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Guide · Families, neighbors, landlords

What to do after discovering an unattended death in Tennessee

Finding someone who has died, especially when they were alone for some time, is a shock. The steps below put things in order so you do not have to work them out in the moment. Cleanup comes late in this list, and it does not need to be decided today.

Call 911 first

Call 911 even if it is clear the person has died. Dispatch will send law enforcement and, depending on the county, notify the county medical examiner. Do not move the person or rearrange the room. If you have already touched something, that is understandable; tell the officer when they arrive.

If you are on the phone with a dispatcher, answer their questions as simply as you can and follow their instructions. It is fine to wait outside or in another room until someone arrives.

Leave the room and let responders work

Once responders arrive, the property is in their hands for a while. Officers and medicolegal death investigators document the scene and determine whether the death needs further investigation. In most unattended deaths there is nothing suspicious, but they still need to rule that out.

Ask the officer for a case or report number and the name of the agency. You will need these for the funeral home, the insurer, and in some cases the property owner. Write down the name of anyone who gives you instructions, along with a phone number, so you know who to call with questions later.

Funeral home and next of kin

The medical examiner's office or law enforcement will tell you when the person can be released to a funeral home. Next of kin usually chooses the funeral home. If you are a landlord or neighbor rather than family, your role is to provide access, not to make these decisions.

If you cannot reach family, tell the officer. Investigators have ways to locate next of kin, and it is better that the news comes through them than through a neighbor or a social media post.

If you are not family

Neighbors, friends and landlords often make the discovery. Your responsibilities are narrower than they may feel in the moment: call for help, give responders access, and share what you know about the person and their family. You do not need to sort belongings, contact banks, or decide what happens to the home.

If you are the landlord, keep the unit secured and avoid letting anyone remove property until it is clear who has the legal right to it. When in doubt, ask the family to confirm who is handling the estate, and consider speaking with an attorney.

Securing the property

When responders leave, close the door to the room and, if the property will be empty, lock it. Turn off fans. Set the thermostat to a cool setting rather than turning the HVAC off entirely in hot weather, but do not run fans aimed at the room. If there are pets in the home, they need to be cared for and kept out of the affected area.

Remove obvious valuables, medications and important papers from unaffected rooms only if you have the family's permission and can do it without entering the affected area. Keep a short list of anything you take and where it went.

Why the room should not be cleaned by family

Fluids released after death soak into flooring, subfloor and sometimes wall cavities. Surface cleaning leaves most of it behind, and the odor returns. These fluids also carry the same infection risks as blood. Professional cleanup removes the affected materials, disinfects what remains, and keeps personal items separate so nothing meaningful is thrown away.

There is also an emotional cost. Families who try to clean a room themselves often describe it as the hardest part of the whole experience. Letting someone else handle it is not a failure of duty to the person who died.

Protecting your own health in the meantime

Avoid going back into the affected room, even briefly, and keep children and pets out. Do not use household cleaners on stains, and do not try to cover odor with sprays or candles, which can mask a problem without removing it. If you touched any fluids, wash your hands well with soap and water, and talk to a health care provider if you have a cut or an exposure to your eyes or mouth.

Strong odor can cause headaches or nausea. It is a sign that the source is still present, not something to push through. Leave the area and close the door.

Insurance and the property owner

If the home is owned, call the homeowners insurer and ask whether biohazard cleanup is covered. Coverage varies widely by policy, so ask the adjuster to explain in writing what is and is not included. If the person rented, the landlord is responsible for the unit and usually arranges cleanup; the family remains responsible for belongings. Ask for any agreement about costs in writing.

What professional cleanup usually involves

A typical job starts with an assessment of how far contamination has spread, including under flooring and behind baseboards. Affected porous materials such as carpet, pad and sometimes subfloor or drywall are removed. Remaining surfaces are cleaned and disinfected using EPA-registered products according to their label directions. Waste is packaged and handled as regulated medical waste where Tennessee rules require it.

Odor control is usually the last stage and depends on how thoroughly the source was removed. Rebuilding, such as replacing flooring or drywall, is often a separate step done by a general contractor.

When you are ready to arrange cleanup

A cleanup company should confirm that the scene has been released, walk through the affected area, explain what has to be removed, and give you an estimate before work starts. You should not be pressured into signing anything at the door.

Useful questions include who will be on site, how personal items will be handled, how waste will be disposed of, whether you will receive photographs, and how billing works with insurance. A company that answers these plainly is easier to work with.

Looking after yourself and the people around you

Shock, trouble sleeping, and replaying what you saw are common reactions after finding someone who has died. They usually ease with time and support. Talking to a doctor, a counselor, a faith leader or a grief support group can help. If the death was a suicide, or if you or someone close to you is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is free and confidential, and you can also contact it if you are worried about someone else.

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If you need help

Call 615-914-0790 or email contact@newdawnbiorestoration.com. We serve Middle Tennessee.

This page is general information, not legal, medical, or insurance advice. Requirements change; verify with the agency listed before acting.

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