What to do when someone dies in Jacksonville starts with two calls. If the death was unexpected, call 911. If your loved one was under hospice or hospital care, call the hospice nurse or the attending physician first, then call your funeral home. From there, the funeral home arranges transportation, walks you through the paperwork, and helps you decide on services only when you're ready.
If you're reading this in the hours after losing someone you love, there is no right way to feel right now. That's completely normal.
This guide walks through the first steps, one at a time, so you're not trying to remember everything at once.
Weston's Mortuary has been helping Jacksonville families through this for many years.
Who to Call First
The first call depends on where and how the death happened. Getting this right matters, but it's simpler than it feels in the moment.
If the Death Was Unexpected
Call 911. Paramedics or law enforcement will need to respond first, and in some cases the medical examiner becomes involved before a body can be released to a funeral home. This is standard procedure, not a sign that anything went wrong.
If Your Loved One Was Under Hospice or Hospital Care
If death was expected, a hospice nurse or hospital staff member will usually handle the pronouncement of death. Once that happens, you or a family member calls the funeral home directly. This is where Weston's Mortuary
comes in.
Weston's Mortuary answers every call personally, any hour of the day or night. There's no answering service and no waiting for a callback. Whoever answers is ready to walk you through immediate need
arrangements right then, even at 3 a.m.
Making the Transfer Into Our Care
Once you've made that first call, a Weston's Mortuary team member will come to wherever your loved one is, whether that's a home, hospital, or hospice facility, and bring them into our care with dignity and respect. You don't need to have anything decided yet. This step is simply about making sure your loved one is somewhere safe while your family takes the next breath.
This service is available across Jacksonville, including neighborhoods like Riverside, San Marco, and Murray Hill. Families in every part of the city can expect the same prompt, personal response.
Documents and Information You'll Need in the First Days
You don't need to gather everything the first day, but a few pieces of information will help your funeral director move quickly on your behalf:
- Your loved one's full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number
- Their driver's license or state ID
- Names and birthplaces of their parents
- Their military discharge papers (DD-214), if they served
- Contact information for their physician or hospice provider
- Life insurance policy information, if available
Florida law requires the death certificate to be filed within 5 days, and that deadline belongs to the funeral director, not to you. Weston's Mortuary handles the filing with the state and works directly with the Florida Department of Health's local office here in Duval County, so you aren't burdened with that paperwork.
If your family is considering cremation, know that Florida cremation laws require a 48-hour waiting period, written authorization, and medical examiner approval. Weston's Mortuary handles the authorization forms with you and arranges cremation through a licensed local provider. Under the FTC's Funeral Rule, you may buy only the arrangements you want, rather than a package. Our team will walk you through those choices when you're ready.
How Weston's Mortuary Guides You, Any Hour of the Day or Night
In our experience, the hardest part of the first hours usually isn't the paperwork; it's not knowing what happens next, and that's the gap we try to close first.
Our team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we mean that literally. When you call, you reach a real person on our staff, not an answering service reading from a script.
Weston's Mortuary is non-denominational and familiar with a wide range of faiths and traditions, so your family's beliefs and customs shape the service, not the other way around. If your loved one served in the military, our team can also help coordinate veteran funeral honors and VA benefits assistance. Our Google reviews reflect the Jacksonville families who have trusted us with this same care.
Taking Things One Step at a Time
You do not have to decide everything today. Once your loved one is in our care, we'll schedule an arrangement conference for whenever your family is ready, whether that's tomorrow or a few days from now.
That conversation covers the details: burial or cremation, a traditional service or a celebration of life, a RePass gathering for family and friends afterward, and how you'd like to personalize the service with photos, a tribute video, or livestreaming for family who can't be there in person. None of it needs to be settled on the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Do When Someone Dies in Jacksonville
Here are answers to questions Jacksonville families often ask in the first days after a loss.
Who do I call first when someone dies at home in Jacksonville?
If the death was unexpected, call 911 first. If your loved one was under hospice care and the death was expected, the hospice nurse typically handles the pronouncement, and then you call your funeral home. Weston's Mortuary answers personally, any hour, and can guide you through everything from that first call.
Do I need to call 911 if the death was expected under hospice care?
Usually not. Hospice staff are trained to handle an expected death and will often pronounce it themselves or coordinate with the attending physician. Once that step is complete, you're free to call your funeral home directly to begin the transfer into their care.
How quickly does a death certificate need to be filed in Florida?
Florida law requires the death certificate to be filed within five days of death, though that responsibility falls on the funeral director, not the family. Weston's Mortuary handles this filing directly with the state so your family isn't managing that deadline during an already difficult week.
What documents do I need to bring to the funeral home?
Helpful items include your loved one's driver's license or ID, Social Security number, parents' names and birthplaces, military discharge papers if applicable, and any life insurance information. You don't need everything on day one. Weston's Mortuary can guide you through gathering the rest as you go.
Can Weston's Mortuary help if my loved one passed away outside Jacksonville?
Yes. Weston's Mortuary coordinates the transfer and paperwork when a death occurs away from home, sometimes called "Death Away From Home." We work with providers in other cities or states to bring your loved one back to Jacksonville for services.
How soon do we have to decide between burial and cremation?
There is no need to decide immediately. Florida requires a waiting period before cremation can occur, which gives your family time to talk it through. Weston's Mortuary will explain both options clearly during your arrangement conference, without any pressure to decide before you're ready.
Whenever you're ready, we're here. There's no pressure and no obligation, just people who know how to help. Weston's Mortuary answers the phone personally at (904) 356-9955, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also reach out through our contact page
anytime.
