When a death occurs

When someone dies: the first hours and the first week

If you are reading this because someone has just died, we are sorry. Take a breath. Very little has to happen in the first hour, and you do not have to do it alone.

In the first hours

1. If the death was unexpected, call 911. Emergency responders will guide you, and the county may need to be involved.
2. If the person was in hospice care, call the hospice nurse. Hospice staff confirm the death and help with the next call.
3. If the death happened in a hospital or care facility, the staff will ask which funeral provider you want to use.
4. Look for a pre-arranged plan. Check papers, a safe, or a file marked "funeral." If the plan was made at Inglewood Park Cemetery, call the cemetery at (310) 412-6500 or Bruce at 310-986-2860.

In the first week

• Meet with the funeral director. Bring the personal facts from our planning checklist. The funeral director files the death certificate with the county.
• Ask for several certified death certificates. Each bank, insurer, pension plan and government office will want its own copy. Ordering several at once saves trips.
• Notify Social Security. The funeral home usually reports the death, but call to confirm and to ask about any survivor benefits.
• Contact insurers, employers, and pension plans. Ask each what they need to start a claim.
• Secure the home and important papers, and ask a trusted friend to help field phone calls.

This page is general information for families in Los Angeles County, not legal advice. For questions about a will, a trust or an estate, speak with an attorney.