What to Do When Someone Dies in Indiana: A Step-by-Step Guide

Knowing what to do when someone dies in Indiana starts with one simple question: was the death expected? If a death is unexpected and happens outside of hospice or medical care, call 911 first. If it was expected, under hospice care, or occurred in a hospital or care facility, call the funeral home directly. A licensed funeral director will guide you through every step from there.

Losing someone you love turns the world upside down in an instant. You do not have to know what to do next. You just have to make the first call.

Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home has been helping Hendricks County families since 1913, and we are available any hour of the day or night, seven days a week. This guide walks you through what happens first, second, and third, so you are never guessing.

The First Few Minutes: At Home or In the Hospital

If your loved one dies at home and it was unexpected, call 911 first. Emergency responders will determine next steps, and in some cases the coroner will need to be involved before the body can be moved.

If the death was expected, such as under hospice care or after a long illness, you do not need to call 911. Call hospice if they are involved, or call us directly. There is no rush to do anything else.

If the death happens in a hospital or nursing facility, staff will typically ask who your funeral home is. That's when you call us. Our guide on when death occurs covers what to expect in the hours right after.

Who to Call First

In order, here's who most families in Hendricks County need to call:

• 911, if the death was sudden and unexpected
• Hospice, if your loved one was under hospice care
• Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home, at (317) 892-4242, any time of day
• Close family members, once the immediate steps are handled

Many families call us first, even before other relatives, because we can walk you through everything else from that point on.

What Happens When You Call Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home

When you call, you'll speak with a member of our own team, not a call center. We'll ask a few gentle questions: where your loved one is, whether hospice or a physician is involved, and what you need help with right now.

From there, we coordinate the transfer of your loved one into our care, whether that's from a home, a hospital, or a facility anywhere in Hendricks County. We handle immediate need arrangements any hour, day or night, so you're never navigating this part alone.

We'll also schedule a time, whenever you're ready, to sit down and talk through funeral, cremation, or memorial options. There's no pressure to decide anything on that first phone call.

Gathering the Documents and Information You'll Need

A few pieces of information will help, though you don't need any of this before you call:

• Full legal name, birth date, and Social Security number
• Names of parents, including mother's maiden name
• Military service record, if applicable
• Information about a cemetery plot or pre-planning arrangements, if one exists
• A recent photo, if you'd like one used for the obituary or a memorial video

If your loved one served, we also coordinate full veterans services, including honor guard coordination, flag presentation, and taps performed by Eric personally.

Understanding the Death Certificate Process in Indiana

Indiana's electronic death registration system helps move the filing along quickly, and we manage that filing on your family's behalf.

There is a fee for each certified copy, and we'll tell you the current cost. Most families need several copies to close bank accounts, file insurance claims, and settle an estate, so it's worth requesting more than you think you'll need. We can order these for you as part of the arrangement process.

If Your Loved One Passes Away Outside Hendricks County

Sometimes a loved one passes away while traveling, at a hospital outside the county, or even out of state entirely. If the death happened outside Indiana, moving your loved one home requires a transit permit and coordination between funeral homes in both states.

Families in Avon and across the rest of Hendricks County can call us first, and we'll handle the coordination with the funeral home or hospital where your loved one passed.

Choosing Between Burial, Cremation, and a Memorial Service

There's no need to decide this right away. Once your loved one is safely in our care, we'll sit down together and talk through the options: traditional burial, cremation with or without a viewing beforehand, a graveside service, or a celebration of life.

We'll explain funeral costs clearly and lay out every option, whatever your circumstances look like. Our grief resources page also offers support for the weeks that follow, whenever you're ready for it.

Frequently Asked Questions About What to Do When Someone Dies in Indiana

Here are answers to the questions Hendricks County families ask us most often in the days right after a loss.

Do I need to call 911 if someone dies at home in Indiana?

Only if the death was unexpected. If your loved one was under hospice care or the death was anticipated due to illness, you don't need to call 911. Call hospice or call us directly instead. If the death was sudden and unexpected, call 911 first so emergency responders can determine next steps.

What is the first thing I should do when a loved one dies?

Take a breath first. If the death was unexpected, call 911. If it was expected, call hospice if they're involved, or call our funeral home directly at (317) 892-4242. We're available 24 hours a day, and we'll walk you through everything else from that first phone call.

How many death certificates will I need after a death in Indiana?

Most families need several certified copies to close bank accounts, file life insurance claims, and settle an estate. There is a fee for each certified copy, and we'll tell you the current cost. We can order these for your family as part of the arrangement process.

What if my loved one dies while traveling outside Indiana?

If a death happens out of state, bringing your loved one home requires a transit permit and coordination between the funeral home or hospital where they passed and our office in Pittsboro. Call us and we'll manage that coordination on your behalf, including any interstate paperwork required.

Do I have to decide on burial or cremation right away?

No. That decision can wait until you're ready. Once your loved one is safely in our care, there's no urgency to choose. We'll sit down together, explain every option clearly, and help you decide when the time feels right for your family.

What if we're not sure we can afford a funeral right now?

We work with every family, regardless of budget, and we never ask for payment up front. There's a service for every family here, and we'll always explain your options honestly before you decide on anything, with no pressure and no sales pitch.

Whenever you're ready to talk, we're here. There's no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything on the phone. Call Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home at (317) 892-4242, any hour of the day or night, seven days a week. We've been the first call for Hendricks County families since 1913, and we'll be here for yours too.