Police Procedure When a Death Happens at Home (2025 Guide)
Simple, calm, and legal-first steps for natural and medico-legal home deaths — including police intimation, post-mortem flow, and road/air transport.
Short answer Confirm death, inform police if sudden/unclear, keep IDs ready, obtain the doctor’s cause-of-death note, and follow natural vs. medico-legal flows below. We’ll help with permits and bookings.
One leader. Clear roles. Dignified speed.
Assign one decision-maker, one documents lead, one logistics lead. Keep the room calm and undisturbed if the cause is unclear.
Delegate
- Lead caller
- Docs & IDs
- Transport & rituals
Decide quickly
- Cremation or burial
- Nearest venue
- Who will attend
Keep it small
- Inform inner circle
- Set departure time
- Short, respectful service
A. Natural Death at Home (Expected / Illness / Old Age)
What to do now
- Doctor confirms death and issues the medical cause-of-death note.
- Police intimation is often a simple phone note or brief memo in expected cases.
- Book cremation/burial; carry doctor’s note + IDs.
- Apply for municipal death certificate within the standard window (commonly 21 days).
Pro tips
- Ask the doctor to write a clear cause (avoid only “cardiac arrest”).
- Keep 3–4 photocopies of the doctor’s note before submission.
- If relatives need time, use a freezer box at home.
- Maintain a small visitor circle to stay on schedule.
B. Unnatural or Unclear Death (Accident, Fall, Suicide, Unknown Cause)
1) Call 112
- Do not rearrange the room or change clothes.
- Answer what/when/who found calmly.
2) Inquest & Post-mortem
- Police prepare an on-site record (panchnama).
- Body shifts to a government mortuary for post-mortem.
3) Release & Rites
- After autopsy, police issue clearance/release.
- Cremation/burial proceeds with police memo + IDs.
📞 Helpful script for police call
“There is a death at home at [full address]. Circumstances are sudden/unclear. We have not moved anything. Please advise next steps and arrange necessary formalities.”
C. Transporting the Body by Road (Within City / Inter-city / Inter-state)
Documents (Natural)
- Doctor’s cause-of-death note
- Deceased’s photo ID + applicant’s ID
- Police acknowledgment if you have one
Documents (Medico-legal)
- Police clearance/release memo
- Case/reference number
- IDs (deceased & applicant)
Inter-state Notes
- Local practice commonly requires a transit permission (municipal/health) and/or a police NOC.
- Use a licensed hearse; freezer box for long routes.
- Carry multiple photocopies; show papers at check-posts if asked.
D. Transporting the Body by Air (Domestic / International)
Prepare
- Embalming by certified professional (mandatory).
- Coffin sealing/packaging (zinc-lined for many international cases).
Documents
- Death certificate / doctor’s note
- Police clearance (as applicable)
- Embalming & sealing certificates
- IDs; passport for international
- Airline cargo forms/booking
Airport Flow
- Arrive early for health/cargo checks.
- Family may fly same flight; remains go via cargo.
- Receiver at destination keeps ID ready.
E. City-Wise Notes (High-Level Reference)
Bengaluru
- Doctor’s note; some crematoria ask brief police memo.
- Municipal registration within standard window.
Mumbai
- Inform local police post for home deaths.
- Ward office handles death registration.
Delhi
- Families usually intimate local police.
- Keep doctor’s note + IDs; complete municipal filing.
Chennai
- Doctor’s certificate + municipal application.
- Unattended cases may get a CSR note.
Hyderabad
- Doctor’s certificate for natural deaths.
- Phone intimation common if expected.
Pune & Kolkata
- Similar to Mumbai/ward flows.
- Some crematoria ask a brief police paper even in natural cases.
Complete Checklists
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FAQs — Police & Documents
🧭 Core
Do we inform police for every home death?
Inform the police immediately if the death is sudden, unclear, or appears unnatural. For expected natural deaths with a doctor’s note, a simple intimation is common; some crematoria still ask a brief memo.
Is post-mortem always required?
No. It is generally required only for unnatural/suspicious/unknown-cause deaths or when a doctor cannot certify cause.
What is the municipal death certificate?
The legal proof of death used for banks, insurance, and records. Apply within the standard time window after the funeral.
Who can receive the police NOC/body release?
Usually next of kin (spouse, parent, adult child) or an authorised family representative with ID.
📄 Documents
Minimum documents for cremation after natural death?
Doctor’s cause-of-death note and the deceased’s ID are typically sufficient; some venues ask for a brief police acknowledgment.
How long to get police clearance in medico-legal cases?
Usually after post-mortem the same day or within 24–48 hours, depending on timing and case specifics.
Can we proceed with rites before municipal certificate?
Yes. The doctor’s note (and police memo if applicable) enables rites; municipal registration follows within the legal window.
🚚 Transport
Is police NOC mandatory for inter-state road movement?
Local practice commonly requires a municipal/health transit permission and/or a police NOC. We coordinate per route.
Minimum docs for domestic air cargo?
Death certificate/doctor’s note, embalming certificate, coffin sealing certificate, IDs, airline cargo forms, and police clearance where asked.
When is embalming required?
Mandatory for air transport and recommended for long road journeys, especially in warm weather.
🏙️ City-Specific
Delhi: Is police intimation compulsory?
Families generally intimate the local police for home deaths; keep a reference or acknowledgment with the doctor’s note for MCD filing.
Mumbai: Do we need a ward memo?
Inform the local police post; BMC ward offices process registration. Some crematoria ask a brief police paper with the doctor’s note.
Bengaluru: Who issues the final certificate?
BBMP handles death registration post-rites with the doctor’s note and cremation/burial receipt.
Hyderabad: Do we call police for expected deaths?
For expected natural deaths with a doctor’s note, many families place a phone intimation; GHMC processes the certificate.
Chennai: What if no doctor was attending?
Police may record a CSR and guide for certification or medico-legal flow depending on circumstances.
Pune/Kolkata: Any special paperwork?
Flows mirror Mumbai (ward-based). Some crematoria request a brief police acknowledgment even for natural deaths.
💛 Family Support
We are only two people at home — can we manage?
Yes. Call the helpline, keep IDs ready, and follow the first-hour list. A coordinator can handle police calls, transport, and bookings while you remain with your loved one.
Can we hold a small rite now and a memorial later?
Yes. A brief, timely rite now keeps dignity and legal compliance; a larger memorial can follow later.
We Handle Formalities. You Stay with Family.
Police intimation, post-mortem coordination, NOCs, transit permits, hearse/air cargo, cremation/burial bookings — end-to-end with dignity.
- ✔ Police & hospital coordination
- ✔ Documents & municipal applications
- ✔ Inter-state road / domestic & international air
- ✔ 24×7 multilingual support
Closing Note (Important)
This guide is general information and reference only. Procedures and documents can vary by city, ward office, police jurisdiction, hospital, and airline. For correct, city-wise steps and exact documents for your case, please contact us once so we can guide you properly; or contact your local police station for official directions. We will help you complete formalities respectfully, quickly, and in the right order.
Help us improve: If you notice any inconsistency, missing step, or city-specific change, please report it to us. We will verify and update this guide promptly. Our mission is to provide accurate, complete information and reliable services during emergencies and difficult times — so families can focus on mourning while we handle the formalities.
