Funeral Home Directory USA
After a Death · 6 min read

What to Do When Someone Dies

A practical checklist for the first hours, the first days and the weeks that follow a death.

Updated October 6, 2026 · Reviewed by the Funeral Home Directory USA editors

When someone dies, the first step is to have the death officially pronounced: if the death was expected and the person was under hospice care, call the hospice; if it was sudden or unexpected, call 911. After that, you contact a funeral home or cremation provider to bring the person into their care, and then work through paperwork, notifications and financial matters over the following days and weeks.

There is rarely a need to rush in the first hour. This checklist walks through what usually happens, in roughly the order it happens, so you can focus on what matters now and leave the rest for later.

In the first hours

If the death happens at home

  • Under hospice care (expected death). Call the hospice agency first, not 911. A hospice nurse will usually come to confirm the death, help with medications, and can call the funeral home for you if you have already chosen one.
  • Not under hospice care, or unexpected. Call 911. Emergency responders will come, and depending on the circumstances, police or the medical examiner or coroner may be involved. This is routine for an unexpected death and does not imply anything is wrong.

If the death happens in a hospital or nursing facility

Staff will pronounce the death and ask which funeral home you want to use. If you have not decided yet, most facilities can hold the body for a short time while you make calls. Ask how long they can wait.

Things to do right away

  • Pronouncement. Make sure a doctor, nurse or other authorized person has formally pronounced the death.
  • Tell close family. Call immediate family and anyone who will help with decisions.
  • Check for written wishes. Look for a prearranged funeral plan, a will, a letter of instruction, or notes about organ or body donation. Donation decisions are time sensitive, so check for these first.
  • Secure the home and pets. If the person lived alone, lock the home, arrange care for pets, and remove valuables or medications if needed.

In the first one to two days

Choose a funeral home or cremation provider

The funeral home transports the body, files the death certificate in most cases, obtains permits, and arranges burial, cremation or a service. If the person prearranged a plan, call that provider. Otherwise, you are free to choose any licensed provider.

Under the FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453), funeral homes must give you prices over the phone if you ask and a written General Price List when you meet in person. You can call two or three providers before deciding. See how to choose a funeral home and what is a General Price List, or browse providers on our states and near me pages.

Meet with the funeral director

The arrangement conference usually happens within a day or two. Bring:

  • The person's full legal name, date and place of birth, and Social Security number
  • Parents' names, including mother's maiden name
  • Marital status and spouse's name
  • Education, occupation and military service details (a DD214 discharge form if the person was a veteran)
  • Any prearrangement contract, cemetery deed or insurance information
  • Clothing, if there will be a viewing, and a recent photo

The funeral director uses this information for the death certificate and obituary. You will decide on burial or cremation, the type of service, and the date. If cost is a concern, say so early. You can buy only the goods and services you want.

Decide burial or cremation

If no wishes were recorded, the legal next of kin (often the spouse, then adult children, under an order set by state law) has the right to decide. Our guide to burial vs cremation compares costs and timing, and direct cremation explained covers the simplest option.

In the first week

  • Notify extended family, friends and the employer. A phone tree or a single group message helps.
  • Write and publish an obituary. The funeral home can usually place it online and in newspapers. See how to write an obituary.
  • Plan the service. Choose the officiant, readings, music and pallbearers, and decide whether to offer a livestream for those who cannot travel. Some providers list this as a service, see funeral homes with livestreaming.
  • Order death certificates. The funeral director usually orders certified copies for you. Most families need several. See how to get a death certificate.
  • Contact the VA if the person was a veteran. The funeral home can request military funeral honors and help with burial benefits. See veterans burial benefits.

In the weeks after the funeral

Many tasks need a certified death certificate, so they usually start once copies arrive.

Notifications checklist

  • Social Security Administration. Funeral homes often report the death to SSA for you, but confirm this. A one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 may be available to an eligible surviving spouse or child, and survivors' benefits may apply. Details are at ssa.gov.
  • Banks and credit unions. Ask about accounts held jointly or with a payable-on-death beneficiary.
  • Life insurance companies and employer benefits. File claims with a certified copy.
  • Pension and retirement plan administrators.
  • Credit card companies and the three credit bureaus, to reduce the risk of identity theft.
  • Utilities, phone, subscriptions and insurance for the home and car.
  • The DMV, to cancel a driver's license.
  • The post office, if mail needs forwarding.
  • Email and social media accounts, which can be memorialized or closed.
  • Locate the will and contact the named executor.
  • Probate. Depending on the size and type of the estate and your state's rules, the estate may need to go through probate court. An estate attorney can explain what applies.
  • Taxes. A final income tax return is usually due for the year of death. An accountant can advise on estate tax questions.
  • Do not pay debts out of your own pocket without advice. In general, debts are paid from the estate, not by family members personally, though rules vary.

Take care of yourself

Grief affects concentration and memory. Write things down, accept offers of help, and divide tasks among family members. Many funeral homes and hospices offer grief support resources or can point you to local groups.

Frequently asked questions

Who do I call first when someone dies at home?

If the person was in hospice care, call the hospice agency first. If the death was unexpected or the person was not under hospice care, call 911.

How quickly does a funeral home need to be called?

There is usually no strict deadline in the first hour, but most families contact a funeral home within a few hours. Religious traditions that call for prompt burial, such as Jewish and Muslim practice, make an early call more important.

Does the funeral home notify Social Security?

Funeral homes often report the death to the Social Security Administration as part of filing the death certificate. Ask your funeral director to confirm, and contact SSA directly to apply for any benefits.

Who has the right to make funeral decisions?

If the person left written instructions or appointed an agent, those usually come first. Otherwise, state law sets an order of next of kin, commonly the spouse, then adult children, then parents and siblings.

How many death certificates should I order?

Order enough for every bank, insurer, pension and agency that needs an original certified copy. Funeral directors often suggest starting with somewhere around 5 to 10, and you can order more later if needed.