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What to Do When Someone Dies Checklist

A step-by-step US checklist for the hours, weeks and months after a loved one dies, ordered by what needs to happen first.

Published October 18, 2026

BereavementDeath of a Loved OneFuneral PlanningProbateExecutor
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First 24 to 48 Hours

  • Get a legal pronouncement of death
    If the person was in hospice, call the hospice team. If the death was unexpected at home, call 911. In a hospital or care facility, staff will handle it.
  • Tell close family and friends, and ask one person to help spread the news
  • Check for written funeral wishes or a prepaid funeral plan
  • Contact a funeral home to transport the body
  • Lock the home, secure valuables and car keys, and stop mail if no one lives there
  • Arrange care for pets and any dependents

Funeral and Notices

  • Ask the funeral home for its itemized price list before you choose services
    Federal law requires funeral homes to give you this list, and you can buy a casket or urn elsewhere.
  • Plan the funeral, burial, cremation or memorial service
  • If the person served in the military, ask about VA burial benefits at VA.gov
  • Write and publish an obituary
  • Notify the person's employer and ask about final pay, life insurance and retirement benefits

Death Certificates and Documents

  • Order several certified copies of the death certificate
    The funeral home can usually order them for you. Many agencies accept only certified copies, not photocopies.
  • Find the will, trust documents and any letter of wishes
  • Gather the person's Social Security number, birth certificate, marriage certificate and military discharge papers
  • Collect recent bank statements, bills and insurance policies

Government Agencies

  • Confirm the funeral home reported the death to Social Security
  • Ask Social Security about survivor benefits and the one-time death payment
    Social Security doesn't pay benefits for the month of death. A payment that arrives after the death may have to be returned, so don't spend it until you check.
  • Notify the VA if the person received veterans benefits
  • Cancel the driver's license or state ID with the DMV
  • Forward mail with the post office if needed

Money, Accounts and Identity

  • Contact each bank and credit card company the person used
  • Ask Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to flag the credit report as deceased
    This helps prevent identity theft, which often targets people who have recently died. Each bureau will ask for a copy of the death certificate.
  • File claims with life insurance companies and pension plans
  • Cancel subscriptions, phone plans, streaming services and memberships
  • Close or memorialize email and social media accounts
  • Keep paying home insurance and utilities on any property until it is sold or transferred

Will and Probate

  • Give the original will to the executor
  • Check with the county probate court whether probate is needed
    Many states let small estates skip full probate. The court clerk can explain your options but can't give legal advice.
  • Get an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS if the estate needs its own bank account
  • Make a list of the estate's assets and debts

Longer Term

  • File the person's final federal and state income tax returns
    The final return covers January 1 to the date of death and is due on the usual tax deadline the following year. A surviving spouse can usually file jointly for that year.
  • Ask a tax professional whether the estate must file its own income tax return
  • Search for unclaimed money in each state where the person lived at unclaimed.org
  • Update your own will and beneficiary forms if the person was named in them
  • Give yourself time to grieve, and reach out for grief support if you need it

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In the first day or two after someone dies, only a few things are urgent: get a legal pronouncement of death, tell close family, choose a funeral home and secure the home and any pets. Most other tasks, such as banks, benefits and probate, can wait a week or more. This checklist puts each step in order.

You don't have to do everything yourself. Funeral homes handle many first steps, including filing the death certificate and often reporting the death to Social Security. Share the later tasks with family, and lean on the executor named in the will for estate matters.

Government steps and probate rules vary by state. USA.gov has a guide to what to do when someone dies, and SSA.gov explains survivor benefits. If the estate is large or complex, a probate attorney can help.

FAQ

How many death certificates do I need?

Many families order several certified copies, often 5 to 10, because banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies may each ask for one. Count the accounts and policies you know about and add a few extra. You can order more later from the state or county vital records office, but it takes time.

Who notifies Social Security when someone dies?

The funeral home usually reports the death to Social Security if you give them the person's Social Security number. You can't report a death online. To ask about survivor benefits, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or contact your local office.

Am I responsible for a family member's debts after they die?

Usually not. Debts are paid from the person's estate. You are generally only responsible if you co-signed, shared the account, or live in a community property state where different rules can apply. Don't pay a debt from your own money until you know you owe it.

Do you have to go through probate?

Not always. Assets with a named beneficiary, jointly owned property and assets held in a trust usually pass without probate. Many states also have a simpler process for small estates. If the person owned property in their own name only, the executor may need to open probate in the county where they lived.

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