When someone you love passes away, the grief is overwhelming — and so is the list of things that need to happen next. This guide walks you through everything, step by step, so you don't have to figure it out alone.
If you're reading this, you're probably going through one of the hardest experiences of your life. We're sorry you're here. The truth is, when someone dies, there are dozens of legal, financial, and personal tasks that fall on the people left behind — often at the worst possible time. Most people have never done any of this before. It's confusing, exhausting, and easy to miss something important.
This checklist breaks everything down into phases, starting with what needs to happen right away and working through the longer-term tasks that can wait. You don't have to do everything at once. Take it one step at a time.
The First 24–48 Hours
These are the things that need immediate attention. Everything else can wait.
Get an official declaration of death
If your loved one passed in a hospital or nursing home, the staff will handle this. If they passed at home under hospice care, call the hospice nurse — they can make the declaration. If the death was unexpected and happened at home, call 911.
Contact a funeral home
Even if you haven't made any decisions about the funeral yet, a funeral home can take care of transporting your loved one and guide you through immediate next steps. If your loved one pre-arranged services, contact that specific provider. If not, ask friends, family, or your faith community for recommendations. You can call 2–3 funeral homes to compare — they're required by law to provide pricing over the phone.
Secure your loved one's home and property
If their home will be unoccupied, lock it up. Move any vehicles to a safe location. Collect mail. You don't need to sort through anything yet — just make sure things are safe.
Arrange care for dependents or pets
If children, elderly dependents, or pets were in your loved one's care, arrange temporary housing with a family member, friend, or neighbor right away. This doesn't need to be permanent — you can plan longer-term arrangements later.
Notify close family and friends
Start with immediate family and close friends. There's no perfect way to share this news — a phone call is enough. Ask the people you tell to help spread the word to others. If your loved one was active on social media, you may want to post an announcement on their account or yours.
Notify your loved one's employer
A brief call to HR is all that's needed. Ask about any final paychecks, benefits, or life insurance through the company.
The First Week
Once the most urgent tasks are handled, you can turn to these. There's no strict timeline — do them when you're able.
Request death certificates
You'll need multiple certified copies — at least 10 is a good starting point. Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and courts all require originals. Your funeral home can usually order these for you. Each copy typically costs $10–25 depending on the state.
Locate the will and any estate planning documents
Check your loved one's home, a safe deposit box, their attorney's office, or their important files. If they used an attorney for estate planning, that office likely has a copy. If you can't find a will, that's okay — the estate will be handled through your state's intestacy laws, which determine how assets are distributed. See our guide on how to find a lost Will if you're struggling to locate the original.
Determine who the executor is
The executor (sometimes called a personal representative) is the person named in the will to manage the estate. If there's no will, the probate court will appoint someone — usually a spouse or adult child. If you're the executor, you'll need to file the will with the local probate court to begin the process.
Contact life insurance providers
Locate any life insurance policies and contact the providers to file a claim. You'll need a death certificate and the policy number. Proceeds are typically paid to the named beneficiary within 30–60 days.
Plan the funeral or memorial service
Work with the funeral home to plan the service according to your loved one's wishes (if known) or your family's preferences. Decisions include burial vs. cremation, service type and location, flowers, music, and obituary. Many funeral homes will guide you through each of these. If you're writing the obituary yourself, our guide to obituary examples has 26 templates by relationship and situation you can adapt.
Notify Social Security
Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death. If your loved one was receiving benefits, payments need to stop. Surviving spouses and dependent children may be eligible for survivor benefits.
Important deadline
Some benefits and claims have strict filing deadlines. Life insurance claims, survivor Social Security benefits, and employer death benefits may all have time limits. Try to initiate these calls within the first two weeks.
The First Month
These tasks require more time and often involve working with professionals.
Begin the probate process (if needed)
Probate is the legal process of validating a will and distributing the estate. Not all estates require probate — small estates and assets with named beneficiaries (like life insurance and retirement accounts) often transfer directly. Consult with an estate attorney if you're unsure whether probate is necessary. Read our Probate 101 guide for a plain-language explanation of how the process works and what to expect.
Notify banks and financial institutions
Contact every bank, credit union, investment firm, and credit card company where your loved one had accounts. You'll need a death certificate and, in many cases, proof that you're the executor or surviving spouse. Joint accounts typically pass to the surviving owner. Individual accounts may be frozen until probate is resolved.
Contact all insurance companies
This includes health insurance, auto insurance, homeowner's insurance, and any other policies. Cancel coverage that's no longer needed and file any applicable claims. If the home will be vacant, contact the homeowner's insurer to switch to a vacant property policy — standard policies often don't cover empty homes.
Handle ongoing bills and subscriptions
Cancel or transfer utilities, phone plans, streaming services, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, and any other recurring charges. Check your loved one's bank and credit card statements to identify recurring payments you might not know about.
Notify government agencies
Beyond Social Security, you may need to contact Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs (if your loved one was a veteran), the DMV to cancel their driver's license, and the IRS to prevent identity theft. Contact the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to place a deceased alert on your loved one's credit file.
Redirect mail
Set up mail forwarding through the post office so your loved one's mail comes to you. This will help you catch bills, financial statements, and other important correspondence you might otherwise miss.
Months 2–6 and Beyond
These are the longer-term tasks involved in settling the estate. They can take months — or longer — to fully resolve.
Work with an estate attorney on probate
If the estate requires probate, your attorney will guide you through court filings, creditor notifications, and asset distribution. The timeline varies by state — simple estates may be settled in 6–12 months, while complex ones can take longer.
File final tax returns
The executor is responsible for filing the deceased's final income tax return (for the year of death) and, if applicable, an estate tax return. Work with an accountant or tax professional to ensure this is done correctly. The final income tax return is due on the normal April filing date. Estate tax returns, if required, are due within 9 months of death.
Distribute assets to beneficiaries
Once debts, taxes, and expenses are paid, the remaining assets can be distributed according to the will — or according to state law if there's no will. Keep detailed records of everything.
Transfer property titles
Real estate, vehicles, and other titled property need to be formally transferred to the new owners. This typically requires the death certificate, proof of inheritance, and filing with the appropriate county or state office.
Close the estate
Once all assets have been distributed, all debts and taxes paid, and all legal requirements met, you can petition the probate court to formally close the estate. Keep all records for at least 3–5 years in case any issues arise.
You don't have to hold all of this in your head
Each of the tasks above is tracked inside Omuna's free checklist — organized by phase, with clear guidance on what's involved and what to expect. You can share it with family so no one person carries the whole load.