What to Do When Someone Dies in Overland Park, KS

When someone dies in Overland Park, most families have no idea what to do in the first hour — and nobody should be expected to. This guide walks you through exactly what happens next, step by step, specific to Johnson County and Kansas law. Whether the death was expected or sudden, at home or in a care facility, the process is the same. Read what applies to your situation and move at whatever pace you need.

If you need to speak with someone right now, call (913) 210-0597 — available 24 hours a day.

The First Call You Need to Make (And It Depends on the Situation)

The very first step after a death in Overland Park depends on where the death occurred and whether it was expected. This is the most important distinction to understand before you do anything else.

If the Death Was Expected — Hospice or Natural Causes at Home

If your loved one was under hospice care or had a terminal illness and died at home, you do not need to call 911. Call the hospice provider first — they have a nurse on call 24 hours a day who will come to the home, pronounce the death officially, and initiate the paperwork. The hospice nurse contacts the appropriate agencies, including the Johnson County coroner if required.

After the hospice nurse has been, you can take the time you need before calling a funeral home. There is no legal requirement in Kansas to remove the body immediately. Most families wait 1–4 hours. Some wait longer. That time belongs to you.

If the Death Was Unexpected or Unattended at Home

If the death was sudden, unexpected, or your loved one was found deceased without a medical professional present, call 911 first. Overland Park Police will respond, and the Johnson County Medical Examiner's Office will be notified. This is Kansas law — unattended deaths require investigation regardless of how natural the cause appears.

The Medical Examiner's Office will determine whether an autopsy is required. In most cases of natural death in elderly individuals, no autopsy is ordered. A Medical Examiner's investigator will clear the body for release, typically within a few hours, after which you can contact a funeral home to take custody of the remains.

Johnson County Medical Examiner's Office: (913) 826-1450 — Available 24 hours for notifications involving unattended deaths.

If the Death Occurred in a Hospital or Care Facility

Hospital and nursing home staff handle the initial notification and paperwork. A staff member will ask you to designate a funeral home — you are not required to use any specific provider and can take time to make this decision. The facility will keep the body in their care until a funeral home picks up the remains, typically for up to 24–48 hours.

What to Do in the First Few Hours

Once the immediate notifications are handled, work through these steps at your own pace. You do not need to complete all of these today.

Contact a funeral home when you're ready. The funeral home takes custody of the remains and guides you through the rest of the process. You are not required to make any service decisions at the time of first contact — a good provider will simply arrange transportation and give you time to make decisions about services, cremation, or burial without pressure. To compare funeral homes serving Overland Park, our directory lists current providers in Johnson County with service offerings and contact information.

Notify immediate family and close friends. Decide as a family who will make these calls and divide the list. There's no right order — start with whoever the deceased would have wanted notified first.

Locate important documents. You'll need several of these in the coming days. Start gathering them now so you're not searching under pressure later:

• Social Security card or number
• Birth certificate
• Most recent will or trust documents
• Life insurance policies (check for multiple)
• Military discharge papers (DD-214) if your loved one was a veteran
• Marriage certificate if applicable
• Financial account information (banks, retirement accounts, investment accounts)

Do not make any financial decisions yet. Do not close bank accounts, transfer funds, or make any estate-related financial moves until you have certified death certificates in hand and have spoken with an estate attorney or the probate court if needed. Joint accounts may have specific rules; retirement accounts have beneficiary designations that supersede a will.

Understanding Johnson County's Process: What Happens Behind the Scenes

Once a funeral home is contacted, they take over the logistical process on your behalf. Here's what happens in Johnson County specifically:

Death certificate filing. In Kansas, the funeral home works with the attending physician or the Medical Examiner to complete the death certificate and files it with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The standard processing time is 5–10 business days for certified copies. You will need multiple certified copies — order at least 8–10.

Johnson County cremation permit. If cremation is chosen, the funeral home files for a county cremation permit with Johnson County before proceeding. This permit costs $50 and is a required step under Kansas law — cremation cannot take place until it is issued. The permit process typically takes 24–48 hours.

Timeline from death to cremation or burial. In Johnson County, direct cremation typically takes 7–14 days from the time of death to return of remains. This accounts for the Medical Examiner clearance (if required), death certificate completion by the physician, the county cremation permit, and the cremation itself. Traditional burial can often be scheduled faster — typically within 3–5 days.

Death certificate fees. Certified copies are $20 each through KDHE. Your funeral home will typically order them on your behalf and pass the cost through to you. Order more than you think you need — requesting additional copies later requires a separate application and processing time.

The Documents and Notifications Checklist

In the weeks following the death, you'll need to notify a range of agencies and institutions. Work through this list at your own pace — there is no single deadline for most of these, though some (like Social Security) should be handled sooner.

Notify Within the First Week

• Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213. If your loved one received monthly benefits, notify SSA immediately to stop payments. Benefits paid after the month of death must be returned. Surviving spouses may be eligible for a one-time $255 death benefit.
• Pension or retirement income providers: Contact HR departments, pension administrators, or retirement plan custodians.
• Employer: If your loved one was still employed, notify HR for final paycheck, benefits continuation, and life insurance claim initiation.

Notify Within the First Month

• Banks and financial institutions: Bring certified death certificates. Joint accounts typically pass to the surviving account holder automatically. Individual accounts enter the estate process.
• Life insurance companies: File claims as soon as possible — most policies pay within 30–60 days of a completed claim.
• Veterans Affairs: If your loved one was a veteran, contact the VA for burial benefits, pension adjustments, and survivor benefits. The Leavenworth VA Regional Office handles Kansas claims: (800) 827-1000.
• Kansas Department of Revenue / Vehicle Titles: Transfer vehicle titles through the Johnson County Treasurer's office.
• Creditors and utilities: Cancel subscriptions, utilities, and credit accounts. Forward mail if needed.

Ongoing

• Probate court: If your loved one owned property or assets in their name alone (not held in a trust or with a beneficiary), the estate may need to go through Kansas probate. Johnson County District Court handles probate matters: (913) 715-3300.
• Tax returns: A final federal and Kansas state tax return will be required for the year of death. Consult a CPA or tax attorney.

Choosing a Funeral Home in Overland Park: What to Know

You are not required to use the first funeral home you call, and you are not required to make any decisions under time pressure. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home must provide you with an itemized General Price List — by phone, at no cost and no obligation. Call two or three providers and ask for their direct cremation price or their basic services fee before committing to anyone.

Specific to Johnson County: providers who operate their own crematory on-site can typically offer faster timelines and slightly lower cremation pricing than those who outsource cremation to a third party. Ask this question directly: "Do you operate your own crematory, or do you use an outside facility?"

If cremation services in Overland Park are the right choice for your family, our guide walks through the full process, costs, and options specific to Johnson County. For a metro-wide guide covering both the Missouri and Kansas sides of KC, see our metro-wide guide for Kansas City families.

The hours and days after a death in Overland Park are difficult, and the administrative demands feel relentless. Work through this list at whatever pace you can manage, and don't hesitate to ask for help — from family, from your funeral home, or from us.

When you're ready to connect with a trusted Johnson County funeral home, we'll match you with a provider based on your location, service needs, and timeline — at no cost and no obligation. Or call (913) 210-0597 at any hour. There is always someone available.