Guide for families
A student death in Madison: a guide for parents
For families far from Madison after a death in a campus-area apartment or residence.
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Quick answerIf your child died in Madison, the Dane County Medical Examiner, the university’s Dean of Students Office and the landlord will all be involved. You don’t have to fly in for the cleanup. MadTown works with the landlord, walks the unit with you on video and ships belongings home. Reviewed by Kevin, who leads our Madison team · Updated November 2026.
First calls
Who you'll hear from
Police and the Dane County Medical Examiner handle the investigation and care for your child. The medical examiner will explain the next steps, including choosing a funeral home, which can be one near your home.
If your child was a UW-Madison student, the Dean of Students Office supports families after a student death and can help with things like notifying instructors and university records.
(608) 263-5700 · support for families after a student death
Investigates sudden and unattended deaths in Dane County. Office in McFarland.
Local help
Who can help in Madison
The offices and helplines around a death, a crime or a hard week, with numbers you can tap. Checked November 2026. We have no paid relationship with any of them.
Crisis, right now
Police & medical examiner
Money & insurance
Family, tenants & loss
The apartment
The apartment or room
Most students in Madison live in off-campus apartments. The landlord or property manager controls access. Tell them you’d like to use a professional cleanup company; we coordinate the timing with them so you don’t have to.
If roommates lived there, we check shared spaces and work quickly so they can get back in.
From far away
If you can't come to Madison
You don’t have to see the room. We can walk it with you on a video call, show you belongings before we pack them and ship them home. Anything personal, like a phone, laptop, journals or photos, is set aside first.
If you do come, we’ll meet you at the unit and go at your pace.
Paying
Who pays
Often the landlord’s property insurance covers the unit, and a parent’s homeowners policy may cover a student’s belongings away at school. We figure out which policy applies and bill it directly.
Nothing is due up front.
Support
Support for your family and your child's friends
Losing a child is unbearable, and doing it far from home makes everything harder. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline answers calls and texts any time.
For students affected by the loss, UW-Madison’s University Health Services runs a 24-hour crisis line at (608) 265-5600, option 9.
(608) 265-5600, option 9, any hour
Call or text 988, any time
FAQ
Common questions
No. We can do everything with you by phone and video, and ship belongings home.
The landlord. We coordinate access and timing with them.
Usually not in the affected area until it’s cleaned. We work quickly to get them back in.
Usually the landlord’s property insurance. We bill it directly.
Sources we checked (reviewed November 2026)
Keep reading
Keep reading
We’re here right now
You don't have to handle this alone
Call now. The tech closest to you starts driving while we talk, and nothing happens until you approve the plan. Day or night, no money up front.
¿Prefiere hablar en español? Ofrecemos asistencia bilingüe cuando la necesite. Llame al 608-974-1788.
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On your phone already? Tap to call 608-974-1788
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