What to Do When Someone Dies on Long Island
Quick Answer. If a death was unexpected, call 911. If the person was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse instead. Once the death has been medically pronounced, contact a funeral home — most, including Moloney Family Funeral Homes, are reachable 24 hours a day. The funeral home will arrange transportation, begin the death certificate, and guide you through the next steps.
When someone dies, the hours that follow can feel disorienting. Even if you knew the moment was coming, there is rarely a clear sense of what to do first — who to call, what paperwork matters right away, and what can simply wait.
This guide walks through exactly what to do in the first 24 hours after a death on Long Island, along with the New York State requirements that apply along the way — from death certificates and Social Security to who has the legal right to make funeral decisions.
You do not need to have this guide memorized. A funeral director can walk you through each step by phone or in person, at any hour.
What to Do Immediately After a Death
The very first step is getting a medical pronouncement of death, and how that happens depends on where and how the person died.
What to Do If the Death Occurs at Home
What happens next depends on whether the death was expected.
If the person was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse or agency first, not 911. Hospice staff are authorized to pronounce an expected death and will coordinate directly with the funeral home you've chosen.
If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 911. Police and emergency responders will need to confirm what happened, and depending on the circumstances, the medical examiner or coroner may become involved before the funeral home can take the person into their care. This is a standard part of the process and not a sign that anything was handled incorrectly.
If hospice is involved, keep the hospice agency's phone number somewhere easy to find. In the moment, knowing exactly who to call first can save confusion during an already difficult time.
What to Do If the Death Occurs in a Hospital, Hospice Facility, or Nursing Home
When a death occurs in a hospital, inpatient hospice facility, or nursing home, staff handle the medical pronouncement directly — there is no need to call 911. The facility will typically ask whether the family has a preferred funeral home, or wait for the family to make that call.
Once you notify the funeral home, they will coordinate with the facility to bring the person into their care, usually without requiring the family to be present for that step.
| Death at Home | Death in a Hospital, Hospice, or Nursing Home |
|---|---|
| Call the hospice nurse (expected) or 911 (unexpected) | Facility staff handle the medical pronouncement |
| Family typically present with the person | Facility notifies the family directly |
| Medical examiner may be involved in unexpected deaths | Facility follows its own internal procedures |
| Family contacts the funeral home directly | Facility may ask for a preferred funeral home, or family contacts one |
Who to Call First
In order, most families find themselves making these calls.
- ✓ 911, if the death was unexpected and occurred outside a medical facility
- ✓ The hospice nurse or agency, if the person was under hospice care
- ✓ A funeral home, once the medical pronouncement is complete
- ✓ Immediate family members, so they hear the news directly
- ✓ The person's employer, if applicable, in the days that follow
When to Contact the Funeral Home
There is no strict deadline for contacting a funeral home, but most families do so within a few hours of the death, as soon as the medical pronouncement is complete. Funeral homes expect these calls at any hour — Moloney Family Funeral Homes, like most funeral homes, is reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, specifically for this reason.
If the person had already completed funeral pre-planning, let the funeral home know right away — it can significantly simplify the arrangement conference that follows.
Information the Funeral Home Will Need
To begin the death certificate and start planning, a funeral director will typically ask for the following.
- ✓ Full legal name, date, and place of birth
- ✓ Social Security number
- ✓ Marital status and spouse's name, if applicable
- ✓ Occupation and highest level of education
- ✓ Parents' full names, including mother's maiden name
- ✓ Military service or veteran status
- ✓ Next of kin contact information
- ✓ Whether pre-planning arrangements already exist
How Transportation Into the Funeral Home's Care Works
Once the death has been medically pronounced, the funeral home dispatches a team to bring the person into their care. In a hospital, hospice facility, or nursing home, this is typically coordinated directly with staff after the facility completes its own procedures. At home, the family or hospice nurse contacts the funeral home once the pronouncement is finished, and transportation is arranged from there.
New York law requires that this process be overseen by a licensed funeral director, which is one of the reasons families are encouraged to choose a funeral home as one of their earliest calls rather than waiting.
Death Certificates and How to Get Copies
In New York, a licensed funeral director completes the death certificate and files it with the local registrar in the district where the death occurred, within 72 hours and before burial or cremation. The attending physician, hospice provider, or medical examiner certifies the cause of death as part of this process.
For deaths on Long Island — outside New York City — certified copies are available through the local town or village registrar, or through the New York State Department of Health Vital Records office. Only a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or documented legal representative can request copies directly.
Order more certified copies than you think you'll need. Many families request 10 or more to handle bank accounts, insurance claims, Social Security, vehicle titles, and estate matters — and the funeral home can typically order these for you at the time of death.
Notifying Social Security
Funeral homes often report a death to the Social Security Administration electronically as part of filing the death certificate. Even so, it's worth calling the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm benefits have been stopped and to ask about survivor benefits or a one-time lump-sum death payment, since any benefit mistakenly paid after death typically has to be returned.
Locating Wills, Insurance Policies, and Other Important Documents
In the days following a death, it helps to locate the following.
- ✓ Will or trust documents
- ✓ Life insurance policies
- ✓ Funeral pre-planning or pre-payment paperwork
- ✓ Cemetery deed, if a plot was already purchased
- ✓ Military discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable
- ✓ Social Security card and marriage certificate
- ✓ Deeds, titles, and financial account information
- ✓ Safe deposit box key or location, if one exists
None of this needs to be tracked down in the first hours — it becomes relevant over the following days as the funeral director and, later, an estate attorney or executor need it.
What to Do If the Person Was a Veteran
If the deceased served in the military, locate their DD-214 discharge paperwork as soon as possible — the funeral home will need it to request benefits on the family's behalf. Eligible veterans may qualify for the following.
- Military honors performed at the service
- A burial flag
- A government-provided headstone or marker
- Burial in a national cemetery through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
A funeral director experienced with veterans services — as the Moloney team is — can request these benefits directly, so families don't have to navigate VA paperwork alone during this time.
Who Has Legal Authority to Make Funeral Arrangements in New York
New York Public Health Law Section 4201 sets a clear legal order of priority for who has the right to make funeral and disposition decisions, unless the deceased named an agent in a written instrument. In descending order, that priority generally runs as follows.
- A person named in a written instrument under Section 4201
- The surviving spouse
- The domestic partner
- A majority of the surviving adult children
- Either surviving parent
- A majority of the surviving adult siblings
- A court-appointed guardian
- Other next of kin, in a further legal order of priority
- A close friend or relative familiar with the decedent's wishes, if no one higher on the list is available
- The public administrator, as a last resort
This is general information, not legal advice — if a dispute arises over who has the right to decide, a funeral director can explain the documentation New York law requires, and an attorney can advise on next steps.
What Can Wait
Not everything needs to happen in the first 24 hours. These items can generally wait until the family has had time to breathe.
- Closing bank accounts or credit cards
- Canceling subscriptions and memberships
- Sorting or distributing personal belongings
- Finalizing estate or probate matters
- Ordering a permanent headstone or marker
- Writing thank-you notes for flowers or condolences
Printable First 24 Hours Checklist
Use this checklist as a starting point in the first day after a death. A downloadable, printable version is also available on request.
- ✓ Get a medical pronouncement of death
- ✓ Call a funeral home
- ✓ Notify immediate family
- ✓ Arrange transportation into the funeral home's care
- ✓ Gather personal information for the death certificate
- ✓ Locate a will, insurance policies, and pre-planning documents
- ✓ Locate military discharge papers, if applicable
- ✓ Confirm who has legal authority to make decisions, if unclear
- ✓ Ask the funeral home to order extra certified death certificate copies
- ✓ Call Social Security to confirm benefits status
You Don't Have to Navigate This Alone
Moloney Family Funeral Homes is available 24 hours a day to guide Long Island families through every step, starting with the very first phone call.
Contact Moloney Family Funeral HomesFrequently Asked Questions
What do I do first when someone dies at home?
If the death was unexpected, call 911 so emergency responders can confirm what happened. If the person was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse or agency instead of 911 — they are equipped to pronounce an expected death.
Do I call 911 if someone dies at home?
Call 911 if the death was sudden, unexpected, or unattended. If the person was enrolled in hospice care, call the hospice team first, since they can legally pronounce an expected death without police or EMS involvement.
What happens when someone dies in a hospital or nursing home?
Hospital, hospice, and nursing home staff handle the medical pronouncement and will typically ask whether the family has a preferred funeral home, or wait for the family to contact one directly.
Who is legally allowed to make funeral decisions in New York?
New York Public Health Law Section 4201 sets a legal order of priority, starting with a person named in a written instrument, then a spouse, domestic partner, adult children, a surviving parent, adult siblings, a court-appointed guardian, and other next of kin, in that order.
How soon do I need to call a funeral home?
There is no fixed deadline, but families typically contact a funeral home within a few hours of a death, once the medical pronouncement is complete. Funeral homes are generally reachable 24 hours a day for this call.
Who issues a death certificate in New York?
A funeral director completes and files the death certificate with the local registrar where the death occurred, within 72 hours and before burial or cremation. Outside New York City, certified copies are later available through the New York State Department of Health Vital Records office.
How many death certificate copies do I need?
Many families request 10 or more certified copies to handle bank accounts, insurance claims, Social Security, and estate matters. The funeral home can typically order these for you at the time of death.
Do I need to notify Social Security myself?
Funeral homes often report a death to the Social Security Administration, but it is still recommended that the family call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm benefits are stopped and to ask about survivor benefits.
What if the deceased was a veteran?
Locate the veteran's DD-214 discharge paperwork. Eligible veterans may qualify for military honors, a burial flag, a headstone or marker, and burial in a national cemetery through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
What can wait until after the funeral?
Closing accounts, canceling subscriptions, distributing personal belongings, finalizing estate matters, and ordering a headstone can typically wait until after the service, once the family has had time to grieve.
Related Resources
Planning a Funeral on Long Island
A complete guide to the decisions involved in planning a service.
Read the guide →Funeral Pre-Planning
Document your wishes in advance and give your family peace of mind.
Read the guide →Veterans Funeral Benefits
Learn what military honors and VA benefits your family may be entitled to.
Read the guide →Grief Support Resources
Find ongoing support for healing in the weeks and months ahead.
Read the guide →Additional Resources
- New York State Department of Health — death certificates and vital records
- NY Public Health Law § 4201 — legal authority over disposition of remains
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — burial and memorial benefits for veterans
- Social Security Administration — survivor benefits information
We're Here, Day or Night
Whatever time it is, whatever you're facing, Moloney Family Funeral Homes is available to help you take the next step.
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