What to Do When a Loved One Dies at Home
From time to time, we get questions from clients about the logistics of what to do when a loved one dies at home. Here’s a short list of the steps to follow.
1. Make the First Call
If your loved one was in hospice care, call the hospice nurse first. Hospice teams do this work every day. They'll come, pronounce the death, and walk you through what happens next. You can lean on them.
If your loved one wasn't in hospice, call 911. Idaho law treats this as an "unattended death," which puts it under the county coroner's jurisdiction. Law enforcement usually arrives first and notifies the coroner, who investigates and decides whether an autopsy is called for. None of this means anyone suspects anything illicit occurred — it's simply the standard process.
2. Call the Person Who Will Take Charge
Think about who needs to hear this news right away, and who will step into a decision-making role — a spouse, an adult child, an emergency contact, a close sibling. Call that person as soon as you can.
If that person is you, you don't have to do everything alone. Ask someone to sit with you, answer the phone, or start contacting loved ones.
3. Choose Where Your Loved One Will Go
Once the authorities have ruled out anything unusual, they will ask you which funeral home you would like to have the remains transferred to. If your family member pre-planned their arrangements, that decision may already be made, and the funeral home will have a file waiting.
If no one made arrangements in advance, Idaho law sets a priority order for who decides — usually the surviving spouse first, then adult children, then parents. If nobody claims a body within fourteen days, Idaho law lets the county coroner arrange burial or cremation.
4. Look for the Estate Planning Documents
Search for a will, a trust, a financial power of attorney, or a healthcare directive. Check the obvious places first: a home safe, a filing cabinet, a desk drawer, a safe deposit box, or the office of the attorney who drafted them.
These documents usually name someone specific — a personal representative, a successor trustee, or a healthcare agent — to handle your loved one's affairs, sometimes including care for dependents or pets. If the documents name someone other than you, call that person.
One important detail: a power of attorney ends the moment a person dies. Even if you held one for years, it no longer gives you authority. Going forward, only a court-appointed personal representative or a successor trustee can act on the estate's behalf.
If no one holds that role, an interested party can petition the local magistrate court for an appointment. An attorney can help you file.
5. Lock Up the House
This feels cold to think about, but empty homes attract theft, and word travels fast after a death. Lock the doors and windows, bring in the mail, take out the trash and any perishable items, and ask a trusted neighbor or family member to keep an eye on the place until you've settled the arrangements.
6. Make Sure Dependents Are Cared For
If your loved one cared for children or a dependent adult, someone needs to step in today — not next week. Look at the estate planning documents for a named guardian or caregiver, and reach out to that person now. If the documents don't name anyone, gather the family and agree on who takes the next few days.
7. Take Care of the Pets
Pets grieve too, and they need food, water, and someone familiar nearby. Check whether your loved one arranged for a specific caregiver — many people name one in a will or trust — and call that person. If not, ask a neighbor or family member to foster them while you sort out a longer-term plan.
If you're navigating the loss of someone in Idaho right now, we're here to help you through it. And if this experience has you thinking about your own planning, we'd welcome that conversation too. Contact us to schedule a consultation at 208.995.9224 or visit www.shailabuckleylaw.com.