When someone you love dies, you're suddenly responsible for dozens of tasks — most of them unfamiliar, many of them urgent — while grieving. This guide gives you a calm, practical checklist for every stage: the first hours, the first week, and the weeks that follow.
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In the First Hours
The immediate priority is to ensure the death is legally documented and the body is cared for.
1. Get a Legal Pronouncement of Death
If the person died at home under hospice care, the hospice nurse or on-call nurse can pronounce death. If they died unexpectedly or without hospice, call 911. A physician or coroner will need to sign a death certificate — you cannot proceed with any arrangements without it.
2. Contact the Funeral Home
You don't have to make final arrangements immediately, but you do need to contact a funeral home so they can transport the body. If the person pre-planned their funeral, those documents will specify the funeral home they chose.
3. Notify Immediate Family
Call or text close family members personally. Social media can wait — important people deserve to hear it from you first. When you're ready to post publicly, see our death announcement examples and templates.
4. Locate Important Documents (If You Can)
If there's a will, advance directive, or pre-planned funeral instructions, try to locate them now. You don't have to read everything immediately, but knowing where these documents are will matter in the next 24 hours.
If the person used FinalKeepSake, their family has a private access code to retrieve organized documents, final wishes, and AI-assisted obituary drafts immediately — without searching.
In the First 24–48 Hours
5. Request Multiple Certified Copies of the Death Certificate
You'll need them for banks, insurance, property transfers, and more. Request at least 10–15 certified copies from the funeral home — you can always order more later, but it's easier to have them upfront.
6. Secure the Home and Property
If the deceased lived alone, secure their residence. Collect mail, secure valuables, and notify neighbors or building management if appropriate.
7. Notify the Employer and Any Organizations
If the deceased was employed, notify their employer. This also applies to unions, veterans organizations, fraternal societies, and clubs that may provide death benefits or need to be informed.
8. Begin Funeral Planning
Meet with the funeral director to plan the service. You'll need to decide on burial vs. cremation (check for any written wishes), service type, date, location, and whether you want viewings or a graveside service only.
In the First Week
9. Write the Obituary
Most funeral homes will post an obituary online and in local papers. You can write your own or work from a template. See our guide: How to Write an Obituary.
10. Notify Banks and Financial Institutions
Contact each bank or credit union where the deceased had accounts. You'll typically need a certified death certificate and proof of your authority (executor letter, joint ownership, etc.). Ask about account freezes, beneficiary designations, and the next steps for transferring or closing accounts.
11. Contact Life Insurance Companies
File claims with every life insurance policy you can find. You'll need the policy documents and certified death certificates. If you're unsure what policies existed, check the deceased's bank statements for premium payments.
12. Notify Government Agencies
- Social Security Administration — report the death (the funeral home may do this automatically). Surviving spouses and dependents may be eligible for survivor benefits. See our guide on Social Security survivor benefits and death notification.
- Medicare / Medicaid — notify if the deceased was enrolled.
- Veterans Affairs — if the deceased was a veteran, notify the VA and inquire about burial benefits. See our full guide on VA funeral and burial benefits for veterans — many families miss these.
- Pension providers — contact former employers or pension funds.
- State motor vehicles — cancel the driver's license to prevent identity fraud.
13. Cancel or Transfer Subscriptions and Accounts
Work through recurring charges — utilities, streaming, memberships, magazine subscriptions. Some can be canceled with a death certificate. Others may require an estate letter. Don't forget digital accounts: email, social media, cloud storage.
In the Following Weeks
14. Probate the Will (If Required)
If there's a will, the executor will likely need to file it with the local probate court. Not all estates require formal probate — it depends on the value of the estate and how assets are titled. Consult an estate attorney if the estate is complex. See our complete guide to probate for timelines and costs, and our full guide to executor duties for a step-by-step walkthrough of the role.
15. Transfer or Sell Property
Real estate, vehicles, and other titled property need to be transferred. This typically requires the death certificate and a court order or letters testamentary from probate. For personal property — furniture, clothing, jewelry, and household items — see our practical guide on what to do with a loved one's belongings after death.
16. File the Final Income Tax Return
The executor is responsible for filing the deceased's final federal and state income tax returns. The due date is typically April 15 of the year following death. You may need to file an estate tax return if the estate is large enough.
17. Settle Outstanding Debts
Creditors have a claim against the estate. Do not pay debts from personal funds — pay them only from estate assets, in the order of priority your state law specifies. Credit card companies and other creditors should be notified, and they will file claims against the estate. See our guide on what happens to debt when you die — including what family members are and aren't responsible for.
18. Distribute the Estate
Once debts and taxes are paid, the remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries according to the will (or state intestacy laws if there's no will).
Taking Care of Yourself Through the Process
While you're managing these tasks, grief doesn't pause. It's common to feel numb, exhausted, or overwhelmed — sometimes all at once. Understanding what you or your family members might be experiencing emotionally can help. See our guide on the stages of grief — what to expect and how to cope, and our grief support resources guide for hotlines, organizations, and professional help.
The Most Important Thing You Can Do Right Now
If you're reading this while planning ahead — not in a crisis — the best gift you can give your family is organizing everything before it's needed.
A Legacy Handoff Package through FinalKeepSake collects your documents, final wishes, trusted contacts, and AI-drafted obituary into one secure archive with a private family access code. Your family will have the answers to most of the questions above — instantly, without hunting.
Create your account and start with the documents your family will need most.