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Data vintage: NFDA 2023 medians adjusted to August 2026 dollars via BLS CPI for funeral expenses; 2024 BEA regional price parities · Updated 2026-09-23
What to do when someone dies: the first 48 hours

What to do when someone dies: the first 48 hours

By Dmitriy TyutyunikUpdated September 23, 2026Editorial policy

Quick answer: the first 48 hours are about logistics, not decisions. Get the death pronounced, tell the closest people, secure the person's home, and choose a funeral provider calmly — comparing prices by phone first, which is your right under the FTC Funeral Rule. Order plenty of certified death certificates ($5–$35 each depending on the state). Almost everything else — the ceremony details, sorting belongings, closing accounts — can wait until you are thinking clearly.

If you are reading this in shock, slow down. The list below is in time order, and nothing on it needs to happen in the first hour except the first item. Many of the choices that feel urgent are not — and the decisions you make in grief should be as few and as reversible as possible. Print this or bookmark it, and work through it one step at a time.

The checklist

  1. Get the death pronounced. A death must be legally pronounced before a funeral home can proceed. If the person was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse — they handle the pronouncement and know the drill. If the death was unexpected and occurred at home, call 911. If it happened in a hospital or care facility, the staff will arrange this.
  2. Call the closest people. Call the person's spouse or partner, children, and anyone listed as an emergency contact. You do not have to call everyone yourself — ask one or two relatives to spread the word through the wider family. It also helps to ask someone to handle the stream of incoming calls and messages for the next few days, so you can focus on the checklist.
  3. Secure the home, pets, and valuables. Lock the home and make sure someone trusted can check on it. Feed and shelter any pets — a neighbor, friend, or boarding service will do for now. Collect medications, cash, important documents, and valuables into one secure place. This is not the time to sort anything; just make it safe.
  4. Call a funeral home or cremation provider — and compare first.If the person left a prepaid arrangement or named a provider, use that one. Otherwise, call two or three and compare by phone first: under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must give you prices over the phone. Ask each one for their General Price List — the Rule requires them to hand it to you in person before discussing options. You do not have to accept the first provider that contacts you, and you may not be pressured into buying a casket from them — the Rule forbids that. Know your rights under the Funeral Rule and how to compare providers.
  5. Decide burial vs. cremation — at a high level only. The provider only needs to know which direction you are going so they can begin the legal paperwork and schedule. Details like the casket, urn, ceremony format, and venue can all be chosen later. If you need a refresher on the options, see our service types guide.
  6. Gather vital information for the death certificate. The funeral director or the person filing the certificate will ask for the deceased's full legal name, date and place of birth, Social Security number, parents' full names (including mother's maiden name), marital status and spouse's name, occupation, military service history, and citizenship. Pull together the birth certificate, Social Security card, marriage license, and discharge papers if you can find them. If something is missing, do not stall — the certificate can be amended later.
  7. Order certified death certificates — more than you think.Copies typically cost $5–$35 each depending on the state, and you will need them for banks, insurers, investment accounts, property, and sometimes the employer's benefits office. Photocopies will not do: most institutions require a certified copy with a raised seal. A reasonable rule of thumb is ten to fifteen copies. Ordering more later is possible, but it is slow and expensive when a house sale or benefit claim is already moving.
  8. Notify the employer, Social Security, banks, and insurers.Call the deceased's employer to ask about any life insurance, pension, or unpaid-wages benefits. Notify the Social Security Administration — survivors may be eligible for a one-time death benefit or ongoing survivor benefits. Tell the banks and insurers, but do not close or move accounts yet; you will need the certificates, and some accounts freeze automatically on notification. The funeral home or hospice can often give you a list of who to call and when.
  9. If they were a veteran, contact the VA. Veterans may be entitled to burial benefits — including burial in a national cemetery and, in some cases, a headstone, burial flag, and partial reimbursement. You will need the discharge papers (DD-214) if you can find them; the VA can also help locate service records. Ask the funeral provider or the county veterans' office how to start the claim.
  10. Take care of yourself. You do not have to be composed. Eat something, drink water, and sleep when you can — decision fatigue in the first days is real, and it is exactly why the big financial decisions can wait. Funeral homes and hospice programs can usually point you toward grief support groups or counselors, and your primary-care doctor or a faith leader are also fine places to start. If you are arranging for a child or a sudden, traumatic loss, ask specifically about counselors who specialize in that.

What can wait

Nothing on this list needs to happen in the first 48 hours. Write it down, then put it aside for at least a couple of weeks:

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my time before choosing a funeral provider?

Yes. Nothing requires you to decide in the first hours, and there is no legal obligation to accept the first provider that contacts you. If a hospital or facility is pressing you to arrange a transfer, you can calmly choose a different provider yourself — under the FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home must give you prices over the phone so you can compare before anyone visits.

Do I have to use the funeral home that first transported the body?

No. If a hospital or care facility arranged a transport with a provider you did not choose, you are free to select a different funeral home or crematory and have the body transferred. Ask for the General Price List before you visit anyone in person — the FTC Funeral Rule requires providers to hand it to you before discussing options.

How many certified death certificates should I order?

Order more than you think you need. You will need certified copies — typically $5–$35 each depending on the state — for banks, insurers, investment accounts, real estate, and sometimes vehicle titles. Getting extra copies now is far easier and faster than ordering more later, when probate or a house sale is already underway.

Do I have to pay the funeral home right away?

No. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, you must receive an itemized written statement showing exactly what you are being charged for before you pay. That means no lump sums demanded on the spot without a breakdown. If money is tight, ask about payment timelines — and read our guide on paying for a funeral before you put anything on a credit card.

What if I do not know what the person wanted?

Check for a will, a letter of instruction, a prepaid funeral arrangement, or notes with a lawyer or financial adviser — many people leave wishes somewhere. If nothing turns up, make the high-level decision (burial or cremation) based on what the family believes they would have wanted, and defer every detail. Laws vary by state on who is authorized to make arrangements, so the provider will tell you whose signature is needed.

Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule → · How to pay for a funeral → · Compare funeral homes → · Funeral terms glossary →

Data vintage: NFDA 2023 medians adjusted to August 2026 dollars via BLS CPI for funeral expenses; 2024 BEA regional price parities. Last updated 2026-09-23.