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A guide for families

After a death at home in Fresno

This is the usual order of things in Fresno County. Take it one step at a time.

Step by step

  1. Call 911 if no one has

    Police and medical responders come first. They decide whether the coroner needs to be involved.

  2. The coroner may take charge

    State law (Government Code 27491) has the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner look into unnatural deaths and deaths where no treating doctor can give a cause. A deputy coroner may take your relative into care.

  3. Choose a funeral home

    You can use any funeral home or mortuary. The Sheriff-Coroner keeps a list of Fresno County funeral homes, but it does not recommend any of them. It suggests comparing.

  4. Belongings come back through the funeral home

    Personal property the coroner took is released to the funeral home when it picks up your relative.

  5. Keep in touch with the deputy coroner

    Call (559) 600-3400, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. any day, and ask for the deputy on your case. The written report takes at least eight weeks.

  6. Cleanup after release

    Once police and the coroner are done, the family or property owner arranges cleanup. That is when to call a company.

Outside Fresno County

Madera is in Madera County, which has its own Sheriff-Coroner and its own rules for entering a home the coroner has sealed. See the Madera page.

When you are ready

One call, then a plan you can say yes or no to

You do not have to clean this yourself, and you do not have to decide anything tonight. If the home has been released, a company can talk you through the next steps.

Talk it through with a cleanup company

Say what happened and where. The company will tell you what it would do and what it needs from you. Nothing is agreed until you say so.

Call (559) 555-0101

Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.

Call (559) 555-0101