Guide for families
After the medical examiner leaves
What families find when they go back in, what to leave alone, and what happens next.
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Quick answerWhen the medical examiner releases the home, the investigation is done, but the room isn’t safe yet. Keep the door closed, turn off forced air, don’t try to clean, and call a biohazard cleanup company. We’ll walk through first so you know what to expect. Reviewed by Kevin, who leads our Madison team · Updated November 2026.
Released
What the release means
The release means investigators are finished and you’re allowed back in. It doesn’t mean the room has been cleaned. Investigators don’t clean, and neither does the funeral home.
If you’re not sure whether the home was released, call the medical examiner’s office or ask us to check for you.
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A real person answers, any hour. The tech who covers your town heads out right away, and nothing starts until you approve the plan.
- The tech closest to you heads out right away
- Written scope and price you approve first
- No money up front. We bill your insurance
Who does what
Who does what after the medical examiner leaves
Police, the medical examiner, the funeral home and your insurer each handle one part. None of them clean the home.
| Who | What they do | What they don’t do |
|---|---|---|
| 911 and Madison police | Secure the scene and investigate. | Don't clean, and won't recommend one company over another. |
| The Dane County Medical Examiner | Takes care of the person who died, investigates and tells the family when the home is released. | Doesn't clean, remove stains or remove odor. |
| The funeral home | Cares for your loved one and arranges the visitation and service. | Doesn't clean or decontaminate the home. |
| Your insurance company | Pays for covered cleanup and repairs. | Doesn't send a crew. You can choose your own cleanup company. |
| The landlord or property manager | Owns the unit and usually arranges cleanup in a rental. | Can't let anyone in to clean until police and the Dane County Medical Examiner release it. |
| A house cleaner or carpet cleaner | Everyday cleaning. | Usually isn't trained or equipped for bloodborne pathogens or medical waste disposal. |
| MadTown Biohazard | Cleans, disinfects and removes odor in Madison, sends waste to a licensed facility, rebuilds and bills your insurer. | Call 608-974-1788, 24/7. |
Under the floor
What you see is only the top inch
Blood and fluids from a death or a serious injury move down through carpet and pad into the subfloor, and in older Madison homes with plank floors, into the ceiling of the room below. Scrubbing reaches only the top layer, which is why the smell comes back on the first warm day.
What you may find
What families often find
Depending on what happened and how long passed, there may be blood or fluids on the floor or bedding, stains that reach the floor below, odor, insects and items moved by investigators.
Many families would rather not see it. That’s completely fine. Give us a key or a door code and we’ll tell you what we find, gently, by phone.
What to leave alone
What not to do
Don’t scrub, bleach or shampoo carpet. It pushes fluids deeper and can make the job bigger. Don’t run the furnace fan or open the room to the rest of the house. Don’t throw away bedding or furniture yet; insurers sometimes want to see it.
Do take out anything you need urgently from other rooms, like medications, documents or a pet’s food.
Keepsakes
Getting personal items back
Tell us what matters: a wallet, a ring, letters, a phone, a favorite blanket. We set those aside before any removal starts and clean them where we can.
If the medical examiner took personal effects, they’ll tell you how to get them back.
FAQ
Common questions
You can go in, but the affected area isn’t safe to touch. Let us check it first.
No. Many families aren’t. We keep you updated by phone.
Most rooms are cleaned in one to three days; a rebuild adds time if materials came out.
Yes, once the source is removed and the structure is sealed.
Sources we checked (reviewed November 2026)
Keep reading
Keep reading
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¿Prefiere hablar en español? Ofrecemos asistencia bilingüe cuando la necesite. Llame al 608-974-1788.
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