What happens after an unattended death is found: a step-by-step guide
Updated 2026-09-14
An unattended death means someone died alone and was not found right away. The steps are the same whether it was hours or weeks, but the urgency of the cleanup changes.
1. Call 911
Police and EMS attend. If the death is clearly natural and the person had a doctor, the medical examiner or coroner may release the body to a funeral home quickly; otherwise the ME takes custody for examination. Nobody should touch or clean anything until the scene is released, usually within a day.
2. Call the funeral home and the insurer
The funeral home coordinates with the ME. Call the homeowner or renter insurer the same day and open a property claim; remediation is generally covered. Get the claim number.
3. Call a remediation company
Once the scene is released, a biohazard company can be on site within hours. They remove affected materials, treat the odor at the source and disinfect. Do not let family members do this: decomposition fluids are a biohazard, household products will not remove the odor, and the emotional cost is real. Most companies bill the insurer directly.
4. Secure the property and belongings
Lock the home, collect documents and valuables (the remediation company will bag what they find), and stop deliveries. If the person rented, tell the landlord; the lease usually continues until the estate ends it.
5. Then the estate
Death certificate, will, probate if needed. An estate cleanout company can clear the rest of the home once remediation is complete; some biohazard companies do both.
What it costs
Remediation: $2,000 to $8,000 nationally, depending on time undiscovered and materials affected. Estate cleanout afterwards: $800 to $4,000.