Death at home: what are the steps to take?

A death at home profoundly affects loved ones. Between the pain of bereavement and the urgency of the procedures, it is difficult to know where to start. Yet certain formalities must be completed quickly to comply with Swiss legislation.

Unlike a death that occurs in hospital or in a care home, where medical staff take charge of the initial procedures, a death at home requires immediate intervention from the family. You must call a doctor to certify the death, obtain a medical certificate, notify the commune within the legal timeframes and contact a funeral home.

This guide accompanies you step by step through these essential procedures after a death at home. We detail each stage in chronological order, from the first reflexes to administrative formalities, including particular cases and practical aspects often overlooked.

Whether the death is expected or sudden, anticipated as part of palliative care or completely unexpected, the procedures remain broadly similar. Understanding these stages allows you to act with serenity despite the difficulty of the moment. For a complete overview of the first steps after a death in Switzerland, we have also prepared a general guide.

First step: call a doctor to certify the death

As soon as you discover the death at home, your first step is to call a doctor. This is a legal obligation in Switzerland. Without a medical certificate, no other formality can be completed.

Contact the deceased's GP as a priority. If they are not reachable or if the death occurs outside consultation hours, call the on-call doctor in your region. In case of sudden or suspicious death, contact the emergency number 144.

Do not hesitate to call even in the middle of the night. Doctors are accustomed to these situations and travel quickly, generally within 1 to 2 hours of your call.

The doctor will establish the death certification on site and write the medical certificate essential for all subsequent procedures. This official document is the starting point for all administrative formalities.

The medical death certificate: essential document

The medical death certificate is written by the doctor after examining the body. This document officially certifies the death and specifies the cause and circumstances of death.

Be careful not to confuse: the medical certificate is not the official death certificate. The certificate is established by the doctor, whilst the death certificate will be issued by the civil registry office of your commune after the declaration.

The death certificate contains medical information (cause of death, approximate time) and serves as the basis for establishing the official certificate. You will need it for all procedures.

In certain particular cases (suspicious death, unusual circumstances), the doctor may request an autopsy or involve the police. These procedures are normal and aim to clarify the circumstances of death.

To learn more about this document, consult our detailed guide on the death certificate in Switzerland.

Notification of death to the commune: deadline and procedure

Once the medical certificate is obtained, you must declare the death to the civil registry office of the commune where the death occurred. The legal deadline is 2 working days maximum.

This death notification can be carried out by a family member or by the funeral home you have appointed. Many families entrust this task to the funeral home to focus on what matters most.

Documents required for the death declaration:

The medical death certificate
The deceased's identity document (identity card or passport)
The family record book if available
Your own identity document

Note that procedures may vary slightly from one canton to another. The civil registry office will guide you through the procedures specific to your region.

Contact a funeral home

It is recommended to contact a funeral home within 24 hours of the death. Funeral homes play an essential role and support you during this difficult period.

Their services include:

The transport of the body from the home
Coffining and preservation care
Complete organisation of the funeral
Support with administrative formalities
Declaration of death to the commune if you wish

Funeral homes can take charge of a large part of the administrative procedures, which allows you to focus on contemplation and supporting loved ones.

To find a funeral home near you, consult our directory of funeral homes in Switzerland.

What to do whilst waiting for the doctor to arrive?

Whilst waiting for the doctor, a few simple gestures can help you through these first moments:

Do not move the body. Leave the deceased person in the position where you found them. The doctor must be able to observe the circumstances of death.

Air the room if possible and maintain a cool temperature. This contributes to the natural preservation of the body.

Gather the deceased's medical documents: health record, recent prescriptions, GP's contact details. This information will be useful to the doctor.

Inform the closest relatives: spouse, children, parents. You are not obliged to inform everyone immediately. Take the time you need.

If you feel overwhelmed, do not hesitate to ask a loved one to stay with you whilst waiting for the doctor to arrive.

Particular cases: expected death vs sudden death

The procedures vary slightly depending on whether the death was expected or occurs suddenly.

Expected death (long illness, palliative care): The procedure is standard. The GP, already aware of the medical situation, quickly establishes the death certificate. Families have often anticipated certain procedures with the care team.

Sudden or suspicious death: In this case, the procedure is more regulated. The doctor may involve the police or a forensic doctor to rule out any suspicious cause. An autopsy may be requested.

These additional procedures do not mean there is a problem. They are simply necessary to officially document the circumstances of death.

In all cases, medical and police authorities guide families with kindness. You are never alone facing these procedures.

Transport and preservation of the body at home

After the medical certification, you can choose to keep the body at home temporarily or have it transported immediately.

In Switzerland, the body can generally remain at home for 24 to 48 hours, depending on climatic conditions and cantonal regulations. This period allows loved ones to gather in the privacy of the home.

Beyond this deadline, the body must be transferred to a mortuary or funeral parlour. Funeral homes organise this transport and ensure that all preservation conditions are met.

If you wish to keep the deceased at home, ensure the room is kept cool (temperature below 15°C if possible) and well ventilated.

Funeral homes can also install a temporary refrigeration system at home in certain particular cases.

Immediate administrative procedures to plan

Beyond the death declaration, several administrative formalities must be completed quickly:

Employer: Inform the deceased's employer to suspend the employment contract
Insurance: Contact health insurance, life insurance and supplementary insurance
AVS/AI: Report the death to the compensation fund to stop benefits
Banks: Inform financial institutions to freeze accounts and suspend direct debits
Pension fund: Contact the deceased's pension fund

These procedures may seem numerous, but they can be staggered over the first few days. Some can also be delegated to the funeral home.

For a complete checklist, consult our guide on administrative formalities after a death.

Inform those around you and publish an obituary

Informing loved ones is an important but often difficult step. Start with close family and intimate friends, then gradually widen the circle.

To inform a wider circle, publishing an obituary is a respectful and effective solution. It allows you to announce the death and communicate information about the funeral to all those who wish to pay tribute to the deceased.

Wolky allows you to publish an obituary online quickly and at a transparent rate of 180 CHF, much cheaper than the 800 to 2,000 CHF charged by traditional press.

Advantages of online publication:

Accessible 24/7 from anywhere
Easy sharing by email or social networks
Possibility to create a memorial page with photos and memories
Publication in a few minutes

You can publish an obituary directly on our platform.

Useful resources and contacts

Here are the main contacts and resources to support you after a death at home:

Medical emergencies:

Emergency number: 144
On-call doctor: enquire at your pharmacy or on your canton's website

Civil registry offices: Each commune has its own office. Consult your commune's website to find out opening hours and contact details.

Bereavement support:

Vivre son deuil Suisse Association: www.vivresondeuil-suisse.ch
La Main Tendue: 143 (24/7 listening line)

Additional guides: For an overview of the first steps after a death in Switzerland, consult our article What to do immediately after a death.

When faced with a death at home, the procedures may seem complex, but they follow a logical order. First call a doctor for the certification, then quickly contact a funeral home and the civil registry office of your commune. These first steps allow you to initiate all the necessary administrative formalities.

During these difficult times, informing your loved ones remains a priority. Wolky allows you to publish an obituary online for 180 CHF, accessible 24/7 and easily shareable with those around you. You thus create a digital space for contemplation where everyone can pay tribute to the departed person. Publish your obituary in a few minutes and offer your loved one the dignity they deserve.

Death at home: what are the steps to take?

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