When Death Occurs

The death of a loved one is never easy. But understanding the process of life’s transition and the immediate next steps—contacting the proper authorities, arranging for care and transport, planning the funeral, and securing personal property while the estate is settled—can help ease the anxiety of uncertainty.


If your loved one has recently passed or if you expect death soon, here are the immediate next steps. 

Call Horan & McConaty at (303) 745-4418

We are available day and night to assist you

Who to Contact When Someone Has Died

Who to contact first will depend on the circumstances surrounding the death.

If the death was unexpected: Contact emergency services.

In Colorado, a coroner must investigate any unattended death. If death was sudden, violent, accidental, or a cause of death is otherwise unknown, the proper authorities must clear the scene before arrangements can proceed. The first responders who arrive at the scene will let you know the next steps.

If your loved one was in hospice care at home: Call the hospice 24-hour line.

Hospice allows for a more peaceful transition at home. If your loved one was under the care of an attending physician and the cause of death is known, no emergency authorities need to be involved. Contact the hospice provider to notify them of your loved one’s passing. They will let you know what to do next.

What to Do When

Someone Dies Checklist

  • Contact the hospice line or emergency authorities
  • Check whether the deceased has a prepaid funeral plan
  • Call Horan & McConaty to arrange transport
  • Gather essential documents and papers

The attending physician, emergency responders, and funeral home are all here to help you with the next steps. 

If your loved one was at a hospital: The staff will handle it.

When a patient dies at a hospital, the attending physician will handle the pronouncement of death, and the hospital staff will notify the necessary authorities. Depending on the cause of death and circumstances, a coroner may need to investigate further before you can begin making funeral arrangements. 

Transport and Care of the Body

If an autopsy is required, the coroner’s or medical examiner’s office will be responsible for transporting and caring for the body at a county facility until it is completed. Otherwise, the body will be released into the care of the funeral home of your choice. In most cases, the body will be released within a few days, and you won’t need to wait for the autopsy results to move forward with the funeral. 


By Colorado law, the funeral director who assumes custody of a body is responsible for obtaining authorization for that body’s final disposition. Until that authorization is obtained, they cannot proceed with burial, cremation, or out-of-state transport. 


The funeral home will handle this and other necessary paperwork. They will be responsible for the care of your loved one’s body until the funeral, burial service, or cremation.

When Death Occurs Away from Home

If your loved one dies while traveling within the United States, two funeral homes will be needed to coordinate transport between state lines. You will need to contact a funeral home at the location of death to assume responsibility for the body while transport authorization is secured. Then they can arrange transport with your Denver funeral home to bring your loved one home for final rest. 


If death occurs outside of the United States, the process of having the body repatriated can be a bit more complicated. Hospitals or local police will generally contact your embassy or consulate to notify them of a U.S. citizen’s death, and the embassy will help you understand your options for returning your loved one’s body home or arranging for their disposition abroad.

Arranging for a Burial or Cremation

Once the coroner or medical examiner has released the body, if necessary, you may begin making arrangements with the funeral home. You may discover that your loved one already has a plan in place. If they do have a prepaid funeral plan, you just need to notify the funeral home, and they will proceed based on the agreed-upon arrangements. 


Otherwise, you will need to make arrangements with the funeral home to begin planning their final disposition. We answer many common funeral planning questions here.

Documents You Will Need

The funeral director is responsible for obtaining the necessary permits and authorization to proceed with burial or cremation. They will also obtain a death certificate and as many official copies as you will need. They will also notify the Social Security Administration for you. 


In order to fill out that paperwork, they will need the following information about the deceased: 


  • Full name and address
  • Social Security number
  • Marital status
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Date and city of birth
  • Highest level of education
  • Father’s name, mother’s maiden name
  • Name of spouse
  • Occupation and employer


It’s also a good idea to look for other important papers and gather them for safekeeping, whether you will be handling your loved one’s estate or passing the papers to a designated executor. Some documents to look for include: 



  • Account statements
  • Beneficiary designations
  • Life insurance policies
  • Military discharge papers (form DD 214)
  • Will and trust documents

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Laying a loved one to rest can be overwhelming. There are many steps and decisions ahead of you, but you never have to take this journey alone. The team at Horan & McConaty is here for you.


Call us any time at (303) 745-4418 for emergency assistance.