What To Do Immediately When A Death Occurs

What to Do When
a Death Occurs

What happens when someone dies? If you have no idea, don’t worry. You are not alone. The truth is, most Canadians have never been involved in the funeral arrangement process and have little idea where to turn, who to ask for help and what steps need to be taken. When a death occurs, whether it is expected or sudden, there are many decisions that need to be made in a short period of time. Paired with the grief of losing a loved one, this is a lot to handle, especially because everything is so time sensitive. 

While you may not need to make every decision right away, it is always good to have the right information and resources for understanding what to do when a death occurs. That is why we have developed a guide, based on our experience of serving thousands of families, for making crucial decisions when it matters the most. Below are some of the most important things to consider immediately after someone has passed away. 

1. Contact Emergency Personnel or Physician

When a death occurs, it is always best to call emergency personnel before doing anything else. Alternatively if the death has occurred in an expected setting, like hospice care, a retirement home or a hospital, a physician should be notified and the staff will contact the appropriate authorities. These are trained professionals who deal with death every day and are well-equipped to help walk you through the next steps. If none of these people were present or are not available, you can notify local law enforcement to assist you, or you contact a funeral professional to help guide you from the very beginning.

2. Find Out if the Person Has Documented Their Wishes with a Funeral Home, Cemetery or Crematorium

After you have met the immediate emergency needs of the death, it is important to find out what your loved one’s end of life wishes are. In some cases, they will have pre-planned these arrangements with a funeral service provider or they may have left instructions in a family document (check with their family) or a will (check with their lawyer or executor). Sometimes wishes are shared more casually like a discussion or a note, and other times they will have left behind nothing at all. Knowing whether you have a road map to work with or you need to start from scratch will help.

3. Schedule a Time to Meet with Your Funeral Home of Choice

Next, if the end of life arrangements are not already pre-planned, it is time to choose a funeral home and transfer your loved one into their care. Then, you will then meet with them to begin arrangements, file the necessary paperwork and go over the details of your loved one’s final sendoff. Funeral directors are the most experienced professionals you will deal with when a death occurs and you can count on them to guide you through the entire process and what is needed when. 
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4. Notify Executors, Lawyers, Employers and Other Professionals

There are certain professionals that should be notified of the death in order for them to begin preparing details for you or starting the processes needed for their accounts. These professionals can include: 
  • Insurance Agents
  • Employers
  • Lawyers
  • Accountants
  • Executors
Each of these individuals will have a hand in finalizing the affairs of the deceased. If applicable, religious, civil and Veteran Associations will need to be notified at this time. 

5. Notify Family & Friends

After your loved one is placed into the care of a funeral home and the initial details are set, it's now time to notify friends and relatives so they hear it from you, and not somewhere else. It will likely not be easy but it is something that needs to be done. You could potentially recruit other members of your family to help spread the word or do this for you if you're not comfortable.
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