Losing someone you love is one of life’s most profound moments. In the minutes, hours, and days that follow, it can be hard to think clearly, yet decisions need to be made and steps taken. Knowing ahead of time what steps to take after someone dies can bring a quiet sense of order to an otherwise overwhelming, emotion-heavy time.

Heart to Heart Hospice created this guide to walk your family through what happens after a loved one passes, from the first phone call to the paperwork that follows. Whether your loved one was under hospice care or passed unexpectedly, we want you to feel informed, supported, and never alone as you take on the next steps after death.

For a more comprehensive resource to keep on hand, our Patient and Family Handbook covers this and more.

Who Should You Call When Someone Dies?

  • If your loved one was on hospice care, you should call your hospice nurse or care team immediately. They are trained for this moment and will come to the home to officially pronounce the death, notify the appropriate parties, and guide your family through the next steps. You do not need to call 911. Your hospice team is your first call, and they will take it from there.
  • If the death was unexpected, call 911 immediately. Responders will confirm the death and, if needed, contact the medical examiner. You should not move the body or disturb the room while you wait—this is standard protocol to rule out any concerns.
  • If your loved one passed away in their sleep, even if a natural cause seems likely, a death with no one present should be treated as an unexpected death — call 911. They need to determine the cause of death before the body can be released to a funeral home. This may feel clinical in a tender moment, but it is a necessary step to protect your family legally and ensure everything is handled properly.

For a broader overview of the steps that follow, resources like the National Institute on Aging offer helpful guidance

What Hospice Does After a Loved One Passes

If your loved one was under hospice care, you don’t have to navigate the immediate aftermath alone. Your hospice team will step in to handle much of the logistics, so your family can focus on being together.

Here is what you can expect from your hospice team in those first hours:

  • Official Pronouncement of Death: A hospice nurse will come to the home to officially pronounce the time of death. This is a necessary legal step, and your team will handle it with care and respect.
  • Medication Disposal: Hospice teams are legally required to assist with the safe disposal of any remaining medications. This is handled promptly and responsibly to protect everyone in the home.
  • Medical Equipment Removal: Your team will coordinate the pickup of any medical equipment so your family doesn’t have to worry about arranging that on your own.
  • Funeral Home Coordination: In many cases, your hospice team will contact the funeral home on your behalf and help prepare your loved one for transport. If you haven’t chosen a funeral home yet, they can help guide that conversation.
  • Bereavement Support: Bereavement Coordinators are available to walk alongside your family after the loss. Their role doesn’t end when your loved one passes — they provide emotional support, connect you with grief resources, and ensure your family feels seen and cared for in the weeks that follow.

What Should Families Do in the First 24 Hours?

The first 24 hours after a loved one passes can feel like a blur. There is no need to do everything at once; your priority is taking care of the immediate essentials and leaning on the people around you.

Here is what those first hours may look like:

  • Pronouncement of Death: Before anything else can proceed, a medical professional must formally declare the time of death. This is the task of either the hospice nurse or, if the death was unexpected, the responding officers or the medical examiner.
  • Notify Close Family and Friends: There is no perfect way to share this news. Start with a small circle of immediate family, and consider asking someone you trust to notify others. You don’t have to make every call yourself.
  • Secure the Home: In the hours that follow, make sure the home is locked up and that any pets are fed and cared for. If your loved one’s care plan included conversations about pet placement, your hospice social worker can help coordinate that transition.

How Long Can a Body Stay at Home After Death?

One question families often don’t think to ask ahead of time is how long a loved one can remain at home after passing. The answer may bring more comfort than you expect.

In most cases, a body can remain at home for several hours, typically between two and six hours, before needing to be moved, allowing you to take the time you need to sit with your loved one and say goodbye.

However, there are practical and legal considerations. Many states, including Texas and Florida, require that a body be refrigerated, embalmed, or buried within 24 hours. If your family wishes to extend that time — up to 72 hours in some cases — the room should be kept cool, ideally below 70°F, or dry ice and cooling methods can be used to slow the natural process.

If you are unsure about the rules in your state, your hospice team or funeral home can walk you through what is permitted and help you make the choice that feels right for your family.

What Paperwork Is Needed After a Death?

In the days following a loss, paperwork is probably the last thing on your mind, but getting a few key documents in order early can prevent complications. Your hospice social worker will help guide this process, but here is a general overview of what your family will need.

  • Legal Identification: A driver’s license or passport for the deceased will be needed for several legal and financial processes.
  • Social Security Number: This is required to file benefit claims and complete the death certificate.
  • Death Certificate: The death certificate is one of the most important documents you will need — and you will likely need multiple certified copies. For hospice patients, the certificate is signed by the hospice medical director. You will use certified copies to notify banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and more.
  • Life Insurance Policies: Gather any existing policies to begin the claims process.
  • Veteran Papers (DD-214): If your loved one served in the military, this document is needed to access military burial benefits.
  • Notifying Social Security: One of the most important notifications to make after a loss is to the Social Security Administration. In many cases, your funeral home will report the death on your family’s behalf, but it’s worth confirming. If you need to report it yourself, call 1-800-772-1213. Note that any Social Security payment received for the month of death must be returned.

For a full overview of notifications and next steps, USA.gov offers helpful and easy-to-follow guidance.

What to Do After a Loved One Passes: A Simple Checklist

This short checklist is meant to serve as a quiet guide — something you can return to when you need a reminder of where you are in the process. For a more detailed step-by-step resource, this checklist from Bereavement Advice is a helpful companion.

Immediately After Passing

  • Call your hospice nurse (if your loved one was on hospice) or call 911 (if the death was unexpected or unattended)
  • Do not disturb the room if the death was unexpected
  • Allow time for the family to gather and say goodbye

The First 24 Hours

  • Confirm official pronouncement of death
  • Contact a funeral home to arrange transport
  • Notify close family and friends
  • Secure the home and arrange care for any pets

The Following Days

  • Obtain multiple certified copies of the death certificate
  • Gather legal identification, Social Security number, and any insurance policies
  • Notify the Social Security Administration
  • Locate any veteran papers (DD-214) if applicable
  • Begin the life insurance claims process

How Heart to Heart Hospice Helps Families after a Loved One’s Death

There is no perfect way to grieve, and there is no perfect way to manage the days that follow a loss. What matters most is that your family feels supported, informed, and never alone in the process.

At Heart to Heart Hospice, our team — from our nurses and social workers to our Bereavement Coordinators — walks alongside families not just in the final days but in the weeks and months that follow, because grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and neither does our care.

If you have questions about what to expect or how we can support your family through this journey, we encourage you to reach out to our care team.

For further guidance on navigating life after loss, AARP’s When a Loved One Dies checklist is a thoughtful and practical resource for families.