Right after it happens
Who picks up the body after someone dies?
Short answer
A funeral home or cremation provider you choose. The coroner or medical examiner only takes the body if the death requires investigation. Once they release the body, a funeral home you contact picks it up. No one takes the body without your…
What this usually means
A funeral home or cremation provider you choose. The coroner or medical examiner only takes the body if the death requires investigation. Once they release the body, a funeral home you contact picks it up. No one takes the body without your permission unless there is a legal reason.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.