Working with a funeral director to complete the death certificate

Once the hospital has made their identifications, you will need a funeral director to complete the death certificate and remove the body from the hospital. Depending on the space available in the hospital morgue, you will typically be allowed anywhere from three days to three weeks to remove the body from the hospital.

Working with a hospital social worker

After the death has occurred, a hospital social worker will be assigned to you to help you make decisions, including whether or not to conduct an autopsy, donate the deceased’s organs, or donate the deceased’s body to medical science. The social worker may also be able to help you identify a local funeral home and contact that funeral home.

To find a funeral home, use our resource Guide: Finding a Funeral Home.