The first task is to provide as much complete and accurate information about the death as possible. Officers can also help the family deal with the legal bureaucracy. To carry out effective death notification, the officer must first admit that he does not want to notify the family. He must be able to empathize with the family and anticipate their reactions. One way to do this is to become familiar with the family's particular circumstances and the relationships to the deceased. An officer should try to choose an appropriate setting to help him deal with the family's reactions; there should be seats, a telephone, and drinks available. The officer should present the information simply and clearly, allow questions, deal with reactions, ask questions of the family to verify information, attend to the family's immediate needs, and provide follow-up information.