IF YOUR LOVED ONE PASSES AWAY UNDER medical supervision...

Tell the nurse who pronounced the time of death that you have chosen Trinity Funeral Services as your mortuary. You can ask the nurse to call us for removal, or you may call us at 619-344-0875.

Upon receipt of your loved one, you will be contacted by one of our arrangers to further assist you with completing the necessary forms and making arrangements. (If death occurs after hours or on a weekend, you will be contacted the following business day.)

If you would like to get started on the forms for cremation, they are available here.

IF YOUR LOVED ONE PASSES AWAY UNATTENDED BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL...

Contact your local Police or Sheriff’s department by dialing 911, and request an officer to pronounce the time of death. In these cases, the officer will contact the County Medical Examiner and they may choose to do an investigation if the cause of death is suspicious or traumatic in nature. If there is no evidence of trauma, the Medical Examiner’s Office will issue a waive number, thus forgoing further involvement. In either case, you or the police officer can contact us at 619-344-0875 and we will communicate with the Medical Examiner if need be.

Upon receipt of your loved one, you will be contacted by one of our arrangers to further assist you with completing the necessary forms and making arrangements. (If death occurs after hours or on a weekend, you will be contacted the following business day.)

If you would like to get started on the forms for cremation, they are available here.

STEP TWO

transportation

Our driver will arrive at the location to perform the removal within two hours of being notified.  There are no additional fees for after hours transportation.  Our Staff will contact you once we have your loved one in our care.  This may be the following business day if the death occurs after hours, over the weekend, or on a holiday.  

STEP THREE

Documentation

RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEGAL NEXT OF KIN

The legal next of kin, in respective order, as defined by CA Health and Safety Code 7100 is:

1. Person with Power of Attorney for Health Care

2. Surviving Spouse

3. Majority of Adult Children

4. Parents

5. Majority of Adult Siblings

The next of kin will be required to sign our forms authorizing cremation or burial.  This may be done at our office in-person or remotely via email or fax.

FILING THE DEATH CERTIFICATE

The State of California requires a Death Certificate to be registered for each deceased individual before they are buried or cremated.  It is our responsibility as the mortuary to do so.  A California Burial/Cremation Permit is also issued by the County at the same time.  There are several steps to filing a death certificate, and completing the process generally takes five to seven business days. 

1. Our staff contacts the attending physician of the decedent for cause of death information.

2. The causes of death are input into the California Electronic Death Registration System.

3. The San Diego County Health Dept. reviews the causes of death.

4. A signature or voice attestation is obtained from the doctor.

5. A burial/cremation permit is made and accompanies the Death Certificate electronically to the Health Dept. for final registration.

STEP FOUR

COMPLETING THE SERVICES