What to do if someone dies? A step by step guide
If someone dies, it is always a difficult emotional experience for their relatives and friends — a reality that sooner or later touches each of our lives. In addition to grief, families are faced with a number of organizational and legal matters that need to be addressed. We, the ANGEL Funeral Home, are here to support you during this difficult time, assisting with documentation and the organization of the farewell ceremony.
First steps to take if someone dies
The steps to take when someone dies depend on where and under what circumstances the death occurred — at home, in a hospital, or abroad. Each situation has its own rules and procedures that are important to know in order to correctly prepare all necessary documents and organize the following actions. For more details on funeral documentation, read our blog: “Preparing Documents for Funerals in Latvia".
Below, we will explain in detail what to do in each situation.
When a death occurs in a hospital
If someone dies in a medical facility, the hospital staff will handle some of the necessary procedures. However, there are several important steps that relatives need to take to correctly prepare the documents and begin organizing the funeral.
Below are the sequential steps, starting with the simplest and most convenient option for you.
1. Reaching out to ANGEL Funeral Home
The fastest and most convenient way is to contact us immediately. We provide 24/7 consultation and handle the entire process — from preparing documents and transporting the deceased to organizing the farewell ceremony, as well as coordinating with the hospital and civil registry. You won’t have to deal with paperwork or figure out the procedures on your own. For 24/7 consultation or to arrange transportation of the deceased to the morgue, please contact us by phone:
2. Confirmation of death
The medical staff will record the death and carry out all necessary procedures. After that, the doctor will issue a medical certificate stating the cause of death — the primary document confirming the death.
3. Obtaining medical documents
Based on the issued medical certificate stating the cause of death, as well as the deceased’s personal documents (passport or ID card), relatives can contact the appropriate civil registry office to obtain the official death certificate. This document serves as formal confirmation of the death and is required for further legal and organizational procedures — from arranging the funeral to handling inheritance matters.
The death certificate will be required for further legal and organizational procedures — from arranging the funeral to handling inheritance matters.
If the death occurred at home
If someone dies at home, it is important to act systematically. Following the correct steps will help quickly prepare all necessary documents and organize the subsequent arrangements.
1. Calling an ambulance and/or the police
First, it is necessary to call emergency medical services so that professionals can confirm the death. If the medical team suspects a violent or unnatural cause of death, they will notify the police themselves. The medical personnel will conduct an examination and issue an initial certificate confirming the death. After that, it will be necessary to contact the deceased’s doctor to complete the final documentation.
2. Transportation of the deceased to the morgue
Next, it is necessary to arrange transportation of the deceased to the morgue. This service is provided by a funeral home. Our funeral home, ANGEL, offers prompt assistance, ensuring careful and professional handling of all procedures at any time of day or night.
For our consultation or to arrange transportation from home to the morgue, please contact us 24/7 at:
3. Obtaining a medical certificate of the cause of death
After the examination and confirmation of death by the emergency physician, the relatives need to contact the deceased’s doctor. The doctor will issue an official medical certificate stating the cause of death, which will be required for further procedures and for obtaining the death certificate from the civil registry office.
4. Obtaining the death certificate
With the medical certificate stating the cause of death and the deceased’s personal document (passport or ID card), relatives contact the civil registry office to obtain the official death certificate. This document serves as legal confirmation of the death and is required for arranging the funeral, processing benefits, and other formalities.
The ANGEL Funeral Home also provides assistance with obtaining the medical certificate and the official death certificate. We provide guidance at every step, assist with preparing documents, and, if necessary, handle organizational matters to support you during this difficult time:
If the death occurs abroad
If someone dies abroad, it is one of the most challenging experiences for the family. It is important to act correctly and systematically in order to prepare all necessary documents and arrange the repatriation of the deceased to their homeland.
1. Contact a funeral home that handles repatriation
The first step is to contact a funeral home that handles international transportation of the deceased. Our funeral home, ANGEL, coordinates with local law enforcement, medical institutions, and the consulate to ensure the process proceeds as quickly as possible. You can find more details on the procedures in our article about deaths abroad.
Contact us via our 24/7 phone line, and we will take care of all aspects of the repatriation:
2. Get official death documents
Local law enforcement or medical institutions issue the official death certificate or medical certificate. This document serves as the basis for all subsequent actions — obtaining permits, arranging transportation, and organizing the funeral.
3. Prepare the necessary documents for repatriation
For repatriation of the deceased, the following may be required:
- Official death certificate issued in the country of death
- Official marriage certificate (if applicable);
- Passport of the deceased and family members’ documents;
- Permit for transporting the body across the border;
- Power of attorney or a document confirming the family’s consent for repatriation.
4. Document processing and body transportation
Our funeral home specializes in repatriation of the deceased from anywhere in the world, providing 24/7 support, consultations, and careful assistance at every step:
5. Organizing the farewell ceremony in the homeland
After the deceased arrives in Latvia, we will assist you in organizing the farewell ceremony - whether it is a:
- traditional funeral or
- cremation
We also provide consultation and support in selecting funeral supplies and arranging all details of the ceremony.
We also recommend reviewing the official information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia regarding the procedures to follow in the event of a citizen’s death abroad.
Farewell ceremony organization
After obtaining all necessary documents, the process of organizing the farewell begins. You can choose between a traditional funeral or cremation.
We will provide you with complete information about available cemetery plots and crematoriums, and assist you in choosing the way to conduct the ceremony, taking into account your preferences or the wishes of the deceased.
Full range of services by ANGEL Funeral home
Наша команда сопровождает вас от начала до конца, обеспечивая поддержку на каждом этапе:
- Document processing
- Body transport to the morgue
- Repatriation](/en/repatriation)
- Sanitary services
- Farewell ceremony planning
- Funeral accessories provision and selection
- Traditional funeral arrangements
- Cremation arrangements
We understand that when someone dies, it is an emotionally difficult time for the family. Our funeral home, ANGEL, is ready to assist you at every step — from document preparation to transportation, and from organizing the farewell ceremony to burial or cremation. We provide full support throughout the process so that you can focus on what matters most — saying goodbye to your loved one.
Contact for Consultation
If you are faced with the death of a loved one, contact us — we will explain the steps in detail and handle all organizational matters for you:
