What to Do When Someone Dies: A Guide for the Days, Weeks, and Months Ahead
Losing someone is one of the hardest things a person goes through. And in the middle of that grief, there are real things that need to be done — some of them urgently, many of them unfamiliar, most of them not something anyone ever taught you.
This guide breaks everything into timeframes so you can focus on what actually matters right now, and let the rest wait. You don't have to do all of this alone, and you don't have to do it all at once.
Download the printable version: Get the PDF checklist → — formatted for printing and sharing with family members.
In this guide:
First 24 hours: 5 things that can't wait
First week: 10 steps to take before day 7
First month: legal, financial, and administrative steps
First 6 months: settling the estate
How to find accounts and documents when you don't know where to look
Who to notify and when
Things to avoid in the first 30 days
Frequently asked questions
What are the first things to do when someone dies?
In the first 24 hours, five things need to happen: get a legal pronouncement of death, contact a funeral home, notify immediate family, locate the will and any advance directives, and make sure the person's home is secure. Everything else on this list can wait.
Give yourself permission to focus on just these five things until they're done.
Get a legal pronouncement of death
If your loved one died in a hospital or hospice facility, staff will handle this. If they died at home under hospice care, call the hospice nurse — they can make the official pronouncement. If the death was unexpected and at home, call 911. A doctor or medical examiner needs to certify the time and cause of death before a death certificate can be issued and before a funeral home can help.
Contact a funeral home
The funeral home becomes your coordinator for the next several days. They'll handle transport, help you order death certificates, and walk you through the immediate decisions — burial or cremation, whether there will be a service, and when. If your loved one left written wishes about their funeral, look for those now; they may have pre-planned arrangements on file.
You're not required to use whichever funeral home a hospital or hospice suggests. You can choose any licensed funeral home.
Notify immediate family
There's no script for this. Immediate family should hear from you or someone close — not through social media or word of mouth. Keep calls brief if you need to. Let people know what happened and whether there are any immediate decisions they need to weigh in on. Everything else can be communicated in the days ahead.
Locate the will, trust, and advance directives
Try to find these documents in the first day or two. The will names the executor — the person who is legally responsible for managing the estate — and that person needs to be involved in nearly every step going forward. Check a home safe, a filing cabinet, the person's attorney, or any digital vault they may have organized their documents in.
If there's a trust, locate it and contact the trustee named in the document.
Make sure the home is cared for
If your loved one lived alone, someone needs to check on the home — collect the mail, make sure it's locked, and let a trusted neighbor know what's happened. This is also when you begin to get a picture of what bills and subscriptions are in their name, since those will need to be addressed over the coming weeks.
What needs to happen in the first week?
The first week involves a mix of personal and practical: arranging the service, ordering death certificates, notifying key people, and beginning to locate documents. These steps can be divided among family members — you don't have to manage all of it yourself.
1. Order death certificates — get more than you think you need. Order at least 10–15 certified copies. Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and financial institutions all require an original certified copy — not a photocopy. The funeral home can order them on your behalf, which is typically the fastest route, or you can order them directly from your state's vital records office. Cost is usually $10–$25 per copy.
2. Review the will and connect with the executor. The executor (sometimes called "personal representative") carries legal responsibility for administering the estate. If that's you, your first task is understanding what's ahead. If it's someone else, loop them in now. The executor's signature is required on most official documents going forward.
3. Notify the Social Security Administration. The funeral home often reports the death to SSA, but confirm with them. If your loved one was receiving Social Security benefits, the payment for the month of death must be returned — it can't be kept. Contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the notification and ask about survivor benefits, which may apply to a surviving spouse, children, or dependent parents.
4. Notify the employer, if applicable. Contact HR to report the death and ask about any final paycheck due, group life insurance (more common than people realize), pension or retirement benefits, and what documents the employer needs. Group life insurance through an employer is one of the most frequently overlooked assets in an estate.
5. Start a shared record of everything you're doing. Estate administration involves a lot of moving pieces over a long stretch of time. A simple shared document — a notes app, a spreadsheet, even a notebook — tracking every institution you've contacted, what they said, what they need, and what's pending will save you significant effort over the coming months.
6. Alert banks and major financial institutions. Notify the person's bank and other major financial institutions of the death so accounts can be protected. Don't close accounts yet — the estate will likely need them open to receive funds and pay bills. Bring a death certificate to the branch; they'll explain what the next steps are for each account type.
7. Forward the mail. Set up mail forwarding to the executor's address. The mail that arrives over the next few months is one of the most reliable ways to discover accounts, subscriptions, and creditors that need to be addressed.
8. Cancel or pause time-sensitive subscriptions. Services that charge automatically — streaming, gym memberships, software — can continue billing for months if not addressed. Review the mail and the email inbox for subscription receipts, and cancel or pause what you find.
9. Reach out to friends and broader community. After immediate family knows, a broader message — by text, social media, or however the person lived their life — can go out when you're ready. You don't owe anyone details. A simple message that they've passed, and that you'll share information about any service when available, is enough.
10. Gather important documents. Begin collecting what you can find: birth certificate, Social Security card, marriage or divorce records, military discharge papers (DD-214), passport, property deeds, vehicle titles, insurance policies, and recent tax returns. You'll need many of these throughout the process.
What needs to happen in the first month?
The first month is when the formal legal and financial process begins. The executor takes the lead here. If you're not the executor, your role is largely to support that person and provide documents or information when asked.
Probate — and whether you need it
Probate is the legal process of settling a deceased person's estate under court supervision. Not every estate goes through it. Assets with named beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts), assets held in a trust, and accounts set up as transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD) typically pass directly to the named person without probate. Assets held solely in the deceased's name without a beneficiary designation usually do require it.
If probate is needed, the executor files the will with the probate court in the county where the person lived and petitions to be officially appointed. The court then issues "letters testamentary" — a document that gives the executor legal authority to act on behalf of the estate. Most banks and institutions won't release funds or information without it.
Probate typically costs 3–7% of the estate's total value and takes an average of 20 months to complete, according to Trust & Will's 2024 Probate Study. If the estate is small, many states offer a simplified affidavit process that bypasses formal probate — your county probate court can tell you if you qualify.
File life insurance claims
Life insurance doesn't transfer automatically — a claim must be filed. Call each insurer's claims department, provide a certified death certificate, and complete their form. Most claims are processed within 2–8 weeks.
If you're not sure whether a policy exists, check the person's mail and email for premium payment records, ask their employer about group life insurance, and search the MIB Group's consumer portal at mib.com, which holds records of life insurance applications.
File a final tax return
The executor is responsible for filing a final income tax return for the year the person died. This is due by April 15 of the following year. If the estate generates income during settlement (from interest, rent, or asset sales), a separate estate income tax return may also be required. A CPA or tax professional who handles estates can be a significant help here.
The federal estate tax only applies to estates over $13.61 million as of 2024, so most families won't owe it. Some states have their own estate or inheritance taxes at lower thresholds — worth checking.
Notify other government agencies
Medicare is automatically notified when you report the death to Social Security, but confirm.
Veterans Affairs — if the person served, contact the VA about burial benefits, which can include a burial allowance, a gravestone or marker, and a burial flag.
State motor vehicles — vehicle registrations will need to be transferred or canceled.
Voter registration — notify the county clerk's office.
U.S. State Department — notify to cancel the passport.
Formally contact financial institutions
Once the executor has letters testamentary, they can officially deal with each financial institution. For each, you'll typically need a certified death certificate, proof of identity, and the letters testamentary.
Accounts to address: checking and savings, investment and brokerage accounts, retirement accounts (401(k), IRA — these go directly to the named beneficiary; the executor initiates the claim), pension administrators, and digital payment apps like PayPal or Venmo, which often hold real balances.
Handle ongoing bills and obligations
Utilities — transfer to a surviving resident's name or schedule cancellation.
Credit cards — report the death to each card issuer. Outstanding balances are estate debts, paid from estate funds. Don't pay them from your own personal accounts.
Mortgage — notify the servicer. If a surviving spouse or heir is keeping the property, they'll walk you through the options.
Lease — notify the landlord. Most leases have a death clause; the estate is typically responsible for remaining rent unless the landlord agrees to release it.
Health insurance — if there are surviving dependents, look into COBRA or marketplace coverage immediately. Deadlines apply.
What happens in the first 6 months?
The six-month phase is primarily the executor's work: inventorying and appraising the estate, notifying creditors, paying valid debts, and eventually distributing what remains to heirs.
Inventory and appraise. The executor gathers a complete picture of the estate — bank balances, investment accounts, real estate, personal property, vehicles, and business interests. Some assets (real estate, art, jewelry) may need a professional appraisal.
Notify creditors and settle debts. Most states require the executor to publish a notice giving creditors a window to file claims. After that window closes, valid debts are paid from estate funds in a legally prescribed order. Heirs receive what's left.
Sell property if needed. If the estate needs liquidity to cover debts, or if heirs aren't keeping certain property, assets may need to be sold. Real estate sales during a formal probate often require court approval.
Distribute assets. Once debts and taxes are settled, the remaining assets are distributed according to the will — or, if there's no will, according to your state's intestacy laws (the default rules for how estates pass to family members).
Close the estate. The executor files a final accounting with the probate court, showing what came in, what was paid out, and what was distributed. Once approved, the estate is officially closed.
How do you find accounts and documents when you don't know where to look?
If the person you lost didn't leave organized records, this is often the most exhausting part of the process. There are systematic ways to piece together what they had.
Mail and email are the starting point. Forward physical mail to the executor's address and watch what arrives over the next few months — bank statements, insurance premium notices, investment summaries, and tax documents will surface accounts you might not have known existed. Search the email inbox for terms like "statement," "account," and "confirmation."
Tax returns are a map of financial relationships. Prior-year returns show interest income, dividends, and capital gains — which tells you exactly which institutions were paying them. A 1099 from an unfamiliar bank means there's an account there.
A credit report shows every open account. Request credit reports from all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) for the deceased. The report lists every open credit account, loan, and recent inquiry, which tells you who needs to be notified.
Search unclaimed property databases. Every state holds dormant accounts, forgotten deposits, and uncashed checks on behalf of their owners. Search missingmoney.com, which covers most states, or your state's official unclaimed property website.
Look for lost retirement accounts. The Department of Labor's Abandoned Plan database and the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits at unclaimedretirementbenefits.com can help locate 401(k) accounts from former employers.
If your loved one had organized their information in a digital vault like Safe After Me, their full account inventory, document list, and important contacts would be available to you right now — rather than something to slowly reconstruct over months.
Who do you notify when someone dies, and when?
First 24–48 hours: Immediate family. Close friends. A religious leader or faith community, if relevant. Their employer or school, if applicable.
First week: Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213). Veterans Affairs, if they served. The funeral home files the death with the state.
First month: Probate court, if the estate requires it. IRS (for the final tax return). Banks and financial institutions. Life insurance companies. Retirement account administrators. Credit card issuers. Mortgage servicer or landlord.
First month — services: Utilities. Health insurance (especially if there are surviving dependents). Auto insurance. Streaming and digital subscriptions. Professional associations or memberships.
Things to be careful about in the first 30 days
A few things that are easy to get wrong — and worth knowing about before they come up.
Distributing belongings before the estate is settled. Sentimental items and personal property feel natural to pass along right away. But those belongings are technically part of the estate until it's formally settled, and moving them early can create complications with creditors or disagreements among heirs. It's worth waiting until the estate process is further along.
Paying debts from your own money. Estate debts — credit cards, outstanding loans — are paid from estate funds, not from family members' personal accounts. If you pay from your own account, recovering that money from the estate later can be difficult. Let the executor handle debts through the estate once it's opened.
Closing bank accounts too quickly. Accounts often need to remain open during estate administration to receive funds and cover ongoing expenses. The bank will tell you when the right time to close is.
Making major financial decisions under pressure. Grief doesn't put financial decisions on pause, but it does affect judgment. In the first several months, it's reasonable to slow down on anything significant — rolling over accounts, selling property, or restructuring investments. Those decisions can almost always wait.
Frequently asked questions
What is the very first thing to do when someone dies? Get a legal pronouncement of death from a medical professional — a doctor, hospice nurse, or emergency services if the death was unexpected at home. This is required before a death certificate can be issued and before a funeral home can take over. If your loved one died in a hospital or hospice care, the staff will handle this step.
How many death certificates do you need? Order at least 10–15 certified copies. Banks, retirement account administrators, insurance companies, government agencies — each requires an original certified copy, not a photocopy. The funeral home can order them on your behalf, or you can order through your state's vital records office. Cost is typically $10–$25 per copy depending on the state.
How long does settling an estate take? The average probate process takes 20 months, according to Trust & Will's 2024 Probate Study. Smaller, well-organized estates with no contested will can sometimes wrap up in 3–6 months. Estates that avoid probate through trusts and beneficiary designations are typically settled much faster. Complexity, disputes among heirs, and disorganized records all extend the timeline.
Do you have to go through probate? Not always. Assets with named beneficiaries — retirement accounts, life insurance — pass directly to the named person and skip probate. So do assets held in a trust, and accounts set up as transfer-on-death or payable-on-death. Probate is typically required only for assets held solely in the deceased's name with no beneficiary or transfer designation.
What happens to debt when someone dies? Debts are paid from the estate — not from family members' personal funds — unless a family member was a joint account holder or co-signer. If the estate doesn't have enough to cover all debts, creditors are paid in a legally set priority order and may receive less than the full amount. Federal student loans are discharged at death.
What if you can't find the will? Check home files, a home safe, a safe deposit box, the person's attorney's office, and their email (people sometimes save documents to themselves). Some states have a will registry. If no will is found, the estate passes under state intestacy laws — the default rules for how assets are distributed among family members — and the probate court appoints an administrator.
Who is responsible for handling everything? The executor named in the will carries legal responsibility for managing the estate. If there's no will, the court appoints an administrator — typically a close family member. Other family members can absolutely help, but the executor or administrator is the one with legal authority to act on behalf of the estate.
