Immediate guidance · New York City

What to Do When Someone Dies at Home in NYC

Q: Should I move the person or clean the room?

Do not move the person or disturb the surroundings when the death is unexpected or may require investigation. Follow the instructions of 911, law enforcement, hospice, the physician, or the medical examiner.

Q: When can the funeral home make the transfer?

The funeral home can coordinate the transfer after the responsible medical, facility, law-enforcement, or medical-examiner authority permits release and the authorized arranger has selected the funeral home.

Q: What information should I have when calling Horizon?

Share the full legal name of the person who died, the address, whether the death was expected, which authority or hospice has been contacted, the authorized arranger's name and telephone number, and any case or contact information already provided. Call even if some details are not yet available.

Q: Will the family have to make every funeral decision immediately?

No. The first call can focus on lawful release, transfer, identity, and the authorized arranger. Burial or cremation, service details, clergy, cemetery, notices, merchandise, and other choices can be reviewed in the arrangement conference.

The correct first call depends on whether the death was expected and whether a medical or legal authority must respond. Follow the appropriate authority first, then call the funeral home.

First: determine the correct caller

Do not guess when the death is unexpected.

If there is any chance the person may still be alive, or the death was sudden, unexpected, unattended, accidental, or suspicious, call 911. Do not move the person or disturb the surroundings. Follow the directions of emergency responders and law enforcement.

If the person was receiving hospice care and the death was expected, call the hospice using the number and instructions in the care plan. If another physician or medical professional was supervising an expected death at home, contact that professional and follow the instructions already provided.

After the proper medical or legal authority is involved, call Horizon at 347-588-5555. We can begin gathering the facts and explain what must occur before transfer into funeral-home care.

Call Horizon 347-588-5555 Begin the immediate-need form

What happens next

The first hours can be handled one stage at a time.

Medical or legal response

The responsible professional confirms the next medical, emergency, law-enforcement, or medical-examiner step.

Funeral-home selection

The authorized arranger tells the responding authority which licensed funeral home the family has selected.

Release and transfer

After release is permitted, the funeral home coordinates the appropriate transfer into its care.

Arrangement conference

The family reviews burial or cremation, service choices, documents, timing, providers, and other decisions.

Information to gather when available

Do not delay the first call while searching for paperwork.

Helpful information includes the person's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, parents' names, identification, veteran discharge papers, cemetery documents, prearrangement records, and the contact information for the physician, hospice, facility, or medical examiner involved.

Identify the person who has authority to make arrangements and a reliable telephone number for updates.

Write down the name, agency, case number, and instructions provided by each responding professional.

Official New York references

Verify government procedures with the responsible agency.

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates categories of death that include sudden deaths in apparent health, unattended deaths, accidents, criminal violence, and unusual or suspicious circumstances.

NYC OCME authority and responsibilities

New York consumer guide to arranging a funeral

NYC death certificate information

Death-at-home questions

What families commonly ask in the first call.

Should I call the funeral home first?

If there is any uncertainty that the person has died or the death was sudden, unexpected, unattended, accidental, or suspicious, call 911 and follow emergency instructions. If the death was expected under hospice or medical care, contact the hospice or responsible medical professional first and follow that care plan. The funeral home can be called as soon as the proper medical or legal authority has been notified.

Should I move the person or clean the room?

When can the funeral home make the transfer?

What information should I have when calling Horizon?

Will the family have to make every funeral decision immediately?

Here when you need us

The proper authority has been notified?

Call Horizon. We will gather the available information, confirm the release status, and explain the next funeral-home step.

Call 347-588-5555