The first 24 hours after someone passes away

If you have just lost someone, take a moment. Nothing here needs your action in the next five minutes. You are allowed to sit with them. You are allowed to wait.

This guide walks through what to do over the next day or so, calmly, in the order it actually happens. You do not have to read all of it. Most people come back to one section at a time.

Take a moment first

There is no legal rush in Australia. Your loved one does not have to be moved within an hour, or two, or even four. If the death was expected and you have a moment, you can sit with them, gather family, make a cup of tea, breathe.

This permission is something many families wish they had been given earlier. The federally funded health service healthdirect confirms that there is no need to act straight away after an expected death at home.

If the death was expected

For a death at home that was expected (palliative care, terminal illness, advanced age), the next call is to the doctor, palliative care team, or local GP. You do not call 000.

The doctor or nurse comes to verify the death. They check that your loved one has passed and they fill out a medical certificate of cause of death. This certificate is the document that lets the funeral director collect your loved one and lets the registry record the death.

If the death happened in a hospital, hospice, or residential aged care, the medical staff manage the certificate themselves. You do not have to do anything to start that process; they will speak with you when they have it ready.

If the death was unexpected

Call 000. Paramedics will attend. If the person has passed away, the police will be called. The death will be reported to the coroner.

The coroner is involved when a death is sudden, unexpected, violent, suspicious, or happens in a place of care. The coroner's office holds your loved one until the cause of death is established. The Coroners Court of Victoria publishes 5 to 7 days as the standard timeframe. NSW does not publish a single number; it varies. Faster releases are sometimes possible for routine cases or where faith-based same-day burial is requested. A post-mortem extends the timeline to a week or more.

If your faith requires same-day or next-day burial (Muslim, Jewish, Hindu), let the police and the coronial office know straight away. Coroners' offices work with faith communities to expedite release where possible. See our guide on when the coroner gets involved for more detail.

For the official process by state, the Coroners Court of NSW and the Coroners Court of Victoria both publish plain-English guides for families.

After the doctor verifies

Once the doctor has verified the death and issued the medical certificate, the next call (when you are ready) is to a funeral director. The funeral director will:

• Talk you through the next steps on the phone
• Arrange to collect your loved one from your home when you are ready
• Organise refrigeration or mortuary care while you decide on the service
• Register the death with the state Births, Deaths and Marriages registry on your behalf, usually within 7 to 14 days

Most funeral directors are available 24 hours a day and will not rush you on the phone. If the death happened at 3am, calling at 3am or at 8am will not change anything practical.

Calling the funeral director: what to expect

When you call, the funeral director will ask:

• Has the doctor or hospital issued the medical certificate?
• Where is your loved one now (home, hospital, hospice, aged care)?
• Are there cultural or religious requirements you would like them to know about?
• When would you like them to come?

They do not need you to have decided about the service, the coffin, the budget, or anything else on this first call. The first call is logistical only.

Speak to more than one funeral director if you can. Comparing two or three quotes is normal and reasonable. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has guidance on what funeral providers must disclose, and what makes a fair itemised quote.

For more on funeral pricing and what to expect to pay, see our funeral costs guide.

Time with your loved one

You can have time with your loved one before the funeral director arrives, and afterwards if you choose to. Many families:

• Sit and talk
• Hold a hand
• Light a candle
• Play music
• Pray or read aloud
• Take a final photograph (if it feels right; many families later say they wished they had)
• Wash, dress, or anoint the body, if their culture or faith calls for it

The Victorian Department of Health's Better Health Channel confirms there is no rush to remove your loved one once the doctor has verified the death.

If you are not sure whether to see them or not, that is okay. The decision is yours, in your time. See our guide on should I see them one last time for what bereaved families later said they wished they had known.

Cultural and religious considerations

Different faiths and cultures have different practices in the first 24 hours. Some that come up often:

• Muslim families typically wash, shroud, and bury within 24 hours where possible
• Jewish families observe shomer (a vigil) and bury before sunset on the next day where possible
• Hindu families cremate within 24 hours where possible
• Greek Orthodox families typically hold a trisagion prayer service before the funeral; Russian Orthodox families hold a panikhida vigil
• Catholic families may hold a rosary night the evening before the funeral
• Indigenous Sorry Business varies by Country; speak with Elders and family

The funeral director needs to know your tradition from the first call so they can coordinate. Speak to community elders or your religious officiant alongside them. For more on specific faiths and cultures, see our Australian Funeral Traditions hub.

What if your loved one passed away overseas?

Contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade runs the Smartraveller consular service, which can help you navigate local requirements, find a local funeral director, and arrange repatriation back to Australia.

Repatriation can take weeks and is often expensive. Industry estimates put the cost in the order of $10,000 or more, depending on country and airline, and the process involves Australian Border Force quarantine paperwork. Smartraveller confirms the Australian Government cannot pay for repatriation; the cost falls to the family. Travel insurance may cover part of it. Call your insurer as the second call after the embassy.

If you are alone

Call a friend, family member, neighbour, or community contact to come and be with you. You do not have to do this on your own.

If you cannot reach anyone, GriefLine (1300 845 745, weekdays 9am to 6pm and weekends 12pm to 6pm AEST/AEDT) and Lifeline (13 11 14, 24 hours) will sit on the phone with you for as long as you need. They are not just crisis lines. They are also there for moments of acute loneliness in the middle of a hard day.

Frequently asked questions

Should I close their eyes or arrange the body?

You can if you wish to. Many families gently close the eyes, lay the arms by the side, and place the head on a pillow before the doctor arrives. The funeral director handles further care after that.

Can I wash and dress my loved one at home?

Yes. Some cultures and faiths require it. Speak with the funeral director or a religious officiant about how to do this respectfully.

What does the doctor do when they arrive?

The doctor verifies the death and issues a medical certificate of cause of death. Without that certificate, the funeral director cannot proceed.

When do I call the funeral director?

After the doctor has issued the medical certificate, or after the police have released your loved one if the death was unexpected. There is no time limit.

What if they passed away overseas?

Contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate, then call your travel insurance provider. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Smartraveller) provides step-by-step guidance.

What if I am alone?

Call a friend, family member, or neighbour to come and be with you. Then call the doctor. You do not have to do this on your own.

When you are ready

Once you have a moment, the next steps in the days that follow are the death registration, the death certificate, and the funeral arrangements. See:

• How to register a death in Australia, state by state
• How to get a death certificate (and how many copies you will need)
• Find a funeral director near you