Of all the calls we take, this is the situation families are least prepared for. Someone passes at home. It happens suddenly, or after a long illness where the family chose not to bring in hospice care. The family is in shock and doesn't know what to do first. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do — in what order — so you don't have to figure it out in the middle of grief.
This guide is specifically for families whose loved one was not enrolled in hospice — where a sudden or unexpected death occurred at home.
Why This Matters (And What Most Funeral Homes Won't Tell You)
When death occurs at home, most families assume they should call a funeral home first. Some funeral homes will happily accept that call and tell you they're on their way. But that's not the correct legal order.
In California, when a death occurs outside of a licensed medical facility (a hospital, care facility, hospice inpatient facility) and outside of hospice care in the home, the death has to be legally pronounced by an authorized person before the body can be moved.
That means: paramedics or law enforcement (typically the sheriff's department or local police, depending on your city) need to come to the home first. They pronounce death, complete their initial paperwork, and — depending on the circumstances — decide whether the death needs to be reviewed by the coroner or medical examiner.
Only after that step is complete can a cremation provider or funeral home come to bring your loved one into their care.
The Correct Order — Step by Step
Take a moment. Then call 911.
Call 911 and explain calmly that a family member has passed away at home. If the death was expected — for instance, after a long illness — you can tell the dispatcher that. They may transfer you to the non-emergency line, or they may still dispatch paramedics. Either is fine.
If the death was completely unexpected, 911 is absolutely the right first call.
Paramedics or police arrive and pronounce death.
An authorized responder — paramedic or police officer — will come to the home, verify death, and complete a preliminary report. In Los Angeles County, this is usually paramedics from your local fire department, sometimes accompanied by sheriff's deputies or city police depending on jurisdiction.
If any circumstances of death seem unusual to them — sudden death, no known medical condition, no doctor available to sign the death certificate — they may notify the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. This is standard procedure and doesn't mean anything is wrong; it just means the coroner may need to review the case before releasing the body.
Ask the responder: "Who signs the death certificate?"
This is an important question. In California, a death certificate has to be signed by a physician who knew the decedent's medical history — often a primary care doctor or a hospital physician if there was a recent admission.
If the responder says the coroner's office will handle it, that's fine — the coroner becomes the signing authority. If they say the family's doctor should sign it, note down the doctor's information and be prepared to reach out to them or have your cremation provider coordinate that step.
Now call your cremation provider.
Once death has been pronounced and the responders' portion is complete, you can call a cremation provider (like us) to come bring your loved one into care. If you haven't chosen one yet, that's okay — call us at (213) 818-7115 and we'll walk you through the decision without pressure.
Your provider will confirm the address, ask a few basic questions about the situation, and give you an ETA. In Los Angeles County, our residence pickup response time is within 2 to 3 hours during business hours and typically the same window overnight.
While you wait, notify the immediate family.
Make the calls that need to be made. Don't worry about broader notification yet — a wider circle can wait. Right now, immediate family should know so they can be there if they want to be.
If you have children in the home, decide together how you want to handle the arrival of the cremation team. Some families prefer to be present when their loved one is taken into care; others prefer not to be. There's no wrong answer.
The cremation provider arrives.
We arrive in a discreet vehicle — not a hearse. We introduce ourselves, express our condolences quietly, and give you as much or as little time as you need before we take your loved one into our care.
We handle the physical process gently and respectfully. You do not need to help with the physical part unless you specifically want to (some families do want to help — that's okay too).
The paperwork comes next — and we handle most of it.
Once your loved one is in our care, we begin the paperwork: cremation authorization from the legal next-of-kin, coordination with the doctor for the death certificate, permit filing with the state. This typically takes 7 to 10 business days depending on how quickly the physician signs.
You'll be kept informed. You won't have to chase us.
Common Questions Families Ask in This Moment
Do I have to call 911 if the death was expected?
You still need someone authorized to pronounce death, but who that is depends on the situation:
- If your loved one was on hospice care — do not call 911. Call your hospice agency instead. Their nurse comes to the home, pronounces death, and handles the coordination.
- If your loved one was not on hospice — even if the death was expected due to a long illness — you'll need to call 911 or the non-emergency police line so paramedics or a peace officer can pronounce death.
If you're unsure, calling 911 is always safe — the dispatcher will help you sort out the right response.
What if the coroner takes the case?
If the death is under coroner review, your loved one goes to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office first for examination. Once the coroner releases the body, your cremation provider can take over from there. The cremation provider (us) coordinates directly with the coroner's office and updates you.
How long does the whole process take from here?
From pronouncement of death to return of ashes typically takes 12 to 14 business days:
- 1-2 days: Bringing your loved one into our care
- 7-10 days: Death certificate, permit, and required 24-hour waiting period
- 1-2 days: Cremation itself
- 1-2 days: Return of ashes to your family (personal delivery or shipping)
What does it cost?
Our direct cremation service in Los Angeles County is a flat $1,195 — everything included. That covers the 24/7 transportation from the home, care of your loved one, permit filing, the cremation itself, the standard urn, and the return of the ashes.
Additional death certificate copies are $26 each (California state fee, no markup). If you have specific questions about pricing, please just call us — we'll answer honestly.
What if I already called another funeral home before reading this?
You can still switch providers. You are not obligated to use whoever came to the home first. Ask them to release your loved one (they legally have to, at your request) and call us to take over. This isn't uncommon — sometimes families realize after the first hour that they want a different provider.
What Not to Do
- Don't move your loved one before the authorized responder arrives. This is important legally and for the family's peace of mind.
- Don't feel pressured to make immediate financial decisions. Some funeral homes will try to get a credit card or contract signed within the first hour. There's no reason for that. You have time.
- Don't try to handle the death certificate or notifications yourself in the first day. That comes later. Right now, just get through the first hours.
- Don't forget to breathe. Your loved one is at peace. The details will be handled.
Call us. We'll walk you through everything.
You don't have to have made a decision. You don't have to know what to do next. Just call and we'll help you figure it out — even if you don't end up using our service.
📞 Call (213) 818-7115A Note From Lawrence
I've been in this industry for nearly ten years, and this is the situation that still gets me. Families call us in the middle of the night, some of them not knowing what to say, and just need someone to tell them: "You're okay. Here's what you need to do."
If you're reading this because it's happening right now, please just call. It doesn't have to be a decision to use us. It can just be a call to get through the next hour. We answer every one.