What if they had a communicable disease?

What this usually means

Standard mortuary practices handle communicable diseases safely. The death certificate will note certain conditions for public health purposes. Family members do not need to worry about handling personal belongings — ask the funeral home if you have specific concerns.

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.

Related questions

• What happens when someone dies in jail or prison?
• What if the death is being investigated?
• What if they died from a drug overdose?
• What if they were unhoused when they died?
• What if I can't find the body or no one will tell me where they are?