We recognize that if you're reading this, you may be going through one of the most difficult moments of your life. This article is written to give you honest, practical information — not to overwhelm you. We are here to help, and you don't have to navigate any of this alone.
What Is an Unattended Death?
An unattended death — sometimes called an undiscovered death — occurs when a person passes away alone and is not found for an extended period of time. This can happen in many circumstances: an elderly person living alone, someone who passed away in a remote area, or simply a situation where regular contact wasn't maintained.
The longer time passes before discovery, the more the decomposition process affects the surrounding environment. This is why the cleanup of an unattended death is classified as biohazard remediation — it requires specialized training, certification, and equipment to be done safely and completely.
Why Family Members Should Not Clean It Themselves
This is the most important thing we want families to understand: you are not expected to clean this up yourself. In fact, attempting to do so without proper training and equipment can put your own health at serious risk.
The biohazards present include:
- •Bloodborne pathogens — including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV (which can survive in dried material for days to weeks)
- •Bacteria produced during decomposition — including Clostridium and Staphylococcus
- •Airborne biological matter and odor compounds that penetrate porous surfaces
- •Insect activity that can spread contamination to adjacent areas
Beyond the health risks, there's the emotional toll. Asking a family member to clean a space where a loved one passed away compounds grief in ways that can have lasting psychological effects. Professional remediation teams are trained to handle this work with care, discretion, and efficiency — so families can begin to heal without that burden.
What Happens Step by Step
Law enforcement and the medical examiner clear the scene
Before any cleanup can begin, the scene must be released by law enforcement and, in most cases, the county medical examiner or coroner. Do not enter or disturb the area until you receive confirmation that the scene has been cleared.
You contact a certified biohazard remediation company
Once the scene is released, reach out to a professional remediation company. You don't need to have everything figured out. A good team will walk you through what happens next, handle insurance coordination if applicable, and work on your timeline.
Assessment and containment
The remediation team assesses the extent of contamination — which is often larger than what's visible — and establishes containment to prevent spread to unaffected areas.
Removal and remediation
All biohazardous material is removed using appropriate PPE and containment protocols. Affected surfaces, materials, and — if necessary — structural elements are cleaned, treated, or removed. HEPA air filtration runs throughout.
Deodorization and clearance
Professional-grade deodorization eliminates odors at the molecular level — not just masking them. Once remediation is complete, the space is inspected and cleared.
Documentation
Full photographic and written documentation is provided for insurance purposes, estate proceedings, or property management records.
Does Insurance Cover Unattended Death Cleanup?
In many cases, yes. Homeowner's insurance and renter's insurance policies often cover biohazard remediation following an unattended death, particularly when it occurs in a primary residence. Coverage depends on your specific policy, but the remediation is typically treated similarly to other property damage claims.
What to do:
- • Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to report the claim
- • Do not clean or alter the scene before documentation is complete
- • Work with a remediation company experienced in insurance billing — we handle this directly with adjusters so you don't have to
- • Keep records of all communications and approvals
Renter and Landlord Situations
If the death occurred in a rental property, the responsibility for remediation typically falls to the property owner — not the family of the deceased. However, landlords often find themselves fielding calls from grieving families who aren't sure what to do.
Property owners in this situation should:
- Act quickly — delayed remediation increases the extent of damage and the cost
- Coordinate directly with the remediation company, not the family, on logistics
- Check their commercial property insurance for biohazard coverage
- Understand that they have a legal obligation to bring the unit to habitability standards before re-renting
What to Expect From Our Team
Our founder, James Smith, spent over 20 years as a police officer and crime scene technician before founding Post Trauma Scene Decon. He has responded to hundreds of these scenes. Our team approaches every job with the understanding that behind every call is a real family going through something incredibly hard.
When you call us, you can expect:
- ✓A calm, compassionate conversation — no rushed sales pitch
- ✓Clear explanation of what we'll do and how long it takes
- ✓24/7 availability for emergencies
- ✓Discreet arrival in unmarked vehicles upon request
- ✓Direct insurance coordination — we deal with adjusters so you don't have to
- ✓Full documentation for estate, legal, or insurance purposes
- ✓A space that is genuinely clean and safe — not just surface-level
"The families we work with are never expecting this call. Our job is to take one impossible thing off their plate and handle it with the same care we'd want for our own family." — James Smith, Founder
We're Here When You Need Us Most
Available 24/7. We'll walk you through every step with compassion and professionalism. You don't have to face this alone.
Call (315) 288-3670