What to Do When Someone Dies: The Complete Checklist

By Emily Kyle, Founder of Good Grief | Behavioral economist and death administration researcher who conducted 200+ family interviews on estate settlement | April 3, 2026

When someone dies, the first steps are: have the death officially pronounced, notify immediate family, secure the home and belongings, and contact a funeral home or cremation provider. In the days that follow, order 5-10 certified death certificates, locate the will, and notify the employer. This checklist walks you through all of it.

If you're reading this, chances are someone you love just died. We're sorry. And we know you don't have time for fluff.

This guide walks you through everything, in order, from the first hours to the first year. It's the checklist we wish someone had handed us. After interviewing 200+ families who went through this process, we found that every family — regardless of estate size — faces the same 47 core tasks. This page covers them all.

You don't have to do all of this today. You just have to do the next thing.

• Download the printable PDF version
• Let Good Grief track it all for you — free

What Should You Do in the First 24 Hours After a Death?

These are the things that usually matter right away. You won't get to all of them today, and that's okay. Focus on whatever feels most pressing.

1. Make sure the death has been officially pronounced

If the death happened:

• At home with hospice: Call the hospice nurse. They will come to the home, confirm the death, and begin the paperwork. If the person was enrolled in hospice, this is usually straightforward.
• At home without hospice: Call 911. Paramedics or a coroner will need to pronounce the death. In some cases, the medical examiner's office may be involved.
• In a hospital or care facility: Staff will handle the pronouncement. Ask them for a copy of the preliminary death record before you leave.

You'll need an official pronouncement before anything else can move forward. Without it, no funeral home can take custody of the body, and no death certificate process can begin.

2. Notify close family and friends

This is not about logistics — it's about support. You shouldn't do this alone. Call the people who need to know right now: a spouse, children, siblings, or a close friend who can come be with you. Everything else (the wider circle, coworkers, acquaintances) can wait days or even weeks.

If the idea of making phone calls feels impossible, ask one trusted person to help spread the word. A simple text is fine. There are no rules here.

3. Secure the immediate environment

If the person lived alone or if the home will be unoccupied:

• Lock all doors and windows
• Take care of pets (food, water, arrange temporary care if needed)
• Collect important items: wallet, phone, keys, medications, eyeglasses
• Turn off any stove, oven, or appliance that was left on
• Adjust the thermostat (especially if the home will sit empty for days)
• Bring in the mail and stop newspaper delivery

You are not "clearing out" the house yet. You're not making decisions about belongings. You're just stabilizing things so nothing gets lost, damaged, or stolen while you figure out next steps.

Estate settlement involves coordinating with 12+ disconnected institutions — banks, courts, insurers, government agencies — none of which talk to each other. Securing the home early prevents complications later.

4. Contact a funeral home or cremation provider

You don't need all the answers now. You don't need to pick a casket, plan a service, or decide between burial and cremation today. You're simply initiating the next step so the body is cared for.

If the person had pre-arranged funeral plans, find that paperwork — it may be in a filing cabinet, safe, or with an attorney. If not, call a local funeral home and tell them you need to arrange a transfer. They'll guide you from there.

Most funeral homes are available 24/7. If the death happened in a hospital, the hospital may ask which funeral home to release the body to. It's okay to say you need a few hours to decide.

5. If the person was an organ or body donor

Check their driver's license, wallet, or any advance directive for donor status. Organ donation must happen quickly — usually within hours. If you're unsure, call the hospital or your local organ procurement organization. Body donation (donating to medical science) has a longer window but still requires prompt action.

What Needs to Happen in the First Week?

Once the immediate crisis is handled, these are the next priorities. You don't need to do them all in one day — spread them across the week.

6. Order certified death certificates

Plan for 5 to 10 certified copies. This may sound like a lot, but you'll need them for banks, insurance companies, the court, Social Security, the DMV, investment accounts, and more. Each institution typically requires an original certified copy — a photocopy won't work.

The funeral home usually handles ordering these for you. Each certified copy costs between $5 and $25 depending on the state. It's far easier (and cheaper) to order extras now than to request more later.

7. Locate key documents

Start looking for:

• Will or trust: Check the home (filing cabinets, safe, desk drawers), their attorney's office, or a safe deposit box. Some people file their will with the county clerk.
• Insurance policies: Life insurance, homeowner's, auto, health. Check email for digital statements if you can access their accounts.
• Bank and investment statements: Look for paper statements, and check the mail over the next few weeks for more.
• Tax returns: The most recent 2-3 years of tax returns can reveal accounts, income sources, and property you didn't know about.
• Attorney or financial advisor contact info: If they worked with professionals, those people may have copies of key documents.
• Digital accounts: Email login, password manager, phone passcode. Access to their email can help you discover accounts you didn't know existed.

The average family spends 570 hours settling an estate — that's 14 weeks of full-time work spread across an average of two years. Locating documents early saves significant time later.

8. Notify the employer

If the person was employed, contact their employer or HR department. Ask about:

• Final paycheck and any unpaid vacation or sick time
• Life insurance through the employer (many companies offer basic coverage)
• Pension or retirement benefits
• COBRA health insurance continuation for surviving dependents
• Return of personal items from their workspace

9. Notify Social Security

Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). The funeral home may report the death on your behalf, but it's good to confirm. Social Security needs to know so that benefits stop and any survivor benefits can begin.

If the person was receiving Social Security payments, any payment received after the month of death must be returned. If payments were direct-deposited, notify the bank as well.

10. Start a running list

This may be the most underrated piece of advice on this entire page. Start a running list of:

• Every account you discover (bank, credit card, subscription, utility, insurance)
• Every task you need to complete
• Every expense you pay out of pocket (mileage, certified copies, legal fees, property maintenance)
• Every person you need to contact

This list becomes your lifeline. Estate settlement is not one task — it's dozens of small tasks stretched over months. Without a list, things fall through the cracks.

If you'd rather not manage this on paper, Good Grief tracks all of this for you in one place.

What Should You Do in the First Month?

The first few weeks after a death are a blur of logistics and grief. Here's what typically needs attention in the first 30 days.

11. File the will with the probate court

If there's a will, most states require you to file it with the local probate court within a certain number of days (often 30). This doesn't mean you're starting probate — it just means you're putting the will on record. The court clerk's office can tell you exactly what's required in your county.

12. Determine if probate is necessary

Not every estate goes through probate. Assets that pass outside of probate include:

• Accounts with named beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death bank accounts)
• Jointly owned property with right of survivorship
• Assets held in a living trust

If the remaining assets are small enough, your state may offer a simplified "small estate" process. Our probate guide walks you through how to determine this.

13. Apply for Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration

If probate is needed, you'll apply to the court for official authority to act on behalf of the estate. If there's a will naming you as executor, you'll receive Letters Testamentary. If there's no will, the court appoints an administrator and issues Letters of Administration. This document is what gives you legal standing to access bank accounts, sell property, and settle debts.

14. Open an estate bank account

Once you have Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration) and an estate EIN from the IRS, open a dedicated bank account for the estate. All estate income should flow into this account, and all estate expenses should be paid from it. This keeps the deceased person's finances separate from yours — which matters for taxes and for protecting yourself legally as executor.

15. Get an EIN for the estate

Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS at irs.gov. It's free and takes about 10 minutes online. The estate needs its own tax ID number — you can't use the deceased person's Social Security number for estate transactions.

16. Notify financial institutions

Contact each bank, credit union, brokerage, and credit card company. You'll typically need:

• A certified death certificate
• Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
• Your government-issued ID

Don't close accounts yet — just notify them of the death and ask what their process is. Some accounts may have beneficiaries that bypass probate. Others may need to stay open until debts are settled.

The average family spends $12,000+ out of pocket on estate-related costs — funeral expenses, legal fees, property maintenance, and more. Keeping careful records from day one helps you get reimbursed from the estate later.

17. Notify insurance companies

File claims on any life insurance policies. Also notify the auto insurer, homeowner's or renter's insurer, and health insurer. Some policies have time-sensitive filing requirements, so don't delay on this one.

18. Redirect mail

File a change of address with the USPS to forward the deceased person's mail to you (or the executor). Mail will continue arriving for months — bills, statements, tax documents, subscription renewals — and you need to see all of it to identify accounts and obligations.

19. Cancel or transfer utilities and subscriptions

Go through their recurring charges: electricity, gas, water, internet, phone, streaming services, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, app subscriptions. Cancel what's no longer needed. Transfer utilities to another name if someone is still living in the home.

20. Secure digital accounts

If you can access their email, use it to search for account notifications, password resets, and subscription confirmations. This is often the fastest way to discover accounts. Look for:

• Banking and investment accounts
• Subscription services (Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, etc.)
• Social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox)
• Cryptocurrency wallets or exchanges

What Happens in Months 2 Through 6?

The acute crisis has passed, but the work continues. This phase is about settling debts, managing property, and moving through the legal process.

21. Pay legitimate debts of the estate

The estate (not you personally) is responsible for the deceased person's debts. Common debts include credit cards, medical bills, mortgages, car loans, and taxes. Pay these from the estate bank account. If the estate doesn't have enough to cover all debts, there's a legal priority order for which creditors get paid first — an attorney can help with this.

22. File a final income tax return

The deceased person's final Form 1040 covers January 1 through their date of death. This is due by the normal April 15 deadline. If the estate earned income after the death (interest, rental income, etc.), the estate also needs to file Form 1041. Consider hiring a CPA or tax preparer familiar with estate returns.

23. Deal with the property

If the person owned a home, you have decisions to make: sell it, transfer it to a beneficiary, or maintain it until the estate is settled. In the meantime, keep up with mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and basic maintenance. An unoccupied home can deteriorate quickly and may face insurance complications. Our guide on handling property after death covers your options.

24. Inventory the estate

The court may require a formal inventory of assets: real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, personal property of significant value, and debts. Even if the court doesn't require it, creating an inventory protects you as executor and helps with fair distribution later.

25. Communicate with beneficiaries

Keep beneficiaries informed about the timeline and process. They don't need weekly updates, but they should know what's happening, roughly when distributions will occur, and why things take time. Most disputes arise from poor communication, not bad intentions.

What Happens in Months 6 Through 12 and Beyond?

The final phase of estate settlement. Some estates close in 6 months; others take 2+ years. The timeline depends on the complexity of assets, whether probate is required, and whether any disputes arise.

26. Distribute assets to beneficiaries

Once all debts are paid, taxes are filed, and any waiting periods have passed, you can distribute the remaining assets according to the will (or state law, if there's no will). Get receipts from each beneficiary confirming what they received.

27. File a final estate accounting with the court

If probate was required, you'll need to file a final accounting showing all income, expenses, and distributions. This is your record that everything was handled properly.

28. Close the estate

Once everything is distributed and accounted for, petition the court to formally close the estate. Close the estate bank account. File any final tax returns. And take a breath — you've completed one of the hardest administrative tasks most people ever face.

3.4 million people die in the U.S. each year, and most families are completely unprepared for the administrative burden. If you've made it this far, you've done something remarkable.

What Can Wait After Someone Dies?

These things often feel urgent, but usually aren't in the first days:

• Closing bank or credit card accounts — closing too early can complicate probate and make it harder to pay estate expenses
• Selling property — there's rarely a reason to rush, and quick sales often mean lower prices
• Distributing belongings — wait until the will is reviewed and any legal requirements are met
• Making big financial decisions — grief impairs judgment, and most financial advisors recommend waiting at least 6-12 months before making major changes
• Clearing out the home — unless there's an urgent reason (lease ending, safety concern), this can wait weeks or months

Nothing bad will happen if these wait. In fact, rushing often causes mistakes that are expensive and painful to undo.

What Are the Most Common Mistakes After a Death?

• Closing accounts too soon — this can complicate probate, trigger tax issues, and make it impossible to pay estate debts
• Giving away personal items immediately — once items are distributed, it's extremely difficult to get them back if the will says otherwise
• Not ordering enough death certificates — ordering 2-3 copies and then needing to reorder is more expensive and slower than getting 10 upfront
• Paying the deceased person's debts from your own money — the estate is responsible for their debts, not you personally (with very few exceptions)
• Assuming you know what's required without checking — every state has different rules, and every estate is different
• Trying to do everything yourself — estate settlement was never designed to be a solo project, and asking for help is not a sign of failure
• Not keeping receipts — every expense you pay on behalf of the estate should be documented so you can be reimbursed

You're allowed to go slowly.

How Much Does Estate Settlement Cost?

The costs vary widely, but here's what families typically encounter:

Expense	Typical Range
Funeral or cremation	$1,000 - $12,000+
Certified death certificates (5-10 copies)	$50 - $250
Probate court filing fees	$50 - $1,200
Attorney fees (if needed)	$1,500 - $10,000+
Executor compensation (varies by state)	2% - 5% of estate value
Property maintenance during settlement	$200 - $2,000/month
Accountant or CPA for tax filings	$500 - $3,000

The average family spends $12,000+ out of pocket over the course of estate settlement. Many of these expenses are reimbursable from the estate — but only if you keep records. See our executor tax checklist for deductible expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Death and Estate Settlement

How many death certificates do I need?

Plan for 5-10 certified copies. You'll need them for banks, insurance companies, the court, Social Security, the DMV, investment accounts, and more. Each institution requires an original certified copy — a photocopy won't work. Ordering extras upfront is cheaper than reordering later. Learn more about ordering death certificates.

Do I need to go through probate?

It depends on the size of the estate and how assets were titled. Small estates under a certain threshold (varies by state) may qualify for simplified procedures. Assets with named beneficiaries or joint ownership typically bypass probate entirely. In some states, estates under $50,000-$75,000 in non-exempt assets can use an affidavit process instead of full probate. Read our complete guide to determining if probate is necessary.

What if there's no will?

When someone dies without a will (called "dying intestate"), state law determines who inherits. This usually means the surviving spouse and children, but the specifics vary significantly by state. An administrator is appointed by the court instead of an executor. The process is similar to probate but may take longer since there's no documented guidance from the deceased. See what happens when someone dies without a will.

How long does estate settlement take?

The average estate takes 12-18 months to fully settle, though simple estates may close in 6 months and complex ones can take 2+ years. Key factors that extend the timeline: probate requirements in your state, tax filings, disputes among beneficiaries, difficulty locating assets, and real estate sales. Check probate timelines by state.

What accounts need to be closed after someone dies?

Bank accounts, credit cards, subscriptions, utilities, insurance policies, email accounts, and social media profiles all need to be addressed. Don't rush to close accounts — some need to stay open during probate to receive income or pay expenses. Start with a list and work through it systematically. See the complete list of accounts to close or transfer.

Can I handle estate settlement without a lawyer?

Yes, many people do. Simple estates with clear wills, cooperative beneficiaries, and straightforward assets can often be settled without legal help. Good Grief provides step-by-step guidance to help you through the process. Complex estates — those with large assets, business interests, multiple properties, disputes among heirs, or significant debt — generally benefit from professional help.

Am I personally responsible for the deceased person's debts?

Generally no. The estate is responsible for paying debts, not the individual family members. Exceptions include debts you co-signed, joint account holders, and community property states where a surviving spouse may be liable. Never let a debt collector pressure you into paying from your own funds without verifying your legal obligation.

What is an executor, and what are their responsibilities?

An executor (sometimes called a personal representative) is the person named in the will to manage the estate. Their responsibilities include: filing the will with the court, inventorying assets, paying debts and taxes, distributing assets to beneficiaries, and filing a final accounting. It's a significant responsibility — our research found it averages 570 hours of work. Read our complete executor FAQ.

A Final Note About Grief and Admin

Grief makes even simple tasks harder. Forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and emotional swings are all common — and they're all normal. Research shows that grief affects cognitive function in measurable ways. The mental fog you're experiencing isn't weakness. It's biology.

If something feels harder than it "should," that's not a failure — it's grief.

Give yourself permission to do one thing at a time. Ask for help. Take breaks. The estate will still be there tomorrow.

If it helps to keep this checklist in one place instead of juggling tabs, notes, and spreadsheets, you can organize everything in Good Grief. It's the tool we built after going through this ourselves — because no one should have to navigate 570 hours of admin while they're grieving.

Useful Resources

• How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
• How to Notify Social Security of a Death
• Accounts to Close After Death
• Do I Need Probate?
• Probate Timeline: How Long It Takes
• Estate Settlement Checklist
• Probate FAQ
• Executor FAQ
• Executor Tax Checklist
• Printable Checklist (PDF)