When a Loved One Is Near Passing
You do not need to figure everything out right now. Make sure Clearview Cremation is listed as your chosen funeral home, and we will guide you through each step when the time comes.
The Most Important Thing Is Being Present
If your loved one is nearing the end of life, you do not need to rush into formal paperwork, payment, or prearrangement documents unless there is a specific reason to do so.
In most situations, the most important step is simply making sure Clearview Cremation is on file as your chosen funeral home. When the passing occurs, we will coordinate with hospice, a nursing facility, the hospital, law enforcement, or the Medical Examiner as needed.
Once your loved one is safely in our care, we will contact you at an appropriate time and walk you through the next steps at your pace.
You usually do not need to pay in advance.
We trust the families we serve. In most near-passing situations, payment and required paperwork can be handled after your loved one is safely in our care.
If your family does need or prefer to pay in advance — for example, for Medicaid spend-down, estate planning, or another personal reason — we can certainly help with that as well.
What to Do Now — Based on Where Your Loved One Is
If your loved one is under hospice care, in a nursing home, in assisted living, or in another care setting where a nurse or medical professional can pronounce the passing, the most helpful thing you can do now is make sure Clearview Cremation is listed as your chosen funeral home.
You can share our name and phone number with the hospice nurse, social worker, chaplain, nursing supervisor, or facility staff.
Funeral Home:
Clearview Cremation
Phone:
(855) 704-3344
Available:
24/7 Support
What Happens Next
When the passing occurs, the nurse or medical professional will usually contact us directly. This is important because they need to confirm the passing and provide the information we need to bring your loved one into our care.
Once the nurse or facility calls us, we dispatch our care team as soon as possible, regardless of the time of day or night.
After your loved one is safely in our care, we will contact you about next steps. If the transfer happens in the middle of the night, we may wait until a more appropriate time in the morning to contact you unless something urgent is needed.
If your loved one is at a hospital, the most important step is to make sure the hospital knows you would like Clearview Cremation to handle the arrangements.
After the passing occurs and you have had time to say your goodbyes, the hospital will typically bring your loved one to the hospital morgue. We will then coordinate directly with the hospital to bring your loved one into our care.
Funeral Home:
Clearview Cremation
Phone:
(855) 704-3344
Available:
24/7 Support
Who to Speak With
Depending on the hospital, you may speak with:
The nurse or charge nurse
The nursing supervisor
Hospital security
The morgue
The decedent affairs office
Release Form Explanation
Some hospitals accept verbal authorization from the family. Others require a short written release.
If a written release is needed, we will send you a simple one-page release form by DocuSign. Once completed, we will send it directly to the hospital and coordinate the transfer with the morgue.
If someone passes at home, or anywhere else, and there is no hospice nurse, facility nurse, or medical professional present, the first step is to call emergency services or local law enforcement.
They will come to the location, make sure everyone is safe, ask the necessary questions, and determine the appropriate next step.
Funeral Home:
Clearview Cremation
Phone:
(855) 704-3344
Available:
24/7 Support
What Happens Next
In many natural passing situations, law enforcement will ask which funeral home the family has chosen. You can provide Clearview Cremation’s name and phone number, and they will contact us directly.
Law enforcement may need to relay information to us before we can bring your loved one into our care. Once we are authorized to proceed, we will dispatch our care team and then contact you regarding next steps.
Medical Examiner Note
In some situations, law enforcement may involve the Medical Examiner. This does not necessarily mean anything is wrong. It simply means the Medical Examiner must review the circumstances before your loved one can be released into our care.
If that happens, we will help you understand the process and coordinate the release when the Medical Examiner is ready.
If your loved one is already at the Medical Examiner, we can help coordinate the release directly.
The most important step is to let the Medical Examiner know that your family has selected Clearview Cremation.
Funeral Home:
Clearview Cremation
Phone:
(855) 704-3344
Available:
24/7 Support
Release Form Explanation
In most cases, the Medical Examiner requires the family to sign a short release form authorizing Clearview Cremation to bring your loved one into our care.
We will send this release form to you by DocuSign. Once you complete it, we will send it directly to the Medical Examiner.
When the Medical Examiner is ready to release your loved one, they will contact us, and we will coordinate the transfer directly from their facility.
Reassurance Note
You do not need to navigate this process alone. We handle Medical Examiner release coordination regularly and will walk you through what is needed.
Hospice, Nursing Home, Assisted Living, or Care Facility
If Your Loved One Is Under Hospice Care or at a Care Facility
Hospital
If Your Loved One Is at a Hospital
At Home Without Hospice or Medical Staff Present
If Passing Occurs at Home Without Hospice or Medical Staff Present
Already at the Medical Examiner
If Your Loved One Is Already at the Medical Examiner
What You Don't Need to Worry About Now
Once Clearview is on file as your chosen funeral home, we will help coordinate the process when the time comes.
Should We Formally Prearrange Before the Passing?
In most near-passing situations, formal prearrangement is not necessary. If your loved one is expected to pass soon, we generally recommend focusing on time together rather than completing paperwork or making payment in advance.
There are exceptions. Some families choose or need to pay in advance for financial, Medicaid, spend-down, estate-planning, or personal reasons.
If advance payment or formal prearrangement is needed, we can help set up the appropriate arrangement, including an irrevocable trust when required.
What Happens After Your Loved One Is in Our Care
We Bring Your Loved One Into Our Care
We coordinate with hospice, a care facility, the hospital, law enforcement, or the Medical Examiner and arrange the transfer.
We Contact You at the Right Time
If the transfer happens overnight, we may reach out in the morning unless something urgent is needed.
We Guide You Through the Required Paperwork
Our paperwork is simple and can usually be completed by phone, email, and electronic signature.
There is no need to come to our office unless you specifically want to. We designed our process to be as easy as possible for families during a difficult time.
We Handle Death Certificate and Required Authorizations
We coordinate with the appropriate medical professionals and agencies to complete the required authorizations.
We Complete the Cremation and Return Your Loved One’s Ashes
We keep you informed, explain timing clearly, and help coordinate the return of your loved one’s cremated remains.
Helpful Information to Have Available
You do not need to have everything ready immediately, but the following information can be helpful when we begin arrangements.
What to Say to Hospice, a Facility, the Hospital, Law Enforcement, or the Medical Examiner
Hospice / Nursing Home / Assisted Living Script
“We have chosen Clearview Cremation as our funeral home. Please place their information in the file and call them directly when the passing occurs. Their number is (855) 704-3344.”
Hospital Script
“We would like Clearview Cremation to handle the arrangements. Please note them as our chosen funeral home. Their phone number is (855) 704-3344. If a release form is needed, Clearview can send it to us and coordinate directly with the hospital.”
Medical Examiner Script
“We would like Clearview Cremation to handle the arrangements. Their phone number is (855) 704-3344. Clearview will send us the required release form to sign and will submit it directly to your office.”
Law Enforcement Script
“We would like Clearview Cremation to bring our loved one into their care when authorized. Their phone number is (855) 704-3344.”
Common Questions When a Loved One Is Near Passing
Usually, no. In most near-passing situations, paperwork can wait until after your loved one is in our care. If you would like to begin providing basic information in advance, you may use our simple intake form.
In most situations, no. We do not want payment logistics to distract you from being with your loved one. If you need or prefer to pay in advance, we can certainly help.
If your loved one is under hospice care or at a facility, the nurse or medical professional usually calls us. If your loved one is at a hospital, the hospital will usually coordinate with us after the proper release is complete. If the passing occurs at home without hospice or medical staff present, law enforcement or the appropriate authority will usually contact us once the situation is cleared.
We are available 24/7. If your loved one is ready to be brought into our care, we will coordinate the transfer regardless of the time.
We will help you navigate the process. Once the Medical Examiner authorizes release, we will coordinate bringing your loved one into our care.
We can help coordinate the release directly. We will send you the required release form by DocuSign, submit it to the Medical Examiner once signed, and coordinate the transfer when your loved one is ready to be released.
Yes. In most situations, you can simply tell hospice, the facility, the hospital, law enforcement, or the Medical Examiner that Clearview Cremation is your chosen funeral home.
Usually not, unless there is a specific financial or planning reason. If advance payment or a formal trust arrangement is needed, we can help determine the appropriate structure.
You Are Not Alone in This
If your loved one is nearing passing, we are here to help you understand what needs to happen and what can wait.
You can call us any time, day or night, and we will guide you calmly through the next step.
