What to Do When Someone Dies in NSW: A Step-by-Step Guide 

When someone dies, it is normal to feel unsure about what needs to happen first. There are practical steps to take, but not everything needs to be organised straight away. 

In NSW, the immediate process will depend on where and how the person died. In some situations, hospital or aged care staff will guide the next steps. In others, a doctor, emergency services or the Coroner may need to be involved. 

The important thing is to deal with the immediate requirements first and take the rest one step at a time. 

The steps below explain what usually happens during the first few hours and days after a death in NSW, including who to contact, when a funeral director becomes involved, how the death is registered and what paperwork follows. 

What Should You Do First When Someone Dies in NSW? 

If someone has just died, focus on the few things that need attention first. Most administrative matters can wait until the immediate arrangements are underway. 

1. Make sure the appropriate medical steps are followed. The circumstances of the death will determine who needs to be contacted and what happens next. 
2. Contact a funeral director when appropriate. They can arrange to take the person into their care and guide you through the next steps. 
3. Look for any funeral wishes, a will or a prepaid funeral plan. These may help with decisions about the funeral, but do not delay other necessary arrangements if they cannot be found straight away. 
4. Ask someone you trust to help. A family member or friend can make calls, notify close relatives or keep track of important information. 
5. Leave non-urgent administration until later. Banking, superannuation, government notifications and estate matters do not all need to be handled in the first few hours. 

What happens immediately after the death will depend on where and how the person died. The next section explains the different situations and what families in NSW can expect. 

What Happens in the First Few Hours After a Death? 

What happens in the first few hours depends on where the person died and whether the death was expected. The necessary medical steps need to be completed before the person can be transferred into a funeral director’s care. In some circumstances, police or the Coroner may also need to be involved. 

When Someone Dies in Hospital or Aged Care 

When someone dies in hospital, staff manage the immediate medical process. The treating medical team will usually arrange the required documentation, including the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) where appropriate. 

Family members are generally given time with the person before the transfer. If your family has cultural, religious or spiritual practices that are important after death, let staff know as early as possible. 

Once you have chosen a funeral director: 

• provide them with the hospital or facility details; 
• they can liaise directly with staff about the documentation and release; 
• they will arrange the transfer when the person is ready to leave the facility. 

Aged care facilities follow a similar process, although their procedures may vary. Staff will usually coordinate the immediate requirements with the appropriate healthcare professional and your chosen funeral director. 

When an Expected Death Happens at Home 

If someone has been receiving palliative or end-of-life care at home, there may already be a plan explaining what to do when the death occurs. Follow the instructions provided by their doctor, palliative care team or other healthcare professional involved in their care. 

The process may involve: 

• contacting the healthcare professional identified in the care plan; 
• having the death formally verified; 
• arranging the required medical documentation; 
• contacting the funeral director when the person is ready to be transferred. 

Verification of death and the MCCD are different. Verification confirms that the person has died, while the MCCD records the medical cause of death. 

If there is no plan, you cannot reach the healthcare professional involved, or you are uncertain whether the death was expected, seek medical or emergency guidance. 

When the Death Is Sudden, Unexpected or Unexplained 

If someone dies suddenly and the cause is unknown, or the circumstances are unusual, call 000. Police and paramedics may attend, and the death may need to be reported to the NSW Coroner. 

If the Coroner becomes involved, they may review medical information, arrange further examination or investigation where necessary, and authorise the person’s release when the required enquiries are complete. 

A referral to the Coroner does not automatically mean there will be an inquest. The family can still choose a funeral director and begin discussing arrangements, but it is best not to confirm the funeral date until the person has been released from coronial care.  

What to Do in the First 24–48 Hours 

Once the immediate medical steps have been completed, the next day or two are usually about beginning the funeral arrangements and gathering the information that may help guide them. 

Speak With a Funeral Director 

If you have not already chosen a funeral director, this is usually the next practical step. You do not need to know exactly what kind of funeral you want before making contact. 

During the first conversation, the funeral director may ask: 

• where the person is currently located; 
• whether a hospital, doctor, aged care facility or the Coroner is involved; 
• whether burial or cremation is being considered; 
• whether there are cultural, religious or family requirements that need early attention; 
• who will be the main contact for the family. 

From there, they can explain what decisions need to be made now and which ones can wait until later. 

Check for Funeral Wishes or Prepaid Arrangements 

Look for any instructions the person may have left about their funeral, burial or cremation. These might be recorded in a will, kept separately with important papers, or included in a prepaid funeral plan. 

Useful places to check include: 

• personal documents kept at home; 
• the solicitor or professional who prepared the will; 
• paperwork relating to a prepaid funeral; 
• a trusted family member who may know where important records are kept. 

The purpose of finding the will at this stage is simply to check whether it contains relevant funeral wishes. You do not need to begin dealing with probate or the estate at the same time. 

If nothing can be found immediately, funeral arrangements can still begin while you continue looking. 

Gather the Basic Details You Have Available

The funeral director may also ask for some personal and family information about the person who died. This can include their full legal name, birth details, usual address and basic family information. 

There is no need to have every detail ready before the first meeting or phone call. Gather what is easily available and check anything you are unsure about before it is later used for the death registration. 

Registering a Death in NSW 

A death that occurs in NSW must be registered with NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages (BDM). When a funeral director is involved, they will normally manage this process for the family, so you do not need to lodge the registration separately. 

The process generally works like this: 

1. The required documentation is completed 

The medical or coronial documentation relating to the death needs to be available before registration can be completed. When a funeral director is handling the arrangements, they will usually coordinate this with the relevant hospital, doctor or authority. 

2. The funeral director prepares the registration 

The funeral director will use the personal and family details provided during the arrangements to prepare the death registration. Check names, dates and other information carefully before it is submitted, as these details become part of the official record. 

3. The death is registered with NSW BDM 

In NSW, a death must be registered within 7 days after the burial or cremation. The funeral director will normally submit the registration to BDM on the family’s behalf. 

If no funeral director is being used, an eligible next of kin or relative can contact NSW BDM on 13 77 88 to request a death registration form. 

4. The death certificate is issued after registration 

The official death certificate can only be issued once the death has been registered. A funeral director can usually apply for the certificate on the family’s behalf. 

You generally will not need the certificate for the immediate funeral arrangements. It becomes important later for banking, superannuation, government notifications and dealing with the estate. Processing times can vary, so check NSW BDM for the latest information rather than relying on a fixed timeframe. 

How Majestic Funerals Can Help 

You do not need to understand every part of the process before contacting a funeral director. If you are unsure what needs to happen next, Majestic Funerals can explain the immediate steps and help you work through the arrangements at a pace that suits your family. 

Our team can assist with taking your loved one into our care, coordinating the necessary paperwork and death registration, and arranging a funeral, burial or cremation in line with your family’s wishes. 

Majestic Funerals supports families across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong, with assistance available 24 hours a day. 

If you need guidance after a death or are ready to begin making arrangements, call 1300 69 89 09 or talk to our team. 

Frequently Asked Questions