# 25. What to do after a loved one passes away When someone dies, there are a few key steps to take: handling the necessary paperwork and dealing with any money matters. First, you’ll need to secure the scene and arrange for a death certificate. After that, the body must be prepared and cremated. If there’s any dispute over how the death occurred, that must be addressed next, followed by closing all relevant accounts. The remaining items are listed in order of how much they can save you money. For any advance planning an older adult might want to make — such as naming a legal guardian, writing a will, or managing accounts — see Section 17. Details on the three types of benefits available for deaths at work can be found in Section 19. The funeral guidance here follows the newly updated Funeral Management Regulations, which took effect on March 30, 2026. Exact amounts for funeral subsidies and survivor benefits under basic pension plans are set separately by the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. Since we don’t have an official source text to verify these figures word for word, no specific dollar amounts appear in this section. ### 1. If someone dies at home or elsewhere, first determine whether it’s a natural or unnatural death: in cases of accidents, unknown causes, or deaths discovered only after a long period of solitude, call the police immediately and leave the body and scene untouched - Cost: No expense at all — just one phone call is needed. - In plain terms: For deaths caused by accidents, of unknown origin, or those found only after a long time alone, only the police can issue a death certificate. If the scene has been disturbed, it becomes difficult to clarify what happened and to obtain a certificate. Without this document, cremation, household registration cancellation, and insurance claims all become impossible. When in doubt, dial 110 right away. Once police arrive and conduct their investigation, they will issue the certificate just the same. - Benefit: Article 8, Paragraph 2 of the Regulations on Household Registration states: “In cases where a citizen dies from an accident or the cause of death is unknown, the household head or the person who discovers the body must promptly report it to the local police station or township government.” This means that in cases of accidents or unknown circumstances, the household head or discoverer must inform authorities immediately. Article 23 of the Regulations on Funeral Services adds: “For natural deaths, medical institutions must promptly issue death certificates. For unnatural deaths handled by police without prior medical treatment, the police issue the certificate.” In other words, natural deaths are certified by treating medical facilities; unnatural deaths handled by police are certified by them. Only police can issue certificates for unnatural deaths, especially when the scene has been altered. Obtaining this certificate is essential for cremation, household registration cancellation, and insurance claims. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:全国人大常委会 (1958). 中华人民共和国户口登记条例（第八条）. （广东省人民政府门户网站刊登）；国务院 (2026). 殡葬管理条例（国务院令第 824 号，自 2026 年 3 月 30 日起施行，第二十三条）. - Notes: Deaths occurring after a prolonged illness or at home at the end of life are considered natural. In such cases, a certificate can be obtained from the treating medical institution, or from a local community health center or township hospital. As noted in Item 2 (Death Certificates), only the institution providing treatment may issue the certificate. When it is unclear which category applies, treat it as an unnatural death and call 110 first. Police investigations will still allow a certificate to be issued. Conversely, if you clean up the scene before calling police, no one can help you. Do not move the body, wash or change its clothes, or remove medicine bottles or notes. ### 2. The death certificate is the key to everything that follows: whoever provided treatment issues it; for natural deaths at home, contact the local community health service center. It must be issued within one day - Cost: No cost at all. - In plain terms: If the death occurs in a hospital, the hospital that treated the patient issues the certificate. For natural deaths at home, the community health service center or township health clinic serving that area issues it. When the cause of death is clear, the certificate is issued within 24 hours. It is required for deregistration, cremation, withdrawal from a housing provident fund, receipt of social insurance benefits, insurance claims, and estate settlement — so be sure to make several copies right away. - Benefit: According to the “Interim Regulations on Registration and Management of Population Death Information,” death certificates for patients who die in medical institutions are issued by those institutions; for deaths occurring at home or elsewhere, they are issued by the local community health service center or township health clinic. Cases deemed non‑natural by police or judicial authorities are handled under separate procedures. In 2026, five government agencies confirmed that electronic death certificates carry the same legal weight as paper versions; both are equally valid. Certificates for natural deaths with known causes must be issued within one day. If lost, a single replacement can be requested from the original issuer. Errors in basic information may be corrected by submitting supporting documents. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:国家卫生计生委办公厅 (2014). 人口死亡信息登记管理规范（试行）（国卫办规划发〔2014〕68 号，第九条）. （深圳市民政局转发）；国家卫生健康委、公安部、民政部、国家中医药局、国家疾控局 (2026). 关于加强居民死亡医学证明信息登记和电子证照管理工作的通知（国卫规划发〔2026〕5 号）. （福建省卫生健康委员会转发） - Notes: This certificate is indispensable for deregistration, cremation, housing provident fund withdrawals, social insurance benefits, insurance claims, and estate settlement — so make plenty of copies right away. If electronic issuance is available, request it as well. Only one replacement is permitted, so keep the original safe. Any mistakes in name or ID number should be corrected on the spot; otherwise you’ll have to repeat the process at every office later on. ### 3. Transport, storage, and cremation of remains must be handled by funeral homes; hospital morgues cannot provide such services, and storage is generally limited to 3 days - Cost: No cost involved. - In plain terms: Transport, storage, embalming, body preparation, and cremation can only be done by funeral homes. Hospital morgues are not authorized to handle funeral services; they may only provide temporary storage for remains. Funeral homes typically store bodies for no more than 3 days; any longer period requires an extension request. Cremation can only proceed with a death certificate and cremation authorization document. The cremation certificate issued afterward is necessary for inheritance claims and insurance processing. - Benefit: Article 25 of the Funeral Management Regulations states: “Services such as transport, storage, embalming, body preparation, and cremation must be provided exclusively by funeral homes.” No other entities are permitted to offer these services. Article 24 adds: “Morgues operated by medical institutions may not subcontract or provide funeral services; they may only offer temporary storage for remains.” Hospital morgues are thus restricted to short-term storage only. Article 27 specifies: “Funeral homes may store remains for no more than 3 days; extensions must be formally requested by the family or body transferor.” Article 28 requires cremation to be performed only upon presentation of a death certificate and cremation authorization document, after which a cremation certificate is issued. Article 29 further mandates that in regions where cremation is mandatory, remains must be cremated at a nearby funeral home. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:国务院 (2026). 殡葬管理条例（国务院令第 824 号，自 2026 年 3 月 30 日起施行，第八、九、二十四、二十五、二十七、二十八、二十九条）. - Notes: Most “one-stop” services offered at hospitals are not affiliated with licensed funeral homes. Transport itself is a standard service with fixed pricing; see Section 6 for details. Keep the cremation certificate safe — it is required for inheritance, insurance, and other legal procedures. Whether cremation or burial is mandated locally is determined by provincial authorities. Article 9 safeguards the funeral customs of ethnic minorities. Any instance of cremation being required yet burial performed, or burial outside designated cemeteries or ecological burial zones, will prompt civil affairs bureaus to order immediate correction. ### 4. Disagreement over cause of death: request an autopsy within 48 hours and have medical records sealed - Cost: No cost involved. The hard part is remembering to make this request at such a time. - In plain terms: If there is any doubt about how someone died, an autopsy must be requested within 48 hours after death. Hospitals with proper freezing facilities may extend this window to 7 days. Consent from close relatives is also required for the autopsy. If consent is not given or the deadline is missed, the party responsible for the delay bears the liability for any subsequent uncertainty over the cause of death. Alongside the autopsy request, it is essential to demand that all medical records be sealed. Once the body is cremated, an autopsy becomes impossible. - Benefit: The time limit for autopsies is stipulated in Article 26 of the Regulations on Prevention and Handling of Medical Disputes. The original text reads: “In cases where a patient dies and both the patient and medical institution dispute the cause of death, an autopsy must be performed within 48 hours after death; if the hospital has facilities to freeze the body, this period may be extended to 7 days.” In other words, to determine the true cause of death, an autopsy must be carried out within 48 hours of death, or up to 7 days if the hospital has freezing capabilities. The same article further states: “An autopsy must be approved and signed off by the deceased’s close relatives; failure to sign is regarded as refusal of consent.” If family members do not sign, it is interpreted as a refusal. It also specifies: “If consent is denied or the deadline is missed, leading to uncertainty over the cause of death, the party responsible for the refusal or delay bears all related liability.” Article 24 states that sealing and unsealing of medical records “must be conducted in the presence of both the patient and medical institution.” Both you and the hospital must be present during both the sealing and later unsealing of records. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:国务院 (2018). 医疗纠纷预防和处理条例（国务院令第 701 号，第二十四、二十六条）. - Notes: After this deadline passes, any later claims of “I always suspected something was wrong” will instead place liability on the party responsible for the delay. Once a body is cremated, no autopsy can ever be performed. Therefore, this decision must be made before contacting any funeral home. Details on how to seal medical records can be found in Section 24. ### 5. Legal deadlines for canceling hukou registration: in cities, before burial; in rural areas, within one month - Cost: No expense involved. Just bring the death certificate and household register to your local police station. - In plain terms: In cities, you must cancel hukou registration before burial; in rural areas, you must do it within one month. Bring the death certificate and household register to the police station to complete the process. Failing to do so will block any inheritance transfers, benefit claims, or insurance cancellations due to the unresolved hukou status. - Benefit: Article 8, Paragraph 1 of the Hukou Registration Regulations states: “When a citizen dies, in cities the household head, relatives, guardians, or neighbors must report the death to the hukou registration authority and cancel the hukou registration before burial; in rural areas, this must be done within one month. If a citizen dies while temporarily residing elsewhere, the local hukou registration authority must notify the permanent residence’s authority to cancel the registration.” In short, urban residents must act before burial, while rural residents have one month to do so. Any household head, relative, guardian, or neighbor may initiate the process at the police station, which serves as the hukou registration authority. If the deceased was living temporarily elsewhere, the local police station there must inform the permanent residence’s station to cancel the hukou registration. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:全国人大常委会 (1958). 中华人民共和国户口登记条例（第八条）. （广东省人民政府门户网站刊登） - Notes: Leaving the hukou registration active will prevent any inheritance transfers, benefit claims, or insurance cancellations, as all these procedures rely on a cleared hukou status. If pension payments continue despite the death, they constitute fraudulent collection and must eventually be repaid. While at the police station, also ask how to suspend social insurance and yibao payments, as well as how to apply for funeral subsidies. Details on these financial matters are covered in Item 9 (housing provident fund balances and related social insurance benefits). ### 6. Funeral services are divided into basic and non-basic categories; a list of basic services exists, with their fees set by law - Cost: There is no cost involved. Just spend a few minutes before departure to review the official list. - In plain terms: Transporting, storing, and cremating a body, holding a farewell ceremony, keeping ashes in storage, and eco-friendly burial options — all fall under the national list of basic services. This also includes burial spaces provided by government-run funeral agencies. Prices for these services are strictly regulated by law; no extra fees may be charged outside this list. Before making any arrangements, be sure to confirm which services are considered basic and what the local rates are. - Benefit: All essential funeral services — including body transport, storage, cremation, memorial services, and eco-friendly burial — are included in the official list. Government-run funeral centers also offer designated burial plots under this same list. Their pricing follows legal standards, meaning funeral homes cannot set prices arbitrarily. Non-basic services are defined separately by civil affairs bureaus at or above the prefecture level. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:国务院 (2026). 殡葬管理条例（国务院令第 824 号，2025 年 11 月 14 日国务院第 72 次常务会议修订通过，「自2026年3月30日起施行」）. 第五条：「殡葬服务分为基础项目和非基础项目，收费政策由国务院发展改革部门、财政部门会同国务院民政等部门制定。」「国家制定殡葬服务基础项目清单，将遗体接运、遗体存放、遗体告别、遗体火化、骨灰寄存、生态安葬以及政府举办的殡葬服务机构提供的骨灰格位安葬等纳入清单范围」；第五十条「殡葬服务实行清单化管理并动态调整，禁止在清单之外设立项目、收取费用。」 - Notes: Provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities may add extra items to the national list. Always verify which services are classified as basic and what their local pricing is before proceeding. It is perfectly acceptable to want a dignified funeral for a loved one; this guideline does not discourage that. Its sole purpose is to clarify which services are fixed-price basics and which are optional extras. Once this distinction is clear, you can decide where to allocate funds — and avoid unnecessary overcharges during an already difficult time. ### 7. If you encounter forced bundling, extra charges beyond the listed price, or a single service being split into multiple line items for billing, make a note of it and file a complaint - Cost: No cost involved. The real challenge is staying diligent in the moment. - In plain terms: All these practices are explicitly listed as price violations under regulations: failing to display price lists, adding extra charges beyond the posted price, bundling funeral products and services and forcing you to buy them, and compelling you to use third‑party paid services. Splitting one service into several separate charges is also a form of price inflation. On the spot, ask for a price list and keep any receipts, invoices, and chat records. You can still file a complaint later. For price violations, contact the market regulation authority; for funeral services specifically, reach out to the civil affairs bureau. - Benefit: Regulations identify five categories of price violations. Four of them are: not displaying prices clearly or adding extra charges beyond the listed price — that is, no posted price list or charging more than advertised; bundling services or imposing unreasonable conditions to force a purchase — meaning you can’t obtain a service unless you buy another one; forcing or indirectly forcing you to use paid third‑party services — essentially pushing another provider’s services on you; and indirectly raising prices by re‑labeling charges — such as charging more under a different name. Additionally, it is prohibited to “split services into multiple items or expand the scope of charges to indirectly raise prices.” This means breaking one service into several line items for billing or extending the range of charges beyond what was originally stated. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:国务院 (2026). 殡葬管理条例（国务院令第 824 号，2025 年 11 月 14 日国务院第 72 次常务会议修订通过，「自2026年3月30日起施行」）. 第四十二条：「殡葬服务机构不得违反有关规定擅自设立收费项目，或者采取分解项目、扩大范围收费等形式变相提高收费标准。」第四十三条列举的价格违法行为含「（一）不按规定明码标价，或者在标价之外加价或者收取未标明的费用」「（三）采取捆绑、附加不合理条件或者不合理限制等方式，强制或者变相强制销售丧葬用品、提供殡葬相关服务并收取费用」「（四）强制或者变相强制丧属接受第三方的有偿服务，或者利用相关服务网点重复收取费用」；第五十一条要求民政部门与政务服务便民热线建立信息共享监督机制，「对丧属反映的殡葬服务问题，应当会同有关部门及时予以处理并将处理结果告知丧属」 - Notes: Price‑violation investigations fall under the market regulation authority; funeral services themselves are under the civil affairs bureau. Ask for a price list right away, and be sure to keep all receipts, invoices, and chat records. Filing a complaint later is still possible. ### 8. Intermediaries such as funeral service agents, vendors of funeral goods, and event planners must register with the county-level civil affairs bureau - Cost: There is no cost involved. All you need to do is ask whether registration has been completed. - In plain terms: Intermediaries offering services like funeral planning, procurement of funeral products, event coordination, and information consultation must register with the county-level civil affairs bureau. Those that fail to register are excluded from the official funeral service information system managed by the bureau. Availability of online lookup tools varies by region; the safest approach is to call the local civil affairs bureau directly. Any operators found to be charging excessive fees through deceptive practices or selling information related to deceased individuals will be held legally accountable. - Benefit: Unregistered intermediaries are not included in the official funeral service information system overseen by the civil affairs bureau. Entities that engage in fraudulent billing, pressure families into extravagant ceremonies, force acceptance of services, or illegally trade personal data of the deceased face legal penalties. Their records are also flagged within the system and made publicly accessible, ensuring transparency for all users. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:国务院 (2026). 殡葬管理条例（国务院令第 824 号，2025 年 11 月 14 日国务院第 72 次常务会议修订通过，「自2026年3月30日起施行」）. 第四十一条：「除殡葬服务机构外，从事殡葬服务代理、用品代购、策划主持、信息咨询等殡葬相关服务活动的组织和个人，应当向县级人民政府民政部门备案。」「对存在以欺骗等手段违规收费、诱导大操大办、强迫接受服务、倒卖逝者信息等损害丧属权益行为的依法处置，并在殡葬服务信息系统中进行标注，向社会公开。」 - Notes: “Illegal trading of information related to deceased individuals” represents one of the most prevalent risks in this sector. It is common for families to receive numerous unsolicited sales calls shortly after funeral arrangements, often indicating that their data has been sold on. Online virtual memorial platforms are similarly subject to these regulations; Article 45 explicitly prohibits such platforms from encouraging excessive spending or mishandling sensitive personal information. ### 9. Retrieving scattered funds: housing provident fund balances, social insurance payouts, and work‑related death benefits - Cost: No monetary cost, but you must visit several offices. Before you go, gather a death certificate and proof of family relationship. - In plain terms: Heirs can withdraw the balance in a deceased person’s housing provident fund account; this money is not held in a regular bank account, so it is easy to overlook. Money remaining in the individual pension account can also be inherited. If the death was due to illness, family members receive a funeral allowance plus a survivor’s pension for 3 to 24 months. In cases of death at work, three additional benefits apply. - Benefit: The balance in the housing provident fund account can be withdrawn by heirs or legatees — a legatee is someone named in a will to receive assets. For those who die on the job, three specific benefits are paid: a funeral allowance, a survivor’s pension, and a one‑time death benefit. Money left in the individual pension account is also inheritable under Social Insurance Law. When an employee dies from illness or non‑work causes, family members receive both a funeral allowance and a survivor’s pension, collectively called survivor benefits. The calculation formula is uniform nationwide. The funeral allowance equals twice the average monthly disposable income of urban residents in the province from the previous year. The survivor’s pension is based on that same income and paid for 3 to 24 months depending on years of contribution: under 5 years yields 3 months; 5–10 years yields 6 months; 10–15 years yields 9 months; each additional year adds one more month, up to a maximum of 24 months. For retirees, each year of pension receipt reduces the total months by one, with a minimum of 9 months. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:国务院 (2026). 住房公积金管理条例（国务院令第 844 号修改，2026 年 9 月 20 日起施行）第二十四条末款. ：「职工死亡或者被宣告死亡的，职工的继承人、受遗赠人可以提取职工住房公积金账户内的存储余额；无继承人也无受遗赠人的，职工住房公积金账户内的存储余额纳入住房公积金的增值收益。」；工伤保险条例第三十九条的三笔待遇见第 19 节. ；全国人大常委会 (2018 修正). 社会保险法（第十四、十七条）：「个人死亡的，个人账户余额可以继承」「参加基本养老保险的个人，因病或者非因工死亡的，其遗属可以领取丧葬补助金和抚恤金」. （国家法律法规数据库）；人力资源社会保障部、财政部 (2021). 企业职工基本养老保险遗属待遇暂行办法（人社部发〔2021〕18 号，2021 年 9 月 1 日起施行，第四、五条），原件未公开挂网，条文按广州市花都区人民政府行政复议决定书（花都府行复〔2022〕226 号）的逐字引用核对：「丧葬补助金的标准，按照参保人员死亡时本省……上一年度城镇居民月人均可支配收入的2倍计算」「缴费年限不满5年的，发放月数为3个月……缴费年限30年以上的，按照30年计算，发放月数最高为24个月」. ；福建省人力资源和社会保障厅. 常见问题：「每领取1年基本养老金减少1个月，发放月数最低为9个月」「累计缴费年限不足5年的，其遗属待遇（含丧葬补助金和抚恤金）标准不得超过其个人缴费之和」. - Notes: The housing provident fund balance is often forgotten because it is not in a regular bank account and is not automatically included in estate distribution. The pension balance and survivor benefits are calculated and paid separately; both must be handled at the local social insurance office. Required documents vary by region. If contributions were made for less than 5 years, the total survivor benefits cannot exceed the amount the deceased personally paid into the system. This formula applies to employee pension schemes; for government workers and rural residents, details must be obtained at the local office. Formal requirements for wills and inheritance are covered in Section 17. ### 10. Relatives of the deceased may request access to, copies of, corrections to, and deletion of their personal information - Cost: No cost involved. Only if the platform refuses cooperation would legal complaints or lawsuits be necessary. - In plain terms: After a person passes away, their close relatives may, for their own lawful and legitimate interests, ask the platform to access, copy, correct, or delete that person’s personal information. If the platform denies such requests, it must provide a valid reason. Legal action in court is also an option. One exception applies: if the deceased made prior arrangements—such as designating a successor to their account or expressing clear intentions—those instructions must be followed. - Benefit: The law explicitly states that upon a person’s death, their close relatives may, for their own lawful and legitimate interests, exercise rights such as accessing, copying, correcting, and deleting the deceased’s personal information. In other words, they may request the platform to provide access to this data, make copies, correct any errors, or remove it entirely. - Evidence grade: A - Sources:全国人大常委会 (2021). 个人信息保护法. 中国人大网. 第四十九条：「自然人死亡的，其近亲属为了自身的合法、正当利益，可以对死者的相关个人信息行使本章规定的查阅、复制、更正、删除等权利；死者生前另有安排的除外。」；第五十条「个人信息处理者应当建立便捷的个人行使权利的申请受理和处理机制。拒绝个人行使权利的请求的，应当说明理由」「个人可以依法向人民法院提起诉讼」 - Notes: The legal text includes a clause stating “except where the deceased made prior arrangements.” This means that if someone designated a successor to their account or left explicit instructions, those must be honored. Therefore, while still alive, it’s advisable to document where one’s account credentials are kept, as explained in Section 17. Note also that account deactivation and deletion of personal information are two distinct processes, as discussed in Section 14.