Funeral services in Riga
Information service 24/7
If a relative has died at home, call us at any hour: +371 2944 9849. A specialised crew reaches any address in Riga within the hour — at night, at weekends and on public holidays as well. There is nothing you need to do before they arrive: we will tell you what to expect over the phone, and we take care of the rest.
Removal of the deceased is the very first step, and it stands apart from everything else: the date of the funeral, the burial plot and the ceremony are planned later, calmly, over the following days. Right now all that is needed from the family is a phone call.
The death first has to be confirmed by a medical professional — without a doctor's document the deceased cannot be taken from the flat. Whom to call depends on where the death occurred.
| Where the death occurred | Whom to call first |
|---|---|
| At home or in a flat | The family doctor or the ambulance service |
| In a hospital or care home | The staff record the death — then call us |
| In a public place — in the street, at work | 112, the single emergency number, which redirects the call |
| In another city or abroad | Call us — we arrange the transfer |
When calling 112, state the location clearly (street, house number, nearby landmarks) and describe the person's condition. If there are signs of a violent death, the police open an investigation and the deceased is taken to the forensic medicine morgue; if the death was from natural causes, to an ordinary morgue.
Once the doctor or the police have finished, call us — from that moment the care of the deceased is ours. A fuller sequence of the first hours is on the what to do when someone dies page.
The crew consists of two or more people, depending on the floor the flat is on and whether the building has a lift. In narrow stairwells and older Riga buildings without a lift we work with a stretcher and additional staff; this is routine and does not delay the call-out.
We work quietly and without drawing attention: the deceased is prepared for transport inside the flat and carried out covered, and neighbours are not disturbed. The family is not expected to help and does not need to be in the room — if it is easier, wait elsewhere. After the removal our member of staff tells you which morgue the deceased has been taken to and when you can come in to discuss the funeral.
When the crew arrives, ask to see their passport and service ID and make sure they are from the Riga City Funeral Service. After a death, families are often called or visited by people claiming to represent a funeral service — our staff show their identification every time, without being asked. More on how to handle this is on the beware of scammers page.
For removals we use separate specialised vehicles — not the hearse that goes to the farewell ceremony on the day of the funeral. The vehicle is equipped for transport, looks unremarkable and does not draw attention in the courtyard. The family sees the hearse later, on the day of the funeral; read about it on the funeral transport page.
In Riga the deceased is usually taken to the nearest morgue, or to the one attached to the hospital involved: the Eastern Hospital morgue at Gaiļezers, the Stradiņš Hospital morgue, or the forensic medicine morgue on Hipokrāta iela if the cause of death has to be established. If the family would prefer a particular morgue, say so during the call and we will take it into account. Addresses and opening hours are collected in the morgues in Riga section.
At the morgue the deceased is taken into storage, and preparation for the farewell takes place there — washing, dressing and placing in the coffin. Storage of the body for up to seven days is free of charge; what the morgue does free of charge and what is paid for is set out on the preparation at the morgue page.
If the death is sudden, unexpected or shows signs of injury, the police attend and the deceased is taken for forensic examination. In that case the removal is carried out by the service appointed by the investigator, and the family has to wait for the findings. We continue the work from the moment the deceased can be collected: we handle the documents, arrange the transfer and carry on with the funeral arrangements. Call us in this situation too — we will explain what happens next and how long it usually takes.
When the crew arrives it helps to have the passport or ID card of the deceased, their health insurance and the doctor's confirmation of death, together with the identity document of the person arranging the funeral. If the documents cannot be found, the removal still goes ahead — they can be sorted out later at our office.
Besides removals from home we transport the deceased from care homes, social care centres, hospitals and other institutions, as well as from places outside Riga. Journeys beyond the city are arranged in advance — the time and the cost depend on the distance. If the deceased has to be taken to another country or brought in from abroad, that is arranged separately: see the repatriation page.
Removal of the deceased and transport to the morgue are part of the funeral estimate and in most cases are covered by the state funeral benefit — the family does not pay separately for the call-out. We give you the exact figure on the phone, before the crew sets off, and it does not change afterwards. The amount of the benefit and how it is claimed are explained on the funeral benefit page.
Call +371 2944 9849 — our duty specialist answers around the clock. Give the address, the floor and whether the building has a lift, and say whether a doctor has already been. That is enough for the crew to set off. Our office is at Tēraudlietuves iela 3, Riga, but we come to you — there is no need to visit the office at this moment.
