Do I have to call an ambulance or police if someone dies at home?

For an expected death, NSW Health guidance says you do not have to contact the ambulance or police, and that you can call your nurse or GP if you are unsure. If the death was sudden or unexpected, or you need emergency help, call Triple Zero (000).

How long can the person stay at home after an expected death?

NSW Health guidance says the person's body can stay at home for some hours, for example so family and friends can say goodbye. When you are ready, the funeral director will take the person into their care.

Who registers the death in NSW?

If you use a funeral director, the NSW Government says they will usually organise registering the death. The Coroners Court says the funeral director completes the paperwork with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Can I plan the funeral if the death has gone to the Coroner?

Yes. The NSW Coroners Court says you can contact a funeral director at any time to start planning, but not to set a date until you receive confirmation that your loved one can be released from its care.

Does the room need a specialist clean?

Often it does not. After an expected death, an ordinary clean and fresh linen are usually enough. A specialist is worth considering where there are bodily fluids, or the person was not found for some time.

What to do when someone dies at home in NSW

If someone has died at home in New South Wales and the death was expected, you do not have to do anything straight away. A doctor will need to certify the death, and when you are ready a funeral director will take the person into their care. If the death was sudden or unexpected, police will be involved and the death will be reported to the Coroner.

This guide walks through those steps in order, using what NSW Health, the NSW Government and the Coroners Court of NSW say. Cleaning is a small part of it, and it comes last.

If the death was expected

When someone has been unwell and was expected to die at home, NSW Health guidance for families is gentle and clear. It says: “You do not have to do anything straightaway.” It is fine to spend quiet time with the person, to call a family member or friend to be with you, and to take your time.

The same guidance says:

there is no legal requirement to contact anyone immediately
you do not have to contact the ambulance or police
if you are unsure about anything, it is fine to call your nurse or GP
a doctor needs to certify the death; if the doctor is not available, an authorised nurse or paramedic can complete a verification of death form, and the doctor completes the medical certificate later
if the person died during the night, you may decide to wait until the morning before calling the doctor
the person can stay at home for some hours, for example so relatives and friends can say goodbye

When you are ready, contact a funeral director. They will take the person into their care and guide you through the funeral arrangements.

If the death was sudden or unexpected

If you think someone may have died suddenly, or you need emergency help, call Triple Zero (000).

The Coroners Court of NSW explains that doctors, healthcare professionals, emergency service workers and police must report certain deaths to the Coroner. These include deaths where:

the death was sudden and the cause is unknown
the death was violent or unnatural
the death resulted from an accident or injury
a medical certificate of cause of death has not been signed and is not likely to be signed
the identity of the person is not known

The NSW Government puts it simply: a death is referred to the coroner “if it’s unexpected, or the cause of death is unusual or unclear.”

What police and the Coroner do in NSW

The Coroners Court’s brochure for families sets out what usually happens next.

Police report the death. Police report sudden, unexpected or unexplained deaths to the Coroner.
The person is taken into care. In Sydney, they are taken into the care of the forensic medicine service at Lidcombe. In regional areas, they go to the local hospital while the Coroner decides whether an examination is needed.
Coronial staff make contact. If you are the senior next of kin, coronial support staff will usually contact you within 24 hours. You may be asked to formally identify your loved one and give more information about what happened.
Examinations. The brochure says most examinations ordered by the Coroner are minimally invasive, and the religious and cultural needs of the family are considered. The senior next of kin is told before any examination starts and can object.
Release to the funeral director. Examinations are usually carried out within three days, excluding weekends, though complex cases can take longer.

Some things to keep in mind:

Personal possessions such as phones and jewellery are generally collected by police and returned to the senior next of kin later. Questions about property go to the police officer who reported the death.
The funeral. You can contact a funeral director at any time, but the Coroners Court asks you not to set a date until release has been confirmed.
Death certificates. The funeral director completes the paperwork and registers the death with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. An interim certificate can be issued if the cause of death has not yet been determined.

Help in the first week

The NSW Government’s first steps page suggests that, in the first days, you might need to let family and friends know, find the will, think about funeral arrangements and compare services and prices, consider compassionate or bereavement leave, and organise care for children, dependants or pets.

Official contacts listed by the Coroners Court of NSW and the NSW Government:

Who	Number
Coroners Court, Lidcombe	(02) 8584 7777
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages	13 77 88
NSW Mental Health Line	1800 011 511
Lifeline	13 11 14
Victims Access Line (if the death followed a violent crime)	1800 633 063

If the death followed a violent crime, the NSW Government says family members may be able to get support through the Victims Support Scheme, including counselling and financial support.

If you are in Victoria

In Victoria, the Coroners Court of Victoria says a police officer or healthcare practitioner may tell you they have notified the coroner, and that your loved one will most likely be taken to the coronial services building in Southbank. You can contact a funeral director immediately, and release usually occurs within five to seven days. The court’s staff, including Family Liaison Officers, can be reached on 1300 309 519.

When cleaning is needed, and when it is not

After an expected death, most families find that an ordinary clean, fresh linen and some airing of the room are all that is needed. There is no rush, and many people prefer to do this themselves or with family.

A specialist clean is worth considering when:

there are bodily fluids on mattresses, carpet or furniture
the person was not found for some time
the death was not natural, or police were involved
there are needles, medicines or other items that need careful disposal
you would simply rather not go into the room yourself

In NSW, cleaning after a death at home is the responsibility of the owner, occupier or relatives, unless police used chemicals to find evidence, in which case the NSW Police Force is responsible for that residue. If police have been at the home and you are unsure whether you can go back in or who is responsible for the cleaning, ask the officer in charge. The NSW Government also advises families not to clean a crime scene themselves, because of health and safety issues.

If you need a specialist, our forensic and trauma cleaning page explains how this kind of work is done. When you are ready, and not before, you can ask for a call back about a property in Sydney or Melbourne.