When someone dies, that person must be declared legally dead by authorities.

If someone dies in a hospital or nursing home, the body is pronounced dead and then transported to the hospital morgue to await pick up by the funeral provider.

If someone dies at home, the police are contacted. A paramedic may pronounce death at the home.  If there is no one available to pronounce death, the body is taken to the hospital ER and the death is pronounced there.

If death is unexpected, the body is taken to the morgue for an autopsy.

If a death occurs in a public place, the police are called and then the body is taken to the hospital before being released to the funeral home.