What to Do When Someone Dies: A Comprehensive Checklist

A death in the family is a hard enough situation on its own without all of the financial and legal complications to jump through. This comprehensive checklist explains all the steps you need to go through in the first few days, weeks, and months after so all of the deadlines don’t sneak up on you.

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Get a printable version of this guide.

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Helpful Tip: Don’t try to do everything at once. Use the full checklist that follows
to work through the process in stages—and ask for help when needed.

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Within 1–3 Days

Choose a Funeral Home and Make Arrangements

• Burial, cremation, or donation (per the deceased’s wishes, if known).
• Select a date and time for the funeral, memorial, or celebration of life.
• Coordinate with clergy or officiants if desired.

Obtain Death Certificates

• Order multiple certified copies (5–10 is typical) through the funeral home or local vital records office.
• These are needed for banks, insurance, Social Security, etc.
• Search online for your local vital records office if not handled through the funeral home.

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Within the First Week

Secure the Deceased’s Property

• Lock up the home, car, and valuables.
• Arrange care for pets and plants.
• Forward mail through the post office.

Locate Documents

• Will or trust
• Insurance policies
• Bank and investment account info
• Deeds and titles
• Social Security card
• Marriage, birth, or military discharge certificates

Notify Key Organizations

• Social Security Administration
• Employer (to process final paycheck, benefits)
• Veterans Affairs (if applicable)
• Insurance companies (life, health, auto, etc.)
• Financial institutions (banks, credit cards, retirement accounts)
• Mortgage and loan companies
• Pension providers
• Utility companies
• Subscriptions and memberships

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Within the First Month

Begin Probate or Trust Administration

• File the will with probate court (if applicable)
• Appoint the executor or trustee (if not already named)
• Inventory assets and debts
• Contact an estate attorney if needed
• For out of state property, contact the probate court where the property is located for ancillary probate procedures

Review Investments and Contact Financial Advisor

• Notify the deceased’s financial advisor or investment firm. They can help:
  • Identify and value investment accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts)
  • Discuss tax implications and required minimum distributions (RMDs)
  • Review beneficiaries on retirement accounts
• If the deceased had no advisor, consider hiring a fiduciary advisor to help:
  • Consolidate accounts
  • Avoid costly investment mistakes
  • Manage inherited assets
• Avoid making emotional or rushed investment decisions.
• Be wary of financial sales pitches during this vulnerable time.

Manage Digital Assets

• Email accounts, social media, cloud storage, subscriptions
• Some platforms allow account memorialization or legacy contacts

Pay Bills and Handle Debts

• Identify recurring payments and cancel or transfer accounts
• Notify creditors and determine which debts the estate is responsible for

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Ongoing (1–12 Months)

File Final Tax Returns

• File the deceased’s final federal and state income taxes
• File estate tax return, if necessary
• Work with a CPA or tax preparer familiar with estate matters

Distribute Assets According to the Will or Trust

• Follow legal process for dividing property, financial accounts, and personal belongings
• Get receipts from beneficiaries if required by the court

Notify Additional Entities

• DMV (to cancel driver’s license and update vehicle titles)
• Voter registration office
• Professional licensing boards
• Alumni associations or clubs
• Cancel or transfer insurance (auto, homeowners, Medicare, etc.)

Optional/Situational tasks

• Claim life insurance benefits
• Transfer or sell property (real estate, vehicles, etc.)
• File for survivor benefits (Social Security, pensions)
• Update your own estate plan after receiving an inheritance

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Understanding Probate

What is Probate?

• Probate is the court-supervised process to validate a will, pay debts, and distribute assets. A will doesn’t avoid probate—it’s actually the document that goes through this process.
• Probate generally applies to assets owned solely by the deceased. Jointly owned property, accounts with named beneficiaries, and assets held in certain trusts usually bypass probate.

Key Probate Facts

• Typical costs for simple cases where everyone cooperates and assets are straightforward generally run about $5,000 or less; costs rise with disputes, complex assets, or multiple beneficiaries.
• Probate often takes several months to over a year, depending on the estate’s complexity.
• Probate costs commonly amount to 3–7% of the estate’s value in legal fees and court costs, influenced by estate size, heirs, asset types, disputes, and attorney fees.
• State probate rules differ on filing requirements, deadlines, and notices.
• Most people don’t pay federal estate tax since the exemption is very high; over 99% of estates fall below the threshold.

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Final Tips and Resources

Check Public Records

• County Register of Deeds for real estate ownership
• DMV for vehicle titles
• Probate court for any prior filings

Unclaimed Property Search

• Tennessee Department of Treasury’s “Unclaimed Property” search
• MissingMoney.com and NAUPA.org for nationwide searches

Pension & Retirement Accounts

• U.S. Department of Labor’s lost pension search
• PBGC “Missing Participants” database

Tips

• If you’re not sure which accounts or policies existed, request a free credit report for the decedent at AnnualCreditReport.com to identify open accounts or creditors. Search in every state the decedent lived, worked, or went to school
• Search under maiden names, nicknames, and old addresses
• Keep a list of known employers, banks, and insurance companies

Grief Counseling & Crisis Support

• Crisis Line – Dial 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available nationwide).
• You can also search online for your local crisis line if you prefer community-based support.
• Alive Hospice – Grief Support – alivehospice.org/grief-support
• Find Support Near You – Search Psychology Today’s Grief Support Directory for local counselors and groups.
• Additional Options – National Alliance for Grieving Children (childrengrieve.org) and GriefShare (griefshare.org) provide vetted, nationwide resources.

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