What Must Be Done Immediately After Someone Passes Away?

The death of a loved one is harrowing to deal with, whether it is sudden or unexpected. No matter the circumstances, it can be an unreal and overwhelming time for everyone involved. Unfortunately, there are some necessary things that must be done in the hours and days after a loved one passes away. While it can seem impossible to complete any type of task, your provider of cremation services near Chesterfield, VA, can help you navigate this difficult time. That way, you won’t miss any important things, and you’ll feel less stressed about trying to remember it all.

The first thing that must be done after a loved one passes on is to call either emergency medical personnel, or their primary care provider. Someone will need to deliver the legal pronouncement of death, which is necessary for obtaining the death certificate. If they died in a care facility or the hospital, it will not be necessary to make these calls, as the staff can take care of it for you. If they passed at home without anyone else present, you are required to call the local authorities so that they can come and investigate the circumstances of their death.

After this has been taken care of, you’ll want to call your funeral home or provider of cremation services. Arrangements will need to be made regarding the transport and safekeeping of your loved one’s body, until proper services can take place. They can begin to guide you through the process of making plans for the funeral or memorial service, as well. Hopefully, your loved one will have prepared arrangements ahead of time, but if not, you and your family will need to do some decision-making.

One of the toughest things that will need doing is letting family and friends know of their loved one’s passing. You will probably want to make phone calls to immediate and close family and friends, while you may want to send a group text message to others. It’s also common to make a social media post, which can reach many more people than you may be able to with only your contacts.

It’s important that you remember to have your loved one’s home and property secured and taken care of. If they have any pets, these must be moved to a new home or temporary place to stay. Their mail should be forwarded to your address, so that it doesn’t build up in the mailbox. If there is any perishable food or other items in the home, these should be disposed of. Essentially, be sure that their home and belongings are taken care of.

In addition to these things, you will find many other tasks and decisions to be made in the following days and weeks. Be sure to enlist the help of family and friends, so that you do not become overwhelmed with it all. Allow yourself the grace and time to grieve the loss of your loved one. Your provider of cremation services near Chesterfield, VA, can help you navigate all the difficult steps, allowing you to spend more time with your family during your time of need.