Suicide
How do I tell people how my family member died?
Short answer
You do not have to. "They died suddenly" or "they died from a medical event" are statements you are allowed to make. If you choose to share the cause, you control the timing and who knows. There is no legal or ethical…
What this usually means
You do not have to. "They died suddenly" or "they died from a medical event" are statements you are allowed to make. If you choose to share the cause, you control the timing and who knows. There is no legal or ethical obligation to disclose the manner of death.
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.