First Steps to Take When Someone Dies in Palm Beach County

When someone dies in Palm Beach County, call 911 if the death is unexpected, or call hospice if it was expected. A funeral home can then take your loved one into their care. Florida law requires a death certificate be filed within five days of death, before burial or cremation, under Florida Statute 382.008.

If you're reading this right now, you may still be in shock. That's normal, and there is no clock ticking on your grief, even though a few practical things do need attention soon. Knowing what comes next, in the right order, can make the following days feel far less overwhelming.

Tillman Funeral Home And Crematory has been helping families throughout Royal Palm Beach and the rest of Palm Beach County since 1959, and this guide walks you through exactly what to do next.

What to Do in the First Hours After a Death

The right first call depends on where the death happened. If it occurred suddenly at home, call 911. Paramedics or police will need to confirm the death before anyone else can be contacted.

If your loved one died while under hospice care, call the hospice nurse first. They are trained for this exact moment and can pronounce the death without involving police.

If the death happened at a hospital or care facility, such as Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach or Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee, staff will notify you directly and can often contact the funeral home on your behalf. In every case, there is no need to rush. Your loved one does not need to be moved immediately, and you can read more about when death occurs before making any calls at all.

Who to Call First, and When

Once the death has been confirmed, the next call is to a funeral home. Tillman Funeral Home And Crematory is available to help any hour of the day or night.

If you already know Tillman will be handling arrangements, you can call right away, even before deciding on burial or cremation. Our team can begin immediate need arrangements and take care of transportation, so your family isn't left waiting or unsure what to do with the hours in between.

Understanding Florida's Death Certificate Timeline

Florida law is specific here. Under Florida Statute 382.008, the death certificate must be filed within five days of death, and it must be filed before burial or cremation can take place. The attending physician or medical examiner then has 72 hours to complete the cause-of-death section once the funeral home submits the paperwork.

In practice, this timeline rarely falls on your shoulders. Tillman's licensed directors file the certificate electronically through Florida's death registration system on your family's behalf. Most families do need to plan ahead for one thing: ordering enough certified copies, typically ten to fifteen, since banks, insurers, and courts each require their own original.

Gathering the Documents Your Family Will Need

While arrangements are being made, it helps to start collecting a few key documents. You don't need everything on this list before calling, but having it nearby will speed up the days ahead.

• The decedent's Social Security number and date of birth
• Any pre-arranged funeral or cremation contract, if one exists
• Life insurance policies or a list of account numbers
• Military discharge papers (DD-214), if veterans benefits may apply
• The original will, if one exists

On that last point, Florida Statute 732.901 requires the person holding an original will to deposit it with the Clerk of Court within ten days of learning of the death, so it's worth locating early rather than setting it aside. Our step-by-step funeral planning guide walks through each of these documents in more detail.

How Tillman Guides Royal Palm Beach and Palm Beach County Families

Tillman Funeral Home And Crematory has been family owned and operated since 1959, and a second generation of the Zahn family now serves alongside owner Brad Zahn. That history matters most in moments like this one: families across Royal Palm Beach and the surrounding county call us specifically because our directors have walked this path with many families before theirs.

Because cremation is performed on our own premises rather than sent to an outside facility, families never lose track of where their loved one is at any point in the process. Our bilingual team, known locally as Funeraria Tillman, also means Spanish-speaking families are never asked to navigate this alone. Whether you're in Royal Palm Beach or anywhere else in Palm Beach County, the same unhurried, no-pressure guidance applies.

Frequently Asked Questions About What to Do When Someone Dies in Palm Beach County

What is the first thing I should do if someone dies at home in Florida?

If the death was unexpected, call 911 first. If your loved one was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse or case manager before anyone else. They can pronounce the death and guide you from there. Once that step is handled, you or the hospice team can call a funeral home, which can arrange transportation right away. There is no need to move anything yourself or clean the room before help arrives.

Do I need to call 911 if my loved one died while on hospice?

Usually not. Hospice care includes a plan for exactly this moment. Call the hospice nurse or the after-hours line listed in your loved one's paperwork, and they will pronounce the death and coordinate next steps. Calling 911 instead can sometimes bring police or EMS involvement that isn't necessary when hospice is already overseeing care. Keep the hospice phone number somewhere easy to find in the weeks ahead.

How long do I have to file a death certificate in Florida?

Florida law requires the death certificate to be filed within five days of the death and before burial or cremation, under Florida Statute 382.008. In practice, your funeral home typically handles the filing electronically on your family's behalf, so you do not need to complete the paperwork yourself. The physician or medical examiner has 72 hours to complete the cause-of-death portion once the funeral home submits it.

How many certified death certificates should I order?

Most Palm Beach County families need somewhere between ten and fifteen certified copies. Banks, insurance companies, the Social Security Administration, and title or vehicle transfer offices each typically require their own original copy, not a photocopy. It is easier and less expensive to order a few extra at the time of filing than to request more later.

What if I don't know where my loved one kept their will?

Check a home safe, a filing cabinet, or the office of the attorney who prepared it. Florida law gives the person holding an original will only ten days from learning of the death to deposit it with the Clerk of Court, under Florida Statute 732.901, so it is worth looking soon. If you cannot locate it, a probate attorney can advise on next steps; this does not need to be resolved before funeral arrangements move forward.

Can I call Tillman Funeral Home in the middle of the night?

Yes. Tillman Funeral Home And Crematory is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether the death just happened at 3 a.m. or you are calling days later with questions, the team can walk you through what comes next at whatever pace you need, with no pressure to decide anything on the spot.

Whenever you're ready, we're here. There's no pressure and no obligation, just people who know how to help, day or night. Call Tillman Funeral Home And Crematory at (561) 965-4412, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or contact us whenever it suits your family's timeline, not ours.