Once the funeral is planned or behind you, a new set of tasks begins: notifying institutions, protecting property, and laying the groundwork for settling the estate. This chapter gives you a clear, step-by-step checklist for the first week or two after a death.
You don't need to do everything at once, and you don't need to do it alone. If your loved one named an executor (personal representative) or a successor trustee, that person will usually take the lead on many of these tasks.
(This chapter is general information, not legal or tax advice.)
1. Get Certified Death Certificates
Most institutions require a certified copy, not a photocopy. The funeral home typically files the death certificate and can order copies for you. If you need more later, you can usually order them from the state vital records office.
Order more than you think you'll need. Banks, insurance companies, retirement plans, investment firms, the DMV, and county recorder's offices may each want one. Many families need five to ten, or more for larger estates.
2. Secure The Home, Vehicles, And Valuables
Lock the home and change the locks if many people had keys.
Remove valuables, cash, firearms, and important documents to a safe place.
Make sure the home stays insured. Notify the homeowner's insurance company, especially if the home will be vacant; some policies have vacancy limits.
Keep vehicles insured and secured. Don't let others drive them until ownership is sorted out.
Arrange ongoing care for pets.
3. Manage The Mail
Have mail forwarded to the executor or a trusted family member. The post office can help an authorized person set this up.
Watch the mail for bills, statements, and policies. Mail is often the best way to discover accounts you didn't know about.
4. Locate Important Documents
Gather:
The original will and any trust documents
Life insurance policies and annuity contracts
Bank, investment, and retirement account statements
Deeds, titles, and mortgage documents
Recent tax returns
Marriage certificate, birth certificates, and military discharge papers (DD-214)
Pre-need funeral contract
Any "Where Everything Is" sheet (see Chapter 3)
Don't throw anything away yet, even papers that seem unimportant.
5. Notify Key Agencies And Institutions
Social Security
The funeral home often reports the death to the Social Security Administration. Confirm that it has been done.
If your loved one was receiving benefits, payments for the month of death and after may need to be returned. Don't spend deposits received after death until you've confirmed.
Ask about survivor benefits and the one-time death payment for a surviving spouse or eligible child.
Employer
Notify the employer and ask about final pay, unused vacation, life insurance, retirement plans, and benefits for the family.
Pension or retirement plan administrators
Report the death and ask about survivor benefits.
Veterans Affairs
If your loved one was a veteran, contact the VA about burial benefits and any survivor benefits.
Medicare and health insurers
Notify them, and ask about coverage for any final medical bills.
6. Contact Life Insurance Companies
Find every policy, including those through employers, credit unions, and associations.
Call each insurer to report the death and request claim forms.
Beneficiaries will typically need a certified death certificate and a completed claim form.
Life insurance generally pays directly to the named beneficiary and usually does not go through probate. If you aren't sure whether a policy exists, look through bank statements for premium payments, check mail and email, and ask former employers. A licensed insurance professional can also help families track down policies.
7. Notify Banks And Financial Institutions
Notify banks and credit unions of the death.
Joint accounts with a surviving owner usually pass directly to that person.
Accounts with a payable-on-death beneficiary go to that beneficiary.
Individual accounts are typically frozen until the executor or trustee provides the right paperwork.
Don't use the deceased's debit or credit cards, and don't withdraw money from individual accounts unless you are legally authorized.
8. Protect Against Identity Theft
Unfortunately, the identities of people who have died are sometimes stolen.
Notify the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and request a "deceased" notation on the credit report.
Avoid putting full birth dates or home addresses in the obituary.
Watch the mail for unexpected credit cards or bills.
Be cautious with calls or emails claiming the deceased owed money.
9. Stop Unneeded Services
Cancel or pause subscriptions, memberships, and deliveries.
Review automatic payments on bank and credit card statements.
Keep utilities, insurance, and phone service active as long as the home or property still needs them.
10. Meet With The Executor Or Trustee
Within the first few weeks, the person in charge should:
Review the will or trust
Make a list of assets and debts
Decide whether probate is needed
Consider meeting with an estate planning professional, attorney, or accountant
Chapter 10 explains how estates are settled and when probate is required.
What Not To Do In The First Weeks
Don't pay the deceased's debts from your own money. Family members generally aren't personally responsible for a loved one's debts unless they co-signed, were joint account holders, or are otherwise responsible under the law. If a collector says you owe a debt, ask for it in writing and get advice before paying.
Don't distribute belongings or money before the executor or trustee is ready.
Don't sell property or vehicles yet.
Don't make major financial decisions while grief is fresh.
One Step At A Time
Lists like this can feel overwhelming. Pick two or three items a day. Ask for help. Keep a simple notebook of who you called, when, and what they said. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.