What is the very first thing to do when someone dies?

Have the death formally pronounced. At a hospital or care facility, staff do this; at home, contact the hospice or doctor for an expected death, or emergency services for an unexpected one.

Do I have to use a funeral home?

No. If you want a simple cremation, you can contact a direct cremation provider yourself rather than a full-service funeral home, which is usually far less expensive.

Guides

What to do when someone dies

Losing someone is overwhelming, and it's hard to know what to do first. This is a calm, practical guide to the steps that matter most, roughly in order.

In the first hours

What's needed first depends on where the death happened.

✓If it was expected and at home, contact the hospice or the person's doctor to have the death formally pronounced
✓If it was unexpected, call emergency services
✓In a hospital or care facility, staff will handle the formal pronouncement
✓Once pronounced, there is no need to rush the next steps — take the time you need

Arranging care of the body

When you're ready, contact a funeral home or cremation provider to transfer the person into their care. If you're considering a direct cremation, you can contact a provider directly — you don't need to use a full-service funeral home.

Paperwork and notifications

Over the following days you'll need to handle documents and let people know.

✓Order several certified copies of the death certificate — you'll need them
✓Locate any will, prepaid funeral plan or final wishes
✓Notify close family and friends
✓Notify employers, banks, insurers and government agencies in time

FAQ