You don't have to figure everything out today.
Whatever you're feeling right now — shock, grief, exhaustion, nothing at all — that's okay. There's no wrong way to feel. This page covers only what actually matters in the first few hours and days. Everything else can wait.
The first few hours
If the death happened at home and was expected — with a hospice nurse or under a doctor's care — you can call the hospice provider or the doctor to come pronounce the death. You don't need to rush. There is no emergency. You can sit with your loved one for as long as you need.
If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 911. They will guide you through what comes next.
You do not need to call a funeral home immediately. In most cases you have hours, sometimes longer. The body will be cared for when you're ready to make that call.
If you're alone, call someone. A friend, a sibling, a neighbor — anyone you trust enough to simply be there. You don't need them to do anything. You just shouldn't be alone with this right now.
You don't have to make any big decisions today. Not about arrangements, not about finances, not about anything. The decisions can wait. You cannot.
The first day or two
When you feel ready — and only then — you can begin to contact a funeral home. Most families have more time than they realize. If your loved one is at a hospital or under hospice care, the facility will keep you informed. You don't need to decide anything in a panic.
Start telling close family and friends, but only at your own pace. If someone offers to help, let them make calls. You don't have to carry every conversation yourself. Delegating the notification calls to someone you trust is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself right now.
If you're the next of kin, you may be asked to make decisions about your loved one's remains — burial, cremation, transport. You're allowed to say "I need a little time." A reputable funeral home will give you that space.
You do not need to touch any paperwork, bank accounts, or legal matters yet. Death certificates, estate questions, account closures — none of that is urgent. It will keep for days, even weeks. Right now, none of it matters.
Eat something. Sleep if you can. Let people bring food if they offer. These are not small things.
When you're ready, we'll be here.
There's no timeline. Come back to these when it feels right.
Everything you need to do, in order
When you're ready to start the practical work — funeral arrangements, notifications, paperwork, estate — this guide covers it all, step by step.
What to do in the first seven days
A calm checklist of who to call, what to do, and what order to do it in — for when you're ready to start moving forward.
Free support for when you need to talk
Free counseling, hotlines, and peer support resources — for when you're ready to speak to someone who understands.
There's no right way to do this.
Most families figure it out one step at a time, just the way you're doing now. You don't have to have a plan. You just have to get through today.
If it helps, we can send you a simple checklist — just the next steps, nothing else. No pressure to use it until you're ready.