First 24 hours: a gentle checklist
If someone may still be alive or needs urgent help, or if the death was sudden or unexpected, call 911 now. If the person was in hospice care, call the hospice.
A short, general list of things families commonly think about in the first day. None of it has to be done alone, or all at once.
Right now
- Take a moment. If you can, ask a friend or relative to be with you.
- Hospice, hospital or care-home staff can usually tell you what happens next and whom to call. Ask them.
- If you are not sure whom to call, ask the doctor, the hospital or hospice, or a funeral home. They can explain the next steps.
In the first day
- Let one or two close people know, and ask them to pass the news on so you do not have to repeat it.
- Make sure children, other dependents and pets are looked after.
- If you are leaving the home, lock up and take the keys.
- Look for any written wishes the person may have left, such as a letter of instruction, or papers from a plan made in advance. Ask the people close to them whether they know where these are.
- Keep a notebook by the phone. Write down the names and numbers of the people you speak with and what they tell you.
- Ask who has the right to make decisions. This depends on where you live:
Rules vary by state. Your state decides who has the legal right to make these decisions and sign the forms, including for cremation. Many states set an order of priority, such as a person named in writing, then a spouse or next of kin, and some set deadlines. Ask the funeral home or your state's funeral board what applies.
Permits, death certificate steps, embalming exceptions, waiting periods before cremation, and transport across state lines also vary. The funeral home can usually tell you what's needed, including whether you must sign anything in person.
- When you are ready, you may choose to gather price information from one or more funeral homes. Our Plan from home tool can help you write down your questions.
- Eat something, drink water, and rest when you can.
What can usually wait
Many tasks can wait for days or weeks. If something feels urgent, ask the funeral home or hospice whether it truly is.
This is a planning aid, not legal advice. We are not a funeral home, funeral director, cremation provider or broker. We don't arrange funerals, contact funeral homes, recommend any provider or receive any payment from them. You decide what to send and who to send it to.
This checklist is general. It is not legal, medical or estate advice, and practices vary by state and by situation.
Federal funeral price rules, for reference
This checklist is general guidance we wrote ourselves. The sources below cover the federal price rules only.
- 16 CFR Part 453, the FTC Funeral Rule (Legal Information Institute)
- FTC consumer advice: The FTC Funeral Rule
- FTC business guidance: Complying with the Funeral Rule
Last checked 5 November 2026. These pages are general information, not legal advice, and rules can change.