when death occurs

When a Death Occurs

Contact The Proper Authorities

Before any arrangements and decisions can be made, a legal pronouncement of death must be declared. If your loved one dies inside of a medical or nursing facility like a hospital or nursing home, the staff will handle getting this declaration made. If your loved one dies at home, you need to immediately contact the local emergency officials to come and take them to a hospital where they can be legally declared dead. Family members who die under hospice care can be declared dead by the hospice staff. This legal declaration must be made before the family can proceed with making any funeral arrangements or handling any legal affairs.


Begin Making Arrangements

Once your loved one has been declared dead, you and your family can proceed with making funeral arrangements. Your loved one may have preplanned services, and you and your family should first review those choices. If your loved one has not made arrangements, and you have decided which funeral home to use, contact them to meet with the funeral director and discuss your options.


During this time, if the deceased hasn’t made their final wishes known, the family will need to decide if they will bury or cremate the body, and what type of service should be held. These decisions include the time, date and location of any service; what type of casket or urn your loved one needs; drafting an obituary notice; deciding on pallbearers; and make any decisions about the specifics of the service like who the minister will be, what music will be played and who will speak.


As you begin making funeral arrangements, if the deceased was an active-duty or retired service member, contact the Veterans Administration to find out whether they offer death benefits or funeral honors.


Information the Funeral Home May Need

Once you have met the funeral director, they will advise you on any information or paperwork they need for the death certificate or to proceed with making final arrangements.

Information Required:

  • Full name and address
  • Marital Status
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Date and city of birth
  • Highest Level of Education
  • Father’s name, mother’s maiden name
  • Name of spouse
  • Occupation and Employer


Documents Funeral Directors May Need

Funeral directors will need important documents to complete any legal paperwork. These documents include:

  • Account statements
  • Beneficiary Designations
  • Life insurance policies
  • Military Discharge papers (form DD 214)
  • Social Security Number


Taking Care of Personal Property

After your loved one’s death, there are a few things you need to take care of regarding their personal affairs. First, secure your loved one’s property. Make sure their home and vehicle are properly secured.


If your loved one has a pet, make the necessary arrangements for the pet to be taken care of by family or friends. Any mail that comes to your loved one should be forwarded to a family member that plans to handle the deceased’s estate. Any mail that piles up at a vacant home only alarms potential intruders that a home is empty.


Be sure to contact the deceased’s employer and inform them of the death. If your loved one had any upcoming appointments, contact the providers to notify them of the death and cancel the appointments.