When someone dies in Massachusetts, the first step depends on whether the death was expected or sudden. An expected death under hospice care starts with a call to the hospice nurse. An unexpected death at home starts with a call to 911. After the death is officially pronounced, a funeral home like Murphy Funeral Home can be contacted to begin the necessary next steps.
If you're reading this right now, you may be sitting in a quiet room trying to remember what comes next. That's normal. Nobody feels ready for this moment, no matter how much warning they had.
Take a breath. You don't need to figure everything out at once, just the next right call.
Murphy Funeral Home has been helping Salem and North Shore families through this exact moment for over 130 years. This guide will walk you through what to do first, who to call, and what happens next.
If the Death Happens at Home
How you respond depends on whether the death was expected.
If your loved one was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse first, not 911. A hospice nurse can come to the home, confirm the death, and help you take the next step. Hospice lines are staffed 24 hours a day, so this is true even in the middle of the night.
If the death was expected due to illness but hospice was not involved, call the attending physician. They can pronounce the death or give instructions for someone else to do so.
If the death was sudden and unexpected, call 911. Emergency responders will come to the home and help determine what happens next.
For a closer look at each of these situations, see our guide on who to call when a loved one dies at home.
If the Death Happens in a Hospital or Care Facility
When a death happens in a hospital, nursing home, or hospice facility, the staff on site handle the immediate steps. A physician or the facility's medical officer will pronounce the death and begin the paperwork required under Massachusetts law.
Once that happens, the staff will typically ask which funeral home your family would like to use. That's when you call us. We'll take it from there, coordinating directly with the facility to bring your loved one into our care.
You do not need to rush this call. Many families take a little time with their loved one before making it.
Who to Call, and In What Order
The first hours after a death can feel like too much at once. Here's the order that actually matters:
- Hospice nurse or attending physician for an expected death, or 911 for a sudden death
- Immediate family members who need to know right away
- Murphy Funeral Home, at (978) 744-0497, any time day or night, including for immediate need assistance
- Your loved one's employer, if they were still working
- Close friends and extended family, when you're ready
Everything else, obituary details, service planning, paperwork, can wait until you've made these first calls.
How Murphy Funeral Home Guides North Shore Families From the First Call
Once you call us, you're not managing this alone anymore. Our licensed funeral directors, Francis "FJ" Murphy, Bob Clocher, and Chris Ellis, will walk you through arrangements at whatever pace your family needs.
We coordinate the transfer of your loved one, whether they're at home, in a hospital, or at a care facility anywhere on the North Shore. We handle the paperwork with the city or town clerk, help you gather what you'll need for Social Security and veterans services and military honors, and answer questions many families don't know to ask.
Francis Murphy sits on Salem's Cemetery Commission and has spent years working alongside the same hospitals, hospices, and clergy that North Shore families already trust. That familiarity means fewer surprises for you, at a moment when you don't need any more of them.
Understanding the Massachusetts Death Certificate Process
Massachusetts law is specific about who can certify a death. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 46, Section 9, a death certificate must be furnished by the attending physician, a physician who declares the death, a medical examiner, or a hospital medical officer.
Once that medical portion is complete, our funeral directors handle the rest, working with the city or town clerk where the death occurred to file the certificate.
Death certificates in Massachusetts are public record, unlike in many other states, so you won't need special permission to request certified copies later. Most families need several copies for banks, insurance, and the Social Security Administration. For more detail, see our page on how death certificates are filed.
What Happens in the Days That Follow
Once your loved one is in our care, we'll sit down with you, in person or by phone, to talk through the arrangements. That conversation covers the service itself, whether traditional, cremation, or a memorial gathering, along with the funeral services we offer
and the paperwork most families haven't thought about yet.
We'll help you notify Social Security and gather what you need for VA benefits if your loved one served. We can also arrange livestreaming for family who can't be there in person, and help with everything from flowers to keepsakes. If grief support would help right now or later, we keep grief support resources
on hand as well.
There's no set timeline. Some families are ready to plan within a day; others need longer. We follow your pace, not the other way around.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Do When Someone Dies in Massachusetts
Do I have to call 911 if someone dies at home in Massachusetts?
Not always. If your loved one was under hospice care and the death was expected, call the hospice nurse first, not 911. If the death was expected due to illness but hospice was not involved, call the attending physician. Call 911 when the death was sudden or unexpected.
Who can legally pronounce a death in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts law names who must complete and furnish the death certificate: the physician who attended the person, a physician who pronounces the death, a hospital medical officer, or the medical examiner. Our directors can explain how this applies to your situation.
How soon do I need to call a funeral home after a death?
There is no strict deadline, and you do not need to call immediately. Many families take time with their loved one first. Once you are ready, whether that is an hour later or the next morning, call Murphy Funeral Home at (978) 744-0497. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we will guide you from there.
How many death certificates will I need?
Most families need several certified copies, since banks, insurance companies, and government agencies each require their own original. Massachusetts death certificates are public record, so certified copies remain available afterward if you need more later. Our staff can help you estimate how many to order during your arrangement conference.
What if my loved one died outside of Salem or somewhere else on the North Shore?
Murphy Funeral Home coordinates transfers from hospitals, hospices, and care facilities throughout the North Shore, and we can also arrange transport if your loved one passed away in another state. Call us as soon as you are ready, and we will take care of the logistics.
Whenever you're ready, we're here. There's no rush and no pressure, just people on the North Shore who know how to help. Call Murphy Funeral Home any time, day or night, at (978) 744-0497, or reach our team
to speak with someone directly. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for exactly this moment.
