The first 30 minutes — what to do immediately
1. Do not move or disturb the body 2. Call a doctor for a house visit 3. Alert one or two close family members 4. Gather the deceased's ID documents 5. Wait for the doctor to arrive
→ For a hospital or nursing home death instead, see Death at Hospital Singapore → For the full what-to-do overview, see What To Do When Someone Dies in Singapore
⚠️ Important
Do NOT call an ambulance — they'll transport the body to hospital for the same CCOD and you'll pay the ambulance fee too. Do NOT call the police — unless you suspect foul play, an accident, or an unnatural cause of death. The police cannot issue a CCOD.
Step 1: Call a doctor for the CCOD
The Certificate of Cause of Death (CCOD) is the document you need before anything else can happen. Only a licensed doctor can issue it.
Option A: Call your family doctor. If they conduct house calls and know the deceased's medical history, this is the best option.
Option B: Call Speedoc. Singapore's 24/7 telehealth platform that dispatches licensed GPs for CCOD house visits.
Using Speedoc for a home death in Singapore
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Availability | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Cost | S$400–S$500 before GST (2025 market rate) |
| Wait time | Allow up to 2 hours for doctor to arrive |
| How to book | Via Speedoc app or website (sg.speedoc.com) |
⚠️ Important
Important nuance: Speedoc can only issue the CCOD on the spot if they can identify the cause of death — typically through a valid medical report showing a pre-existing condition. If the deceased was not a Speedoc patient and has no accessible medical records, the doctor may not be able to certify immediately and the case may be referred to the coroner.
Step 2: What the doctor does at your home
When the doctor arrives they will: 1. Examine the body to confirm death and determine the cause 2. Review any medical records or reports — have these ready 3. If satisfied the death is natural, certify it online through the ICA system 4. Provide you with the death document number
Since 29 May 2022, death certification is done online by the doctor and the death is automatically registered with ICA. You do not need to go to a police post or ICA to register separately. The digital death certificate is available at mylegacy.life.gov.sg using the death document number.
What if the doctor cannot certify the death?
If the cause is unclear, sudden, or unexplained: • Call 995 or the police directly • The body will be transported to the Mortuary at HSA (SGH Block 9) in a police hearse • The coroner will determine if an autopsy is needed • The funeral cannot begin until the body is released — potentially several days
This is NOT the same as a normal home death and requires different handling.
Step 3: After the CCOD — next steps
1. Download the digital death certificate from mylegacy.life.gov.sg using the death document number 2. Call a funeral director — they handle body collection, embalming, wake, and cremation → See How to Choose a Funeral Director Singapore 3. Alert close family and appoint one coordinator 4. Locate key documents
→ Full cost guide: Funeral Cost Singapore → Wake venue options: HDB Void Deck Funeral Singapore | Funeral Parlour Singapore → If you live in a condo: Condo Funeral Singapore
Documents to have ready before the doctor arrives
• Deceased's NRIC or passport • Any medical reports, hospital discharge summaries, or diagnosis letters showing known conditions • Your own NRIC (as the informant) • If the deceased was a regular patient of any clinic, the clinic's contact details
Practical things to handle while waiting for body collection
• Inform other household members in an age-appropriate way before the funeral director arrives • Locate the deceased's clothing — the funeral director will ask for a set • Do not disturb phones, documents, or devices — needed for post-funeral admin → See CPF After Death Singapore • Nursing home deaths: the facility has no body storage and requires collection within a few hours — call a funeral director immediately
💡 Tip
Need someone to guide you through this in real time — from calling Speedoc to briefing the funeral director? Kenneth is available on WhatsApp at +65 9112 1226 anytime, including nights and weekends.
