A steady checklist
What to do when someone dies
You do not have to hold all of this at once. Here is what tends to come first, what can wait a few days, and what can wait a few weeks.
Right now
The first 24 hours
Only a few things truly need to happen today. Take them one at a time.
Get the legal pronouncement of death
In a hospital or care facility, the staff handle this. If your person was on home hospice, call the hospice nurse. If they died at home without hospice, call 911.
Arrange for the body to be transported
Contact a funeral home or cremation provider to bring them into care. You are free to choose any provider — you do not have to use the one a hospital suggests, and comparing is allowed.
Tell close family yourself
A direct phone call to the people closest to them, before anything is shared publicly online.
Secure the home, pets, and any vehicle
Lock up, arrange care for pets, and make sure a car is parked safely. Small things, but they matter.
Find the will or estate documents
Look for a will, trust, or letter of instruction. It may name who they wanted to handle arrangements.
When you are ready, you can start a memorial in their name. It can hold the obituary, the service details, and a place for others to remember them.
Over the coming days
The first week
Once the immediate hours have passed, these are the steps that tend to come next.
Order certified death certificates
Ask for ten or more. Banks, insurers, and government offices each tend to want an original copy.
Notify the Social Security Administration
Call 1-800-772-1213. A funeral home will often report the death for you, but it is worth confirming.
Contact any life insurance companies
Ask what they need to begin a claim. Keep their reference numbers together.
Arrange the funeral, cremation, or memorial
Decide on the kind of service that fits them and your family, at whatever pace feels right.
Notify their employer and bank
An employer may hold final pay or benefits. A bank will explain what happens to accounts.
Redirect their mail if you need to
It helps you catch bills, accounts, and renewals you might not know about.
Writing the obituary is often the first thing the wider family asks about. You can draft it here, with help, and share it when it’s ready.
In the weeks ahead
The first month
There is no rush on these. Work through them as you have the energy.
File for probate if it’s required
Whether probate is needed depends on the estate and your state. A short call to a probate attorney can tell you quickly.
Close or transfer financial accounts
Bank, investment, and retirement accounts each have their own process.
Notify credit card companies
Close cards and stop any recurring charges.
Cancel subscriptions and memberships
Streaming, phone, gym, clubs — small recurring costs add up.
Transfer vehicle titles
Your state DMV will explain what they need.
File a final tax return
An accountant can handle this if it feels like too much.
However the months unfold, their memorial stays — a steady place for family and friends to return to.
Want this as a printable checklist?
We will email you a clean, printable version you can keep beside you or share with family. No account, and nothing else from us unless you ask.
Start their memorial when you’re ready
Many families find that writing something to remember them by is the step that helps most. Begin with their name.
Common questions
- Do I have to use the funeral home the hospital recommends?
- No. You are free to choose any funeral home or cremation provider, and you are allowed to compare prices and call more than one. A hospital may suggest a provider, but the decision is always yours.
- How many death certificates should I order?
- Order ten or more certified copies. Banks, insurers, employers, and government offices each typically want an original, and ordering more later can be slower and cost more.
- Who tells Social Security about the death?
- A funeral home will often report the death to the Social Security Administration for you. It is still worth confirming, and you can call them directly at 1-800-772-1213.
- Is probate always necessary?
- Not always. Whether probate is required depends on the size and structure of the estate and on your state's rules. A short call to a probate attorney can usually tell you quickly.