At-Need Guide — Florida Families
What to Do When Someone Dies at Home in Florida
A calm, step-by-step guide for the moments, hours, and days after a loved one passes away at home — from a team that has walked thousands of Florida families through this.
We Are Available 24/7 — Call NowEach year, thousands of Florida families face the sudden or expected death of a loved one at home. Florida law gives you time — you are not required to act in the first few minutes. Knowing what to do, and what not to rush, can make this experience slightly more manageable. This guide walks you through everything, step by step.
For a complete overview of cremation options, costs, and the full process, see our Complete Florida Cremation Guide.
1. The First Moments: What to Do Immediately
When a loved one passes away at home, your first instinct may be to act quickly. In most cases, there is no emergency — you have time to breathe, be with your loved one, and call the people who need to know before you call anyone else.
If you are certain your loved one has passed, take a breath. Sit with them if you wish. Call a family member or close friend to be with you. You do not have to handle this alone, and you do not have to rush.
The next call you make — whether to 911 or to hospice — can wait a few minutes. Give yourself that time.
If your loved one was under hospice care: Call the hospice agency first. If the nurse is already present, they will handle pronouncement. If not, the hospice agency will dispatch a nurse to the home to pronounce the death and begin the required paperwork. See Section 4 for the full hospice process.
For all other home deaths — expected or unexpected — call 911. Even when a death is expected due to illness or advanced age, calling 911 is important for two reasons: it establishes an official date and time of death, and law enforcement or EMS can confirm whether there is a physician willing to sign the death certificate. If there is no physician who will sign, the case may need to be handled by the Medical Examiner’s office before the funeral home can take custody of your loved one.
This is especially important if your loved one:
- Did not have a physician actively managing their care at the time of death
- Was under 18 years of age
- Died suddenly or under circumstances that are unclear
- Was found unresponsive and you are uncertain if they have passed
Even if 911 is called, you can reach us immediately after — or once law enforcement clears the scene. We will be here whenever you are ready.
Once 911 has been called (or hospice has been notified), call us. We will guide you through every step that follows — paperwork, removal, arrangements — and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
AM Cremation & Funeral Care is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We have an answering service overnight so your call is always received — you will never be sent to voicemail. Call (941) 212-1093 ext 1.
2. Who to Call and in What Order
Once the immediate moment has passed, here is the recommended order of calls for a home death in Florida:
Hospice families: Call the hospice agency. If the nurse is not already present, the agency will dispatch one to pronounce the death. You do not need to call 911 in this situation — the hospice team handles the legal and medical documentation.
All other home deaths: Call 911 first, regardless of whether the death was expected or not. Law enforcement or EMS will respond, establish the official time of death, and confirm whether a physician is available to sign the death certificate. If no physician will sign — which can happen even in expected deaths — the Medical Examiner’s office will need to handle the case before the funeral home can proceed. Calling 911 protects your family from delays later in the process.
Florida requires a licensed physician to certify the cause and manner of death on the death certificate. If your loved one was under a physician’s care or in a hospice program, that physician or the hospice medical director will need to be notified. In many hospice situations, a nurse will come to the home to pronounce the death and begin the paperwork.
The physician’s signature on the death certificate is required before cremation can proceed. This is sometimes the step that takes the most time — not because of anything the funeral home controls, but because physicians can be difficult to reach. We follow up on this on your behalf.
Notify the people who are closest to the deceased — spouse, children, siblings — as soon as it feels right. There is no obligation to notify everyone immediately. Take the time you need.
Keep in mind that Florida law requires authorization from the legal next of kin before cremation can proceed. All individuals in the same priority class — for example, all adult children — must sign the authorization. If family members are scattered across the country, we can handle authorizations electronically.
These notifications can wait until you have had time to grieve and gather your thoughts. Typically this includes the deceased’s employer, life insurance providers, Social Security Administration, pension providers, bank, and any relevant government agencies. We notify the Social Security Administration as part of every cremation package.
3. Expected vs. Unexpected Death at Home in Florida
Florida handles expected and unexpected home deaths somewhat differently. Understanding the distinction can help you know what to expect.
Expected death (natural, after illness or old age)
Even when a death is expected — after a long illness, in advanced age, or under a physician’s ongoing care — calling 911 is still the recommended first step for non-hospice home deaths in Florida. Here is why:
- Law enforcement or EMS will establish the official date and time of death, which is required for the death certificate.
- They will determine whether a physician is available and willing to sign the death certificate. If the attending physician will not sign — which can happen even in expected deaths — the case may need to be reviewed by the Medical Examiner’s office before the funeral home can take custody.
- Having law enforcement respond protects the family from complications later in the paperwork and cremation approval process.
- Once the scene is cleared, call your funeral home and we will handle everything from that point forward.
Unexpected death (sudden, cause unclear, or accidental)
If the death was sudden, the cause is unclear, or it occurred under unusual circumstances, the process is the same starting point — call 911 — but with additional steps:
- Law enforcement will assess the scene and determine if a Medical Examiner investigation is needed.
- In some cases, an autopsy may be required before the funeral home can take custody of the deceased.
- The Medical Examiner must still approve cremation before it can occur — this applies in all cases regardless of circumstances.
- Do not move or disturb the body until emergency services have responded and cleared the scene.
4. If Your Loved One Was Under Hospice Care
If your loved one was enrolled in a hospice program, the process of handling a home death is usually the most straightforward. Hospice teams are specifically trained to support families through this moment.
When a death occurs under hospice care at home in Florida:
- If the hospice nurse is already present: They will pronounce the death and handle the required paperwork on the spot. You do not need to call 911. Once they have completed their visit, call us and we will arrange for a respectful transfer.
- If the hospice nurse is not present: Call the hospice agency first — not 911. The agency will dispatch a nurse to the home to pronounce the death and begin the legal documentation. The hospice nurse handles what law enforcement would otherwise handle in a non-hospice death.
- The hospice nurse will contact the attending physician or hospice medical director to certify the death for the death certificate.
- Once the hospice nurse has completed their visit, call us. We will arrange for a respectful transfer of your loved one from the home to our care.
- Hospice agencies often have a preferred list of funeral homes. You are never required to use that list — you have the right to choose any licensed Florida funeral home.
5. In the Hours and Days That Follow
Once you have called us and we have confirmed that law enforcement (if applicable) has cleared the scene, we will dispatch our removal team. Our licensed and trained staff will arrive promptly, treat your loved one with complete dignity, and transport them to our facility in Palmetto.
Our discounted removal fee is $250 within a 50-mile radius for up to two technicians. We serve all of Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, DeSoto, and Charlotte counties.
An arrangement conference is the meeting where you and our funeral director discuss all of your options, make selections, and sign the required authorizations. This can be done:
- In person at our Palmetto office (2000 14th Ave E, Unit 104)
- By phone
- Online and by email, with electronic signatures
We understand that family members may be in multiple states. Electronic arrangements are available for every package we offer.
Once immediate family has been notified, you can begin reaching out more broadly. Consider whether your loved one would have wanted an obituary published, a celebration of life planned, or simply a quiet farewell. There is no wrong answer.
Our Premium Cremation Package includes obituary composition and submission to your newspaper of choice. Our Simple Package includes a free obituary listing on our website.
Administrative and legal tasks should be handled in the days following the death, but do not need to happen immediately. These include:
- Contacting an estate attorney if the deceased had a will or estate
- Notifying financial institutions, credit card companies, and pension providers
- Applying for Social Security survivor benefits (we notify SSA of the death; you apply for benefits separately)
- Filing for veterans’ burial benefits if applicable — see our Veterans’ Benefits page
- Canceling subscriptions, utilities, and recurring accounts
You will need certified copies of the death certificate for most of these tasks. Order more than you think you need — typically 6–10 copies for an estate with assets, accounts, and insurance policies.
6. Documents and Information to Gather
Having the right information on hand will make the arrangement process go more smoothly. Here is what our funeral directors will need from you:
| Document / Information | Used For | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name | Death certificate | Driver’s license, passport, birth certificate |
| Social Security number | Death certificate, SSA notification | SSA card, tax returns, Medicare card |
| Date and place of birth | Death certificate | Birth certificate, passport |
| Residence address | Death certificate | Driver’s license, mail |
| Highest level of education | Death certificate | Diplomas, records |
| Occupation and industry | Death certificate | Employment records, resume |
| Father’s full name | Death certificate | Birth certificate, family records |
| Mother’s full birth name | Death certificate | Birth certificate, family records |
| Veteran’s discharge papers (DD-214) | VA benefits, military honors | Personal files, VA records request |
| Life insurance policies | Insurance assignment for payment | Personal files, insurance company |
| Pre-need arrangement contract | Pre-planned services | Personal files, prior funeral home |
Quick Checklist: First 24 Hours
- Death confirmed — take a breath, be with your loved one
- Called 911 (non-hospice deaths) or hospice agency (if enrolled in hospice)
- Hospice nurse called (if applicable) — they handle pronouncement
- Immediate family members notified
- Funeral home called — removal team dispatched
- Arrangement conference scheduled
- Begin locating key documents (Social Security number, ID)
- Determine who needs to sign cremation authorization
7. Understanding Your Cremation and Funeral Options
After a loved one passes at home, families in Florida have several options for final disposition. The most common choices are cremation and burial, and there is no one right answer.
At AM Cremation & Funeral Care, we offer a full range of services including:
- Direct cremation — our Simple Cremation Package starts at $945 (prompt pay). The most affordable option, with no ceremony required before cremation.
- Cremation with private family goodbye — a 30-minute private viewing for up to 10 family members at our Palmetto facility before cremation ($1,495). Public viewings for larger groups can be arranged at outside locations such as a church or funeral chapel.
- Cremation with memorial or funeral service — a full service held before or after cremation at a location of your choosing: a church, community building, graveside, or any meaningful place. We coordinate and staff the service wherever you need us.
- Direct burial — immediate burial without a formal service, starting at $1,645.
- Traditional burial — full visitation, funeral service, and burial at a location of your choice.
- Green burial — eco-friendly burial without embalming or vaults.
- Forwarding remains — if your loved one needs to be returned to another state ($1,995).
- Body donation — whole-body donation to a Florida medical institution, which we can coordinate.
For a full explanation of every option — including costs, processes, veteran benefits, and what to do with cremated remains — read our Complete Florida Cremation Guide.
