Special circumstances
What if suicide is suspected?
Short answer
Call 911. Do not disturb the scene. The coroner will investigate and determine cause of death. Suicide can affect life insurance payouts — check the policy, but many policies pay after a two-year contestability period. Resources for surviving family members include the…
What this usually means
Call 911. Do not disturb the scene. The coroner will investigate and determine cause of death. Suicide can affect life insurance payouts — check the policy, but many policies pay after a two-year contestability period. Resources for surviving family members include the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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.