Get the legal pronouncement of death
A legal pronouncement of death must happen before a death certificate can be issued. Who makes the pronouncement depends on where the death occurred.
In a hospital or care facility. The staff handles this. A doctor on duty will make the pronouncement, and the facility coordinates next steps with the funeral home.
At home with hospice care. Call the hospice nurse first. They can legally pronounce death and will help arrange for the body to be transported. Do not call 911 unless the hospice line tells you to.
At home without hospice care. Call 911. Paramedics or a responding physician will make the pronouncement. If the death was unexpected, the medical examiner or coroner may need to be involved. This is standard procedure, not a sign that anything is wrong.
You do not need to do anything with the pronouncement itself. It is verbal, recorded by the person who makes it, and flows automatically into the death certificate process.
If the person was an organ donor, the hospital will coordinate this quickly. If you are unsure whether they were a donor, check their driver's license or advance directive.
Arrange care for dependents and pets
If the person who died was responsible for children, elderly family members, or pets, someone needs to step in immediately. This is the most time-sensitive task in the first 48 hours.
For children, contact the other parent, a close relative, or a trusted family friend. For pets, check whether a neighbor, family member, or friend can take them temporarily.
This can be handled with a phone call or two. Do not overthink it. The goal is short-term coverage while you figure out the bigger picture.
Notify close family and friends
Start with immediate family, then close friends. You do not need to have answers about funeral arrangements, finances, or next steps. A simple message is enough: what happened, and that you will share more when you know more.
You do not have to make every call yourself. Ask one trusted person to help notify the wider circle. If the person was active in a community (church, social group, workplace), one call to a point person in that group can spread the word without you repeating the same conversation twenty times.
Contact a funeral home
A funeral home handles transportation of the body, helps you fill out the paperwork for the death certificate, and walks you through your options for burial, cremation, or other arrangements.
If the person had pre-arranged services, find that paperwork and give the funeral home a call. If there were no pre-arrangements, ask family or friends for recommendations, or search online for funeral homes in the area where the death occurred.
What to expect at the first meeting
The funeral director will ask for basic information: the person's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. They will then walk you through your options.
By federal law (the FTC Funeral Rule), they must give you an itemized price list before you agree to anything. You have the right to buy individual items rather than a package, and to decline any service you do not want.
You do not need to decide everything in the first meeting. Take someone with you if you can.
Typical costs
- Funeral with burial: $8,000 to $15,000
- Cremation with a service: $3,000 to $7,000
- Direct cremation (no service): $1,000 to $3,000
The biggest line items are the basic services fee ($1,500 to $3,000, which is non-declinable), the casket or urn, transportation, and cemetery or crematory fees.
For state-by-state cost breakdowns, see How Much Does a Funeral Cost?.
If cost is a concern, direct cremation is the most affordable option. Veterans may qualify for VA burial benefits. Some counties have indigent burial programs. For more, see How to Plan a Funeral With No Money.
Need help keeping track?
Our free checklist walks you through every step of settling an estate.
Open the ChecklistLocate the will and estate planning documents
Look for a will, trust documents, power of attorney, and any written wishes about burial, cremation, or memorial services.
Where to look:
- Home office, filing cabinet, or desk drawers
- A fireproof safe or lockbox
- A safe deposit box at a bank (you may need a death certificate and legal authority to access this)
- With their attorney, financial advisor, or accountant
- In a digital file, email, or cloud storage
What you are looking for:
- Will
- Trust documents
- Power of attorney
- Healthcare directive or living will
- Written burial or cremation wishes
If you cannot find a will, do not let that add to the stress right now. Many estates are settled without one. State law provides a default framework for who inherits and who manages the estate. You can address this over the coming weeks.
For a full explanation of what happens when someone dies without a will, see Handling an Estate Without a Will.
Secure the home and property
If the person lived alone, their home needs attention right away. An unoccupied house with mail piling up signals that nobody is there.
- Lock all doors and windows
- Collect the mail (and continue to do so, or set up forwarding later)
- Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on the property
- Remove valuables if the home will sit empty for a while
- Check that the house is safe: turn off the stove, check for running water, adjust the thermostat
If you have access, do a quick scan for any important documents, medications, or items that need immediate attention. A more thorough walkthrough can wait until the first week.
Order death certificates
The funeral home will typically help you order certified copies of the death certificate. In most states, the funeral home submits the paperwork to the vital records office, and you receive the copies within one to two weeks.
Order at least 10 to 15 certified copies. You will need one for nearly every institution you contact: each bank, each insurance company, the Social Security Administration, the probate court, the DMV, and any retirement or investment accounts. Some institutions return them, but many do not, and waiting for returns creates delays.
Certified copies vs. photocopies
A certified copy has a raised seal and an official signature. A photocopy is what you make at home. Banks, insurers, courts, and government agencies will reject photocopies. Always provide a certified copy.
Cost
Certified copies typically cost $5 to $25 each depending on the state. Ordering through the funeral home at the time of death is the fastest option. You can order more later through your state or county vital records office, or through an authorized service like VitalChek.
For state-specific details on costs, agencies, and ordering methods, see How to Get Death Certificates.
What comes next
The tasks above are the immediate priorities. The longer-term work (notifying banks, filing insurance claims, dealing with probate and taxes, closing accounts) happens over the coming weeks and months.
For the full timeline of what needs to happen and when, see What to Do When Someone Dies: A Complete Checklist.
Need help keeping track?
Our free checklist covers every step after a death, organized by timeframe, so nothing falls through the cracks.
Open the ChecklistThis guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-24