The first hours after a parent dies can be overwhelming. You may feel lost, numb, or frantic — and at the same time be expected to make calls, sign forms, and decide what happens next. This book walks you through those hours, one step at a time, with the clarity of someone who has seen it before. It covers who to telephone, what to say, what the hospital or hospice staff need from you, and what you need from them. It explains the legal paperwork that will land in your hands, how to handle a death at home, what happens if a coroner is involved, and how to begin the practical arrangements for a funeral without panic. Crucially, it also gives you permission to take a moment — to breathe, to sit with the body, to let yourself feel what comes. Written for the adult child who is suddenly in charge, this is not a book about grief (though grief is honoured here); it is a book about the logistics of the first day, so that you can manage them with less fear and more presence. Part of The Caring for a Parent Library.