Special circumstances
What if the death is being investigated?
Short answer
Do not disturb the scene before authorities arrive. Do not clean anything without permission from law enforcement or the coroner. The coroner or medical examiner will release the body when their investigation is complete — this can take days or weeks.
What this usually means
Do not disturb the scene before authorities arrive. Do not clean anything without permission from law enforcement or the coroner. The coroner or medical examiner will release the body when their investigation is complete — this can take days or weeks.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county help for coroner contacts, vital records, cost tools, and paperwork.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.