When a Death Occurs

The first phone calls made upon receiving news of a death will depend on the circumstances. If the death occurs in a hospital or medical facility, the staff will typically handle some arrangements, such as notifying your chosen funeral home and, if necessary, arranging an autopsy.

You’ll need to notify family, friends, and clergy. To ease the burden, consider reaching out to close relatives and asking them to inform specific people. This can help reduce the number of calls you need to make. If you're alone, don't hesitate to ask someone to stay with you as you make those initial calls and navigate the early hours after the death.

If a death occurs at home or at work, the first call must be made to 911. Any unexpected death without a physician or medical personnel present must be reported to the police, and an investigation will follow. The coroner will examine the body and, if necessary, arrange for an autopsy or transport the body to the funeral home.

If your loved one was receiving medical care, be sure to notify their doctor. However, if they were in hospice care, you don’t need to call 911; simply contact the hospice facility directly.

You'll also need to notify:

The Funeral Home: A funeral director can assist with arranging the transportation of the body to the funeral home, collecting information for the death certificate and obituary, notifying other parties such as Social Security, and offering grief support.

The Employer: If the deceased was employed, notify their employer as soon as possible. Inquire about any benefits they were receiving or will receive, such as any pay owed (including unused vacation or sick time), disability income, etc. Check if you or other dependents are still eligible for benefit coverage through the employer. Also, determine if there was a life insurance policy through the employer, confirm the beneficiary, and learn how to file a claim.

The Life Insurance Company: Search through the deceased’s important papers for a life insurance policy. Contact the insurance agent or company to find out how to file a claim. Generally, the beneficiary (or their guardian, if a minor) will need to complete the claim forms and provide required documents, including a certified death certificate and claimant’s statement. Be sure to ask about payment options, as you may have the choice between a lump sum or having the funds placed in an interest-bearing account from which you can write checks.

Other Organizations: The funeral home will often contact Social Security and the Veterans Administration (if applicable) on your behalf. However, you should also reach out to any unions, professional organizations, or fraternal groups your loved one was a member of. These organizations may provide life insurance or other benefits.

The Court: If you are named as the executor of your loved one’s will, you’ll need to file a probate case with the court. While hiring an attorney isn’t required, it might be helpful to consult one experienced in probate. As the executor, you’ll be responsible for fulfilling the deceased's wishes, paying creditors, and managing the estate. The probate process can be complex and lengthy.

The Bank: If you had a joint account with the deceased, you may be able to continue using the account, depending on how it was set up. Otherwise, only the will’s executor or administrator can access the account after submitting the necessary paperwork. Contact the bank to learn about their specific requirements.

When you first contact the funeral home, you will likely be asked a few general questions about funeral plans. These may include vital details about the deceased, whether there was a prearranged plan or will, the family's preference for burial or cremation, and your thoughts on the types of services you'd like to hold. Final arrangements will be discussed and confirmed during your meeting with the funeral director. Below is a general list of items you may want to bring with you to the arrangement conference (though it may not cover everything).

• Vital information about the deceased: date and place of birth and death, parents’ names, names of predeceased relatives and survivors, Social Security number, dates of marriages and divorces
• Highest level of education
• Occupation
• Military information, including separation or discharge papers (DD-214), if the deceased was a veteran
• Information about any pre-arrangement, if applicable
• Burial or final disposition preferences, especially if a cemetery plot has been purchased
• Recent photographs (one or two) for use during the embalming and cosmetizing process
• Names and phone numbers of clergy or celebrants you wish to involve in the services
• Clothing, including undergarments and any jewelry or glasses you wish the deceased to be viewed wearing
• Records of life insurance policies

If you are the only next-of-kin, don't feel obligated to make all the arrangements on your own. It’s common for families to attend the arrangement conference together for emotional support and to share in the funeral planning process. Having others present can provide comfort and help lighten the load during a difficult time.

If your loved one made a pre-arrangement with our funeral home, we will have that information on file and will review any remaining details with you during the arrangement conference.

If the pre-arrangement was made with another funeral home and you’d like to transfer it to us, please inform us as soon as possible. If the funeral has already been prepaid at another funeral home, we can transfer those funds to ensure your loved one's wishes are honored.

If a death occurs away from home, please contact us first. We will work with a local funeral home near the place of death to arrange for the preparation and transportation of the remains back to our funeral home. If you plan to have a service before returning your loved one to your home area, we can also assist with coordinating those arrangements with the other funeral home.

Dying intestate—without a will—means that a probate judge will appoint an administrator to manage the deceased’s estate. If you are chosen as the administrator, your responsibilities will mirror those of an executor of a will: distributing assets, paying creditors, and balancing the estate.

Many people assume that, upon death, all assets automatically go to the spouse. However, without a will, this is not always the case. In most states, the assets will be divided between the surviving spouse and any children, regardless of the children’s ages. If there are no children, some assets may be granted to the deceased’s parents. In the case of a single person with children, the entire estate will be split among them. For a single person with no children, the estate may go to the parents (or to siblings if the parents are deceased).

It’s important to remember that state probate laws vary, and individual circumstances can influence the distribution of the deceased’s assets in probate court. If you have questions or concerns, it may be helpful to consult an attorney experienced in end-of-life planning and probate.

Veterans are eligible for benefits regardless of whether they are interred in a national or private cemetery. If your loved one will be laid to rest in a national cemetery, the benefits include a gravesite in any national cemetery with available space, fees for opening and closing the grave, a government-issued headstone or marker, a flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate—all at no cost to the family.

If the veteran will be buried in a private cemetery, they are still eligible for a government headstone or marker, a flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. In some cases, they may also qualify for a burial allowance. To find out exactly what benefits your loved one is entitled to, you can contact the Veterans Administration directly or visit their website for more information.