According to the Great Law, the clan mother is suppose to elevate a new chief in three days after death:

The clan mother calls a meeting for her clan to choose or replace the deceased chief in order to fill the vacant seat. All the women in that clan must have a voice. Peace and a "good mind" shall be used when they make their decision so there will be no problems after they have made their selection. The clan will reach a unanimous decision. The clan will call a meeting with all the chiefs of their nation so that the chiefs can confirm the decision what the clan decided upon. The head chief will announce it across the "fire" in council. The other side of the fire will confirm it with the other nations. Then they will set a date when the condolence will be held. A chief in her nation will notify the clan mother to make preparations for the "condolence ceremony".

The clan mother will notify her clan that they must prepare for this event. The clan mother will appoint a man and a woman faithkeeper to do the cooking, along with the rest of the family. They must prepare the food, to cook and to feed the chiefs of her nation when the condolence will take place. Deer meat, corn bread and corn soup is needed. There should be enough food to feed the condolers.

For example, the Mohawks, Senecas and Onondagas are the Elder Brothers, and the Oneidas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras and Tutelos nations are the Younger Brothers. When elevating a chief in the Cayugas, the Oneida nations the Elder nations are the ones that will condole. If a chief is to be installed in the Elder nations then the Younger nations will be responsible to condole for the Elder nations.

When this event takes place it is very costly because everyone has to be fed. No one should go away hungry.

The date is set for the condolence ceremony. The bereaved nations are to assemble early in the morning wherever the ceremony will take place. The chiefs will appoint a speaker for their side to speak on their behalf. The speaker will speak about how the Peacemaker brought about Peace and Good Minds, how he elevated the chiefs, and he will speak about the "Fifteen Sympathy Strings" to comfort the mourner's fire. This is called the Requickening Address. The chiefs will appoint a person to carry the wampum strings over to the condolers. The chiefs will appoint someone to be the head singer and a helper for the Six Songs called the national anthem. The chiefs will appoint someone for the Wood's Edge welcoming the condolers. The chiefs will appoint someone to speak letting the condolers know that they are to stay for a while. This is done when the condolers have finished their speech. Then the speaker will stand to speak for his colleagues. Someone will be appointed to build a fire at the Wood's Edge.