Death in a care home or nursing home: what you need to do

Certifying the death at the care home

In a care home or nursing home, the death is noticed by the care staff. They call the home's doctor — or, if none is available, call 112 so that a doctor can certify the death.

The doctor issues the certificatul constatator al decesului (medical death certificate), the document on which everything that follows depends. The care home notifies the family and keeps the deceased in appropriate conditions until the funeral home arrives.

You have the right to choose the funeral home

This is the most important thing to remember. Whatever the care home may suggest, the family has the right to choose the funeral home freely. You are not required to accept a firm that is the care home's preferred provider.

Take the time to compare and ask for a clear, itemised quote. A trustworthy funeral home will not rush or pressure you. You are welcome to call us for a no-obligation conversation, even before you have made a decision.

The procedure, step by step

The steps are straightforward, and the care home handles most of the initial ones. You do not need to know them all — we will guide you over the phone:

• The care home's staff call the doctor to certify the death.
• The doctor issues the certificatul medical constatator (medical death certificate).
• The home notifies you and hands over the person's documents and belongings.
• Call us. We come with an authorised hearse and collect the deceased from the care home.
• 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 details ready. If you do not have them all, call anyway — we will gather many of them directly from the care home:

• The deceased person's identity card (or national identification number).
• Your own identity card.
• The name and address of the care home, and the name of the doctor who certified the death.
• Any preferences: religious ceremony, cemetery, existing burial plot.

What not to do

• Do not sign a contract with a firm recommended by the care home simply because you are told 'that's how it's done.'
• Do not leave the person's documents (identity card, pension card) behind without collecting them — you will need them for the formalities.
• Do not feel pressured to decide on the spot. You have the right to compare and ask for a quote.

Death at night or at the weekend

Care homes operate around the clock, so the staff manage the first steps at any hour — calling the doctor and notifying the family. The death is certified in the same way regardless of the time or day.

We answer round the clock. You can call us as soon as you have been notified, even if you do not yet have all the documents. Our team arrives within 60–90 minutes in Bucharest and Ilfov.

If the death is suspicious or unexpected

If there is any doubt about the cause of death, the case is taken over by the police and a forensic doctor (medic legist), as in any other situation. An autopsy may be requested at the Institutul de Medicină Legală (Institute of Forensic Medicine).

In these cases, burial or cremation may only proceed after the public prosecutor's authorisation. We wait for the authorisation and collect immediately once it is available, keeping you informed at every step.

Paperwork, costs, and the state grant

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 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.

Funeral packages start from 4,900 lei, and the state funeral grant of 9,192 RON covers the basic packages in full for insured persons and pensioners.