First 24 hours
If the death was expected, contact the hospice team or attending clinician. If it was unexpected, call 911. You can choose a funeral home after the appropriate professional has been notified.
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Step-by-step guidance
What to do after someone dies
Start with the next decision in front of you. You do not have to solve everything today.
See the first steps
Choose a funeral home
Contact two or three nearby providers when practical. Ask what is included, what is optional, when payment is due, and how transfers are handled.
Find nearby funeral homes →Understand funeral prices
Ask for the General Price List before choosing arrangements. It separates itemized goods and services from package prices.
Use the FTC pricing checklist →Burial or cremation
You do not need to decide every memorial detail immediately. First compare disposition timing, transport, permits, cemetery or crematory costs, and the family’s wishes.
Veterans benefits
Eligibility can include burial in a national cemetery, a marker, a burial flag, or financial allowances. Confirm eligibility through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Check VA burial benefits →Certificates and records
Certified North Carolina death certificates can be ordered through NC Vital Records or, in many cases, the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred.
Order a death certificate →If hospice is involved and the death was expected, call the hospice team. If the death was unexpected or there is immediate danger, call 911. For licensing questions or complaints, use the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service consumer portal.