained death, call 911 immediately. Getting that first call right matters, because dialing the wrong number can trigger resuscitation efforts and a scene investigation that nobody wanted.
When the Death Was Expected
If your loved one was on hospice or being treated for a terminal illness, the correct first call is the hospice provider’s 24-hour number. A hospice nurse will come to the home, confirm the death, and start the paperwork. The nurse can also reach the attending physician to certify the cause of death, which is what gets the death certificate moving. Most hospice agencies will coordinate with the funeral home once the family is ready.
The mistake families make in this moment is calling 911 out of panic. Once those three digits are dialed, paramedics are dispatched under a protocol built for emergencies, not for an anticipated death. In most jurisdictions, paramedics must begin full resuscitation — chest compressions, intubation, transport to a hospital — unless a valid Do Not Resuscitate order is physically present and shown to them. Police and the coroner may also respond. Keep the hospice phone number somewhere visible so whoever is in the room knows what to dial.
When the Death Was Unexpected
Call 911 right away if the person died suddenly, was found unresponsive without explanation, had no physician actively managing a life-threatening condition, or if anything about the circumstances seems unusual. The dispatcher will walk you through what to do next, including whether to attempt CPR.
While you wait for responders, do not move the body or tidy up the area. Law enforcement and the medical examiner or coroner will want to see the scene as it was. Repositioning the person, cleaning, or moving objects — even to restore some dignity — can slow the investigation and delay the release of the body.
Keep the DNR or POLST Where Responders Can See It
A Do Not Resuscitate order is a physician-signed document that tells emergency personnel not to perform CPR. A POLST form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, sometimes called MOLST depending on the state) covers more ground, including ventilators and feeding tubes. Neither document helps if it isn’t physically present. A DNR locked in a safe or sitting in a lawyer’s office does nothing when paramedics are already in the living room.
The practical step for anyone caring for a seriously ill person at home is to keep the original on the refrigerator door or at the bedside, where first responders are trained to look. Some states issue bracelets or wallet cards for the same purpose. Without one of these documents in sight, emergency responders in most jurisdictions have no legal choice but to attempt resuscitation, regardless of what family members tell them about the person’s wishes.
The Medical Examiner or Coroner
Not every home death triggers an investigation, but many do. Medical examiners and coroners generally take jurisdiction over deaths that are sudden, unexplained, violent, possibly caused by accident or poisoning, or that occur when there is no attending physician who can certify the cause. The exact categories are set by state law, but the common thread is any death where the cause isn’t already clear from existing medical records.
When this office takes jurisdiction, they may examine the scene, interview people who were present, and sometimes order an autopsy. The family usually cannot move the body or begin funeral arrangements until the office releases it. Answer questions honestly and provide whatever medical history you can; that tends to resolve things faster. If the medical examiner declines jurisdiction because the attending physician can certify the cause, the body can go to the funeral home sooner.
If the medical examiner declines to perform an autopsy and you still want answers, a private autopsy is an option. Independent forensic pathologists typically charge between $3,000 and $5,000, with toxicology adding several hundred more. Insurance does not cover it, and the family handles transportation to and from the facility. This is time-sensitive — raise it before embalming or cremation.
Calling a Funeral Home
Once the hospice nurse has finished or the medical examiner releases the body, the next call is to a funeral home. The funeral home will transport the body, prepare it, coordinate burial or cremation, and help file for the official death certificate.
You do not have to use the first funeral home someone suggests, and you do not have to decide right away. The FTC Funeral Rule requires every funeral home to give you a General Price List — an itemized price breakdown of everything they offer — if you ask, whether in person or by phone.1Federal Trade Commission. The FTC Funeral Rule You can pick only the items you want. Funeral homes cannot force a package deal, charge for embalming without permission, or require a casket purchase for direct cremation.2eCFR. 16 CFR Part 453 – Funeral Industry Practices If a provider resists handing over the price list or pressures you to commit before you’ve seen it, that’s a federal violation.
Costs vary widely. The national median for a funeral with viewing and burial was $8,300 in the most recent industry data. Direct cremation, with no formal service, typically runs between $1,000 and $3,600. Transportation from the home is a separate line, often $400 to $600 plus a per-mile charge past a certain radius. Get the price list from two or three funeral homes before committing — the differences can be substantial even within the same city.
Death Certificates and Documents You’ll Need
Order more certified copies of the death certificate than you think you’ll need. Banks, insurance companies, retirement plans, and government agencies each want their own certified copy, not a photocopy. Ten is a reasonable starting point, and estates with multiple accounts or policies may need more. Certified copies cost roughly $10 to $30 each, and many states discount additional copies ordered at the same time. Extras ordered now are cheaper and faster than one-off requests later.
Have this information ready, since the funeral home, medical examiner, and various agencies will ask for it:
- For the death certificate: full legal name, date and place of birth, Social Security number, parents’ names (including mother’s maiden name), marital status, occupation, and veteran status.
- For funeral and legal arrangements: a valid photo ID, the will or trust documents, any pre-arranged funeral contracts, and life insurance policies.
- For financial notifications: bank account numbers, pension or retirement account information, and health insurance cards.
Who to Notify After the Death
A death triggers notifications to government agencies and financial institutions. Missing them can mean overpayments you have to return, delayed benefits, or frozen accounts at the worst time.
Social Security
The funeral home usually reports the death to the Social Security Administration. If that doesn’t happen, call SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 with the deceased’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death.3Social Security Administration. What to Do When Someone Dies Any benefits paid for months after the date of death have to be returned, so prompt reporting matters. A surviving spouse or eligible child may qualify for a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255.4Social Security Administration. Lump-Sum Death Payment
Veterans Affairs
If the deceased was a veteran, the VA offers burial allowances. For a service-connected death occurring after September 11, 2001, the maximum burial allowance is $2,000. For a non-service-connected death, the VA pays up to $1,002 for burial expenses and another $1,002 for a plot, plus up to $441 for a headstone or marker.5Veterans Affairs. Veterans Burial Allowance and Transportation Benefits Eligibility requires that the veteran did not receive a dishonorable discharge and that at least one qualifying condition is met, such as dying from a service-connected disability, receiving VA care at the time of death, or collecting VA pension or compensation.
The Final Tax Return
Someone has to file the deceased’s final federal income tax return. That falls to the surviving spouse (if filing jointly) or the executor or administrator of the estate. The return covers income from January 1 through the date of death and uses a standard Form 1040 with a notation that the taxpayer is deceased.6Internal Revenue Service. Deceased Person The deadline is April 15 of the following year, with the usual extension to October 15 available if you need more time.7Internal Revenue Service. Individual Tax Filing
Banks, Insurance, and Recurring Charges
Once you have certified death certificates in hand, notify the deceased’s bank, credit card companies, and life insurance carriers. Life insurers will want a claim form and a certified copy of the certificate. Banks may freeze accounts after notification, so if there are joint account holders, call early to find out what access continues and what requires probate documentation. Cancel subscriptions, automatic payments, and memberships to stop charges from piling up against the estate.
Securing the Home
After the body has been moved, someone needs to look after the property. Lock the doors and windows. If you don’t know who else has keys, change the locks. Set any alarm. Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on things during the funeral or memorial — burglaries at the homes of the recently deceased are common, because obituaries signal an empty house.
Keep the utilities on until the estate is settled or the property is transferred. Forward the deceased’s mail to the executor’s address through the post office. Cancel newspapers and other regular deliveries that make the home look unoccupied. Take valuables, important documents, and prescription medications out of the house when you reasonably can. If the deceased was renting, read the lease — most states allow early termination on a tenant’s death, but the process varies.
Tissue Donation Is Time-Limited
Organ donation of hearts, kidneys, and livers is generally not possible after a death at home, because those organs need continuous blood flow to stay viable. Tissues including corneas, skin, bone, and heart valves can still be donated within roughly six hours of death. If the deceased was a registered donor or the family wants to consider it, contact the local organ procurement organization as soon as death is confirmed. Raise it early rather than after funeral plans are underway.