What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Loved One Passes

Losing someone you love is one of life’s most disorienting experiences. The first 24 hours often feel like a blur, where time moves both too fast and too slow. In the middle of grief, families are faced with practical decisions they never expected to make so quickly. Knowing what to expect — and what really matters in those early hours — can help bring a sense of calm.

The Immediate Steps

Verification of death.
If your loved one passes in a hospital or aged care facility, staff will guide you through this process and issue the necessary paperwork. If the death occurs at home, a doctor or medical professional needs to confirm it and provide a certificate. If the death was sudden or unexpected, emergency services may become involved.

Contacting a funeral director.
Once the death has been verified, most families choose to contact a funeral director. They will arrange to bring your loved one into care and begin handling the necessary paperwork. This step can be an enormous relief, as it removes the pressure of figuring out “what happens next” on your own.

Reaching Out to Family and Friends

This is often the hardest task in those first hours. Breaking the news can feel impossible. It helps to start with one or two close family members and let them spread the word to others. Many families find group texts, emails, or private social media groups useful for sharing updates without having to relive the moment over and over.

Gathering Important Information

If you can, locate documents that may be needed soon:

• Identification (driver’s licence, passport, Medicare card)

• Any pre-paid funeral plan details

• A will or advance care directive

• Funeral wishes (sometimes written or spoken to loved ones)

Don’t panic if you can’t find everything straight away. Funeral directors can help guide you through paperwork over the coming days.

Taking Care of Yourself

Grief is exhausting. In the first 24 hours, small acts of self-care matter: drink water, eat something simple, and rest when you can. Accept help when it’s offered. Let others cook, make phone calls, or sit with you. You don’t need to do everything yourself.

What Not to Worry About (Yet)

Families often feel like they need to rush big decisions: burial or cremation, service details, venues, catering. The truth is you don’t need to finalise everything on day one. The first 24 hours are about making sure your loved one is cared for and giving yourself permission to grieve. The rest can follow in its own time.

Bringing Calm Into Chaos

The first day after a death feels impossible, but it’s also the moment when support makes the most difference. Having the right people around you — whether family, friends, or a compassionate funeral director — helps carry the weight.

Want to Make the Process Easier?

The first 24 hours are overwhelming, but planning doesn’t have to stay that way. Capturfy is an online funeral planning tool designed to bring clarity in the middle of chaos. With a 30-day free trial, it gives families a step-by-step way to organise a service, add photos, choose music, and record the details that matter most — all in one place.

Instead of worrying about what’s been missed, Capturfy helps ensure nothing falls through the cracks, so you can focus on what really matters: being with family and remembering your loved one.

The first 24 hours after losing someone are about care, not perfection. Do what you can, lean on others, and know that there are tools and people ready to help carry the load.