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The first 24 hours after someone dies can feel overwhelming and disorienting. You are processing shock and grief while simultaneously needing to take specific actions and make important decisions. Having a clear checklist of immediate steps can help you navigate this difficult time with more confidence and less confusion.

This guide outlines the essential tasks that typically need attention within the first day after a death occurs. Not every situation requires every step, and the order may vary depending on circumstances, but understanding what generally needs to happen can reduce stress during an already impossibly hard time.

Immediate Actions: The First Hour

Obtain Official Pronouncement of Death

Before anything else can proceed, a medical professional must officially pronounce the person deceased. How this happens depends on where the death occurred.

If death occurred at home with hospice care: The hospice nurse will pronounce death and handle initial documentation. They will guide you through the next steps and can remain with you until other arrangements are made.

If death occurred at home without hospice: Call 911 or your local emergency number. Emergency responders will arrive to assess the situation. If the death was expected and you have documentation from a physician, inform the responders immediately. If the death was unexpected, police may also respond as part of standard protocol.

If death occurred in a hospital or care facility: Medical staff will pronounce death and provide you with necessary documentation. A hospital social worker or patient advocate can explain next steps and available resources.

If death occurred in a public place or was unexpected: Emergency services and potentially law enforcement will respond. In cases of unexpected death, a medical examiner or coroner may need to investigate before releasing the body.

Notify Immediate Family Members

Once death has been officially pronounced, begin notifying close family members and anyone who would want to know immediately. This is emotionally difficult but important.

Consider designating one family member to serve as a central contact point who can then notify others. This prevents you from having to repeat painful information multiple times and ensures consistent communication.

If the deceased had specific wishes about who should be notified first, honor those preferences when possible.

Understanding Body Transportation

Know Your Options

Many people assume they must immediately call a funeral home, but you generally have more time and options than you might think. In most states, you are not required to use a funeral home at all, though most families choose to for practical reasons.

If death occurred at home: You typically have several hours before the body needs to be moved. You can take time to gather family, say goodbyes, and make thoughtful decisions rather than rushing.

If death occurred in a hospital or facility: The facility will have protocols for body storage and will work with you on timing. Hospitals can usually hold a body in their morgue for a limited time, giving you hours or even a day to make arrangements.

If death occurred under medical examiner or coroner jurisdiction: The body will be transported to their facility for examination. You will be notified when the body is released and can make arrangements at that time.

Choosing Transportation Services

You have options for who transports the body and where it goes:

Funeral home: Traditional choice. They will handle transportation and storage while you make arrangements.

Direct disposition service: Some areas have services that handle only transportation and cremation or burial, without traditional funeral services.

Private transport: In some states, family members can legally transport the deceased themselves, though this is uncommon and requires understanding specific legal requirements.

Before authorizing any transport, understand that once a funeral home takes possession of the body, you will likely work with that funeral home for remaining services, though you are not legally obligated to do so.

Critical First Steps

Secure the Residence and Belongings

If the deceased lived alone or the death occurred at home, take steps to secure the property:

Physical security: Lock all doors and windows. If you cannot stay at the residence, ensure it is properly secured. Consider changing locks if keys were in the possession of healthcare workers or others who no longer need access.

Valuables: Secure jewelry, important documents, medications, and other valuable items. This protects against theft and also preserves items for estate settlement.

Pets: If the deceased had pets, arrange for their immediate care. Ensure they have food, water, and supervision. Contact family members or friends who can help, or reach out to local animal services if needed.

Utilities and security systems: Decide whether utilities should remain on or be adjusted. If there is a security system, ensure it remains active if the home will be empty.

Perishables: If practical, remove perishable food from the refrigerator, especially if the home will be vacant for an extended period.

Gather Essential Documents

You will need several documents in the coming days. Begin locating these items:

Identification: Driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID of the deceased. You will need this for death certificate processing and various notifications.

Legal documents: Will, trust documents, power of attorney paperwork, and any advance directives. These may contain specific wishes about funeral arrangements or body disposition.

Insurance policies: Life insurance policies, burial insurance, or final expense policies. These will be needed to file claims.

Financial information: Bank account information, credit card accounts, investment accounts. You will not need to close these immediately, but knowing where they are helps.

Property documents: Home deed, vehicle titles, property tax records.

Military records: If the deceased was a veteran, discharge papers (DD-214) will be needed for burial benefits and possible military honors.

Social Security information: Social Security card or number for death certificate and benefit claims.

Do not feel pressure to locate everything within 24 hours. Focus on immediate needs like identification and any documents containing funeral wishes. Other paperwork can be gathered over the coming days and weeks.

Decisions That May Need Immediate Attention

Autopsy Considerations

In some cases, you may be asked about autopsy options:

Required autopsy: If death was unexpected, unexplained, or occurred under certain circumstances, the medical examiner or coroner may require an autopsy. You do not have a choice in these situations, and there is typically no cost to the family.

Optional autopsy: If death was from natural causes but questions remain about exact cause or contributing factors, a physician may suggest an optional autopsy. Families sometimes request this for peace of mind or if there are hereditary health concerns. Optional autopsies must be arranged privately and involve costs.

Religious or personal objections: If you have religious or personal objections to autopsy and one is being requested (not required), communicate this clearly. In non-mandatory situations, your wishes will be respected.

Organ and Tissue Donation

If the deceased was a registered organ donor or expressed wishes about donation, time is critical for some organs.

Registered donors: If the person is in a donor registry, the hospital or medical examiner will contact the organ procurement organization automatically.

No prior registration: You can still authorize donation if it aligns with what you believe the deceased would have wanted. Tissue donation (corneas, skin, bone, heart valves) is often possible even hours after death when organ donation is not.

Religious and cultural considerations: Most major religions support organ donation, though some have specific requirements. If you have concerns, donation organizations can connect you with religious advisors.

Donation does not prevent open-casket funeral services and does not cost the family anything. The donation organization covers all costs related to donation.

Notifications and Communication

Who Needs to Know Immediately

Employer: If the deceased was currently employed, notify their employer within the first 24 hours. This allows them to handle benefits, final paychecks, and remove the person from active work systems.

Close friends: Inform close friends who would want to know immediately and who might provide support to you and your family.

Clergy or spiritual advisor: If the deceased was part of a faith community, notify their religious leader. They can provide spiritual support and may help with funeral planning (aff).

Landlord: If the deceased rented their residence, notify the landlord promptly to discuss lease obligations.

Notifications That Can Wait

Do not feel pressured to notify everyone within 24 hours. The following can typically wait a few days:

Extended family and distant friends: You can communicate with these individuals over the next several days.

Government agencies: Social Security, Medicare, and other government notifications are important but do not need to happen within 24 hours.

Financial institutions: Banks, credit card companies, and investment firms should be notified, but this can happen after you have death certificates in hand, which takes several days to weeks.

Subscriptions and services: Canceling newspapers, gym memberships, and similar services can wait until after immediate arrangements are complete.

Self-Care and Support During the First 24 Hours

Accept Help

People genuinely want to help but often do not know what to do. When someone asks “What can I do?” or “How can I help?” give them specific tasks:

• “Can you call these three people and let them know?”
• “Could you pick up groceries so we have food in the house?”
• “Would you be willing to stay here while I go to the funeral home?”
• “Can you help me locate these documents?”

Having concrete tasks helps supporters feel useful and takes burdens off you.

Basic Self-Care

In the shock and activity of the first 24 hours, basic needs often get forgotten:

Eat something: Even if you do not feel hungry, your body needs fuel. Simple foods are fine.

Stay hydrated: Keep water nearby and drink regularly.

Rest if possible: You do not need to handle everything immediately. If you can sleep or rest, do so.

Accept that you are not functioning normally: Grief affects cognitive function. You may forget things, feel confused, or have trouble making decisions. This is completely normal.

Emotional Reactions Are Normal

However you feel right now is okay. Common reactions in the first 24 hours include:

• Shock and numbness (feeling like this is not real)
• Disbelief (expecting the person to walk through the door)
• Physical symptoms (nausea, headache, exhaustion, chest tightness)
• Inability to cry (or inability to stop crying)
• Anger, guilt, relief, or combinations of conflicting emotions

There is no “right” way to grieve. Your reactions are valid.

What Does Not Need to Happen in 24 Hours

To reduce overwhelm, remember that many tasks can wait:

Funeral planning details: Unless there are specific time-sensitive religious requirements, you do not need to plan an entire funeral within 24 hours. Basic decisions about burial versus cremation and which funeral home to use are typically sufficient initially.

Obituary writing: This can wait several days. You do not need to write and publish an obituary within the first day.

Financial account closures: Do not rush to close bank accounts or cancel credit cards. In fact, some accounts should remain open temporarily for estate settlement.

Cleaning out belongings: Do not feel pressured to immediately sort through the deceased’s possessions. This emotional task can wait weeks or even months.

Making permanent decisions: If possible, avoid making major irreversible decisions in the first 24 hours when you are in shock. Basic necessary choices are unavoidable, but anything that can wait should wait until you are thinking more clearly.

Looking Ahead: What Comes Next

The first 24 hours are about taking essential immediate actions and giving yourself permission to not have everything figured out. In the days ahead, you will:

• Make detailed funeral or memorial arrangements
• Order death certificates
• Notify agencies and institutions
• File insurance claims
• Begin estate settlement processes

For now, focus on the immediate steps, accept support, and be gentle with yourself. There is no perfect way to navigate these first hours, and simply doing your best is enough.

Additional Resources and Support

If you need immediate support or have questions:

Crisis support: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or text “HELLO” to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).

Funeral planning guidance: The Federal Trade Commission provides consumer information about funeral planning at https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/ftc-funeral-rule

Grief support: Many communities have grief support services. Hospice organizations often provide grief counseling even if your loved one was not in their care.

24/7 AI support: If you need someone to talk to at any hour, Solace provides compassionate guidance at https://MemorialMerits.com/meet-solace/

Remember that this checklist is a general guide. Your specific situation may require different steps or have different timing. Trust your instincts, ask for help when needed, and know that there is support available as you navigate this difficult journey.