When Someone Passes Away

A Passing at Home

When someone passes away at home, contact the family doctor, locum doctor or relevant medical service to confirm the death. After the required procedure, call On Sum on 0421 793 263 to arrange the transfer.

What On Sum Arranges

We arrange the next step according to the documents and requirements of the relevant organisation.

Medical Confirmation

Contact the family doctor, locum doctor or relevant medical service to confirm the death according to the circumstances.

Call On Sum

After the required procedure, call On Sum with your loved one's location and the family's contact details.

Arranging the Transfer

Once the required procedure and documents are complete, we arrange the transfer to a professional care facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where medical or government procedures apply, we explain the next step from the documents and information available.

Do We Need to Contact a Doctor First?

A death at home generally needs to be confirmed by a family doctor, locum doctor or relevant medical service. A sudden or unexplained death must follow the emergency procedure.

When Should We Call On Sum?

You may call On Sum first. The transfer time is arranged after the necessary medical or related procedure is complete.

How Do We Plan the Funeral Afterwards?

After arranging the transfer, we meet the family at a suitable time and place to discuss the date, venue, ceremony, cremation or burial and other arrangements.

Need Help?

Call On Sum and we will explain the next step using the information you already have.

An expected passing at home

If your loved one has been receiving care from a general practitioner, community nursing service or palliative-care team, follow the instructions that the care team provided. A doctor will need to complete the medical documentation concerning the cause of passing before a funeral director can arrange transfer.

You can call On Sum and tell us where your loved one is and which care team is involved. We will follow the doctor’s or relevant organisation’s instructions and arrange transfer to mortuary care when the required process is complete.

A sudden or unexplained passing

If the passing was sudden, accidental or unexplained, contact emergency services first and follow the instructions of police or medical personnel. The Victorian Department of Health advises that an unexpected passing must be reported to police. Some circumstances are referred to the coroner, who determines the investigation, documentation and when the deceased person can be released to a funeral director.

Before the authority completes its initial process, the family does not need to move their loved one. On Sum can contact the relevant organisation after permission is available and explain the next funeral arrangements.

How On Sum follows up

After the doctor, police or coroner has completed the required process and provided approval, On Sum arranges transfer and mortuary care. We then discuss the date, venue, cremation or burial, cultural or religious ceremony, funeral products and documents. See help after a passing and our funeral services.

Immediate assistance

If someone has passed away at home, call On Sum and explain the current situation. We will arrange the next step in accordance with the relevant authority’s approval.

Call 0421 793 263