When someone you love dies at home, the first thing to do is call the family doctor or, outside surgery hours, dial 112. A doctor must certify the death and issue the certificatul constatator (medical death certificate). Only after that can the deceased be collected. We come once you have the certificate — we collect with an authorised hearse and take care of the paperwork and everything that follows. We answer day and night; in Bucharest and Ilfov we arrive within 60–90 minutes.
death at home — what to do now. Illustrative image.
Certifying the death at home
A death that occurs at home must be certified by a doctor. During surgery hours, the family doctor certifies it. Outside those hours, or if the doctor cannot come, call 112 — a medical crew will be sent to certify the death.
If the death is unexpected, occurred without a known illness, or if there are any doubts about the cause, the case is taken over by the police and a forensic doctor (medic legist). In these situations an autopsy is carried out and burial or cremation may only proceed after the public prosecutor's authorisation. We will guide you through this as well.
There are a few clear steps to follow. You do not need to know them all — we will guide you over the phone.
Call the family doctor. Outside surgery hours, call 112.
Wait for the doctor to certify the death.
Receive the certificatul constatator al decesului (medical death certificate).
Call us. We come with an authorised hearse and collect the deceased.
We agree on the next steps together — paperwork, preparation, and the ceremony.
Useful things to have to hand
When you call us, it helps if you have a few things ready. If you cannot find them all, call anyway — we will work through it together.
The deceased person's identity card (or national identification number).
Your own identity card.
The name of the doctor who certified the death.
The exact address from which we are collecting.
Any preferences: religious ceremony, cemetery, existing burial plot.
What not to do in the first hours
Do not move the deceased on your own. Wait for the medical team and for us.
Do not sign anything in haste. A trustworthy funeral home will not rush you.
Do not discard the person's documents — identity card, pension card, medical records. They are needed for the formalities.
Death at night or at the weekend
Call 112 — the service runs around the clock. The medical crew will come and certify the death; the certificatul constatator is issued by the certifying doctor or, in some cases, by the family doctor the following day. You do not have to wait until morning before calling.
We answer round the clock. If you call us before the medical crew arrives, we will guide you step by step. Our team arrives within 60–90 minutes in Bucharest and Ilfov, once you have the certificate.
Illustrative image: a night-time phone call — dial 112 to certify the death, at any hour; call us immediately after.
Sudden or suspicious death — the police and the IML
If the death occurs suddenly, without a known illness, or if there is any doubt about the cause, call 112 and do not move the person. The police will take over the case and may request an autopsy at the Institutul de Medicină Legală (IML — Institute of Forensic Medicine).
Burial or cremation may only proceed after the public prosecutor's authorisation. The process typically takes several days. We wait for the authorisation and collect immediately once it is available — keeping you informed at every step.
If the family doctor is not available
Call 112. The emergency service sends a medical crew to certify the death, at any hour, on any day; the certificatul constatator is issued by the certifying doctor or, as the case may be, by the family doctor. There is no need to wait for the surgery to open.
Costs and the state funeral grant
Complete funeral packages start from 4,900 lei. The state funeral grant — 9,192 RON — covers the basic packages in full for insured persons and pensioners.
Full details on how to obtain the funeral grant and what documents are needed are on the dedicated page.
Illustrative image: our team at the address — collection with an authorised hearse, following medical certification.
When
First call
Then
Working day, during surgery hours
Family doctor
Call us, after the death certificate
Night or weekend
112
Call us, as soon as you have the death certificate
Suspicious death or no witness
112 (do not move the person)
Wait for police/IML authorisation; call us at any time
Who to call first — quick guide Our number is available around the clock. You can call at any time, even before you have the death certificate — we will guide you.
The paperwork and the costs
After the death is certified, the next step is the certificatul de deces (death certificate) from Starea Civilă (the civil registry office) and, where required, the burial or cremation permit. We obtain these on behalf of the family, on the basis of a simple letter of authority. The complete list is in the guide documents needed at the time of death.
For insured persons and pensioners, the state funeral grant can cover a basic funeral package in full. We will tell you from the first call what the costs are and how to use the grant, with no surprises.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
What families ask about death at home: what you need to do, step by step
Who do I call first when someone dies at home?
The family doctor, during surgery hours. Outside those hours, or if the doctor cannot come, call 112. A doctor must certify the death before the deceased can be collected. Call us after you have the certificatul constatator — or at any time if you do not know what to do.
Who certifies the death at home?
The family doctor during surgery hours, or the medical crew sent by 112 outside those hours. If the death is unexpected or suspicious, the police and a forensic doctor (medic legist) are involved, and burial takes place only after the public prosecutor's authorisation.
How quickly do you arrive?
In Bucharest and Ilfov, within 60–90 minutes of your call, day or night. We come after the death has been certified and you have the certificatul constatator.
What do I do if the death happened at night?
Call 112 to have the death certified. You can call us at any hour — we answer round the clock and will tell you exactly what happens next. You do not have to wait until morning.
Does someone need to be present at collection?
Yes — a family member or an authorised person is needed, for identification and to sign the handover. If you are alone, we will guide you over the phone step by step.
What does collection from home cost?
Collection forms part of the funeral transport service and of any complete package. We give you the cost from the first call, fixed and with no surprises. For insured persons, the funeral grant can cover the essential package in full.
How much of the total cost does the funeral grant cover?
The state funeral grant is 9,192 RON in 2026 for insured persons and pensioners. It covers an essential funeral package in full (from 4,900 lei). Details on the application and required documents are on the dedicated funeral grant page.
What if the death happened some time ago and was not certified immediately?
Call 112. The medical crew, or the police where appropriate, will manage the situation. Do not move the person and do not touch objects nearby if there is any suspicion about the cause of death. We can collect immediately once the authorities give their authorisation. Common scenarios are explained in our guides.
RELATED SERVICES
Related services we provide
Funeral transport
Collection with an authorised hearse, from home to the chapel or cemetery.
