What is the first thing to do when someone dies?

Get a legal pronouncement of death. Call hospice if the death was expected at home, 911 if it was unexpected; hospital or facility staff handle it automatically.

How long can a body stay at home after death?

Usually several hours, and longer with refrigeration or in cooler conditions, while you arrange transport. Hospice or a funeral home can advise based on your situation and state rules.

Do I have to use the funeral home that picks up the body?

No. Transport into a provider's care does not commit you to using them. You can compare providers and prices before making arrangements.

When should I order the death certificate?

The funeral home typically files for it within the first few days. Order multiple certified copies — you'll need them for insurance, banks, and government agencies.

After a death

What to Do When Someone Dies: The First 48 Hours

By Karl-Gustav Kallasmaa

Published June 2026

A calm, step-by-step checklist for the first two days after a death — who to call, what to secure, and what can wait.

Part of What to do when someone dies

In the first hours after a death, most decisions are smaller than they feel, and many can wait. Here is what genuinely needs to happen first.

Step 1 — Get a legal pronouncement of death

Nothing else can proceed until death is officially pronounced. If it happened at home and was expected (for example, under hospice care), call the hospice line — they handle the pronouncement. If it was unexpected, call 911. In a hospital or care facility, the staff take care of this automatically.

Step 2 — Notify the immediate circle

Tell close family and a few people who can help you make calls and decisions. You don’t need to notify everyone today.

Step 3 — Arrange transport of the body

If you already know which funeral home or cremation provider you’ll use, call them — they’ll transport the deceased into their care. If you haven’t chosen yet, the body can remain where it is for a short time, or be moved to the medical examiner or a funeral home while you decide. You are not obligated to use the first provider who transports the body.

Step 4 — Secure the essentials

Look for any funeral wishes, preneed plan, or life/final-expense insurance the person left.
Secure their home, pets, and property — and any vehicles.
Locate important documents: will, ID, insurance policies, military discharge papers (DD-214) if a veteran.

Step 5 — Begin arrangements (this can wait a day)

Once the immediate steps are done, you can start choosing between burial and cremation and getting itemized prices. Don’t rush this — compare a couple of general price lists. Our funeral planning checklist tool walks you through it, and the cost calculator helps you budget.

What comes next

In the following days you’ll order copies of the death certificate — see how to get a death certificate — and notify Social Security, banks, and other institutions. Requirements vary by state; we cover the legal and paperwork steps state by state at what to do when someone dies. For veterans, review veterans funeral benefits early, since they affect your options.