What to Do When Someone Dies: The Complete 30-Day Checklist

If you are reading this because someone you love just died, we are sorry. What you are feeling right now — the shock, the overwhelm, the sense that you should be doing something but you do not know what — is completely normal.

Here is the most important thing to know: very few things actually need to happen today. Despite what it might feel like, most deadlines are days or weeks away. You do not need to handle everything at once, and you are allowed to grieve before you organize.

This checklist breaks the next 30 days into manageable pieces. Not everything will apply to your situation. Skip what does not fit. Come back to sections when you are ready. The items are in roughly the order they need to happen, but life is messy — do what you can, when you can.

In the immediate hours after someone dies, only a few things truly need your attention. Everything else can wait.

• If the death was at home: Call 911 (if unexpected) or the hospice nurse (if expected and under hospice care). Do not move the body until medical or legal personnel arrive. If the person was under a doctor's care, the doctor can certify the death.
• If the death was at a hospital or facility: The staff will guide you through their process. Ask them what paperwork they need from you and what happens next with the body. You do not need to make immediate decisions about funeral arrangements — it is okay to say "I need a few hours."
• Call close family members. You do not need to call everyone today. Start with the people who need to know immediately — a spouse, children, parents, siblings. Ask one trusted person to help you spread the word so you are not making 30 phone calls yourself.
• If there are pets at the deceased's home, make sure they are fed and cared for. This is easy to forget in the first hours.
• Secure the home if no one else lives there. Lock up, check that appliances are off, and remove any perishable food if you will not be back for a few days.

What can wait until tomorrow: funeral planning, financial accounts, insurance claims, employer notifications, social media announcements, sorting belongings. All of it. Give yourself permission to just get through today.

By the second or third day, you will need to start making some initial decisions. Take these one at a time.

• Choose a funeral home. If the person pre-arranged their services, contact that funeral home. If not, ask friends or family for recommendations, or search for local options. You do not have to choose the first one you call — it is okay to ask about pricing. The FTC's Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to provide itemized pricing over the phone.
• Decide on burial or cremation. Check the will or any written wishes first. If no preferences were documented, this decision falls to the next of kin (typically spouse, then adult children). If family members disagree, the funeral director can help mediate.
• Order death certificates. Ask the funeral home to order these for you — they handle the filing with the state vital records office. Order 15-20 certified copies. You will need one for almost every account, institution, and government agency you deal with. They typically cost $10-$25 each depending on your state, and ordering extras now is much easier than ordering more later.
• Start a folder or box for important papers. Over the next few weeks, you will be collecting financial statements, insurance policies, legal documents, and correspondence. Having one central place to keep everything will save you enormous frustration later.

Most people don't know: You do not have to plan the funeral or memorial service right away. Many families wait a week or two, especially if out-of-town family needs to travel. There is no legal requirement to hold a service within a certain number of days.

During the first week, start making the essential notifications. You do not have to do all of these in one day — spread them across the week.

Government Notifications

• Social Security Administration: Call 1-800-772-1213. If the deceased was receiving benefits, they will stop payments and may issue a one-time $255 death benefit to the surviving spouse or dependent children. Do not deposit any Social Security payments received after the date of death — they will need to be returned.
• Medicare: If the deceased was enrolled, call 1-800-MEDICARE. If they had a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, contact those insurers separately.
• Veterans Affairs: If the deceased was a veteran, call 1-800-827-1000. Surviving spouses may be eligible for burial benefits, a flag, and ongoing benefits.
• Voter registration: Contact your county elections office to remove the deceased from voter rolls.
• DMV: You will need to cancel the driver's license and potentially transfer vehicle titles. Requirements vary by state — some can be done online, others require an in-person visit.

Employment and Income

• Employer: Notify the deceased's employer (and your own, if you need bereavement leave). Ask HR about: final paycheck, unused PTO payout, life insurance through work, pension or retirement benefits, COBRA health insurance continuation, and any company-specific bereavement benefits.
• If self-employed: Notify key clients, vendors, and contractors. Check for any business obligations that need immediate attention — payroll, pending contracts, deliverables.

Insurance

• Life insurance: File claims as soon as you have a death certificate. Most policies pay within 30-60 days of a complete claim. Check for policies through employers, banks, mortgage companies, and credit card companies — many people have coverage they forgot about.
• Health insurance: If you were covered under the deceased's plan, you typically have 60 days to elect COBRA continuation coverage. Mark this deadline clearly — missing it means losing coverage with no second chance.
• Auto, home, and other insurance: Notify all insurers. Policies may need to be transferred to a surviving spouse or estate. Do not cancel homeowner's insurance on property that is still in the estate — it needs to remain insured until it transfers.

Once you have death certificates in hand (typically 1-2 weeks after the death), you can start dealing with financial institutions and legal matters.

Financial Accounts

• Banks and credit unions: Visit each institution with a death certificate and your ID. Joint accounts with right of survivorship automatically pass to the surviving owner. Individual accounts will be frozen until the estate is settled. Ask about any automatic payments linked to the accounts.
• Investment and brokerage accounts: Contact each firm. Accounts with named beneficiaries (IRAs, 401(k)s) transfer directly. Non-beneficiary accounts go through the estate.
• Mortgage company: Notify them of the death. Federal law (Garn-St. Germain Act) protects surviving spouses and heirs — the lender cannot demand full repayment just because of the death. Continue making payments to avoid default.
• Credit card companies: Notify all issuers. The deceased's individual credit card debt is generally paid from the estate, not by family members personally (with some state-specific exceptions for spouses). Do not let collectors pressure you into paying from your own funds without legal advice.

Legal Steps

• Locate the will. Check the deceased's home, safe deposit box, attorney's office, and email for estate planning documents. If you find a will, do not open a sealed will — bring it to the probate court.
• Determine if probate is needed. Many estates can avoid formal probate through small estate affidavits, joint ownership transfers, or beneficiary designations. Whether you need probate depends on your state's laws and the types of assets involved.
• File the will with probate court. Most states require this within 30 days of death, whether or not you plan to open formal probate. Failing to file can result in personal liability for the executor.
• Consider whether you need an attorney. Simple estates often do not require one. Complex estates — those involving business interests, disputes, multi-state property, or high value — usually do. An initial consultation (often free or low-cost) can help you decide.

Most people don't know: The biggest financial mistake families make in the first month is not getting "date of death" valuations for all assets. The value of stocks, real estate, and other assets on the date of death becomes the new tax basis (called a "stepped-up basis"). This can save beneficiaries thousands in capital gains taxes when they eventually sell. Request date-of-death statements from every financial institution.

This is often the most overwhelming period — the initial shock is fading but the to-do list keeps growing. Take it in small batches and ask for help when you need it.

Accounts to Close, Transfer, or Cancel

• Utilities: Electric, gas, water, trash — transfer to a surviving household member or cancel if the home will be vacant. Keep heat/AC running at a minimal level if the home needs to be maintained.
• Phone and internet: Cancel or transfer cell phone plans, landlines, and internet service. Before canceling the cell phone, check for any two-factor authentication codes that may be needed to access online accounts.
• Subscriptions: Cancel streaming services, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, meal kits, software subscriptions, and any recurring charges. Check bank and credit card statements for the last 3 months to catch everything.
• Email accounts: Do not delete email accounts yet — they may contain important correspondence, receipts, or account information you will need during estate settlement. Most providers allow you to download an archive.
• Social media: Facebook, Instagram, and most platforms offer memorialization or account deletion options for deceased users. You will typically need to submit a death certificate. There is no rush on this — handle it when you are ready.

Mail and Identity

• Forward mail: File a change of address with USPS to redirect the deceased's mail to the executor or surviving spouse. This ensures you catch bills, legal notices, and financial statements you might not know about.
• Credit bureaus: Notify Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion of the death to place a "deceased" flag on the credit report. This helps prevent identity theft, which unfortunately is common after someone dies. Send a copy of the death certificate to each bureau.
• IRS: You do not need to notify the IRS separately — the Social Security Administration shares death information. However, you will need to file a final tax return (Form 1040) for the deceased covering January 1 through the date of death. This is due on the normal April 15 deadline of the following year.

Most people don't know: Identity theft targeting deceased individuals is so common it has a name — "ghosting." Place credit freezes in addition to death notifications. Check the deceased's credit report 3-6 months after death to ensure no fraudulent accounts have been opened.

By the end of the first month, the most urgent tasks are handled and you can shift focus to the longer-term process of settling the estate.

• If you opened probate: The court has appointed you as executor (or personal representative). You should now have Letters Testamentary — the legal document that gives you authority to act on behalf of the estate. Make several certified copies.
• Open an estate bank account. All estate income (insurance payouts, account closures, asset sales) and expenses (debts, taxes, administration costs) should flow through a dedicated account. Never mix estate funds with your personal money.
• Begin a complete asset inventory. Document every asset with its date-of-death value. This inventory will be required by the probate court and is essential for tax purposes.
• Publish a creditor notice if your state requires it. This is typically a notice in a local newspaper alerting potential creditors that the estate is in probate. Once published, creditors have a limited window (usually 3-6 months) to file claims.
• Do not distribute assets yet. Even if the will is clear about who gets what, most states require a waiting period (the creditor claim period) before distributions can be made. Distributing early can make you personally liable for unpaid debts.

Looking ahead: Estate settlement typically takes 6-12 months for simple estates and 1-2 years for complex ones. The first month is the hardest because you are simultaneously grieving and handling urgent logistics. It gets easier as you move from crisis mode into process mode.

Not everything is urgent, but some things do have real deadlines with real consequences. These are the ones to watch:

• COBRA election: 60 days. If you were on the deceased's employer health plan, you have 60 days from losing coverage to elect COBRA continuation. Miss this window and you lose the option entirely.
• Life insurance claims: Check your policy. Most policies do not have a strict deadline, but filing promptly avoids complications and gets funds to you faster.
• Will filing: 30 days in most states. Even if you do not plan formal probate, most states require the will to be filed with the probate court within 30 days.
• Social Security overpayments: Return immediately. Any benefits received after the date of death must be returned. The SSA will eventually catch this and demand repayment — returning funds proactively avoids penalties.
• Final tax return: April 15 of the following year. The deceased's final Form 1040 covers January 1 through the date of death. You can file for an extension if needed.
• Estate tax return (Form 706): 9 months after death. Only applies if the estate exceeds the federal exemption ($13.61 million in 2024). A 6-month extension is available.
• State-specific probate deadlines: These vary significantly. Some states require probate to be opened within 30 days; others give you years. Check your state's specific requirements.

Most people don't know: Many of these deadlines are state-specific, and getting them wrong can cost you thousands. The probate filing window, creditor claim period, and estate tax thresholds all vary by state. What is true in California may not be true in Texas.

After helping hundreds of families through this process, these are the mistakes we see most often:

1. Not ordering enough death certificates. You will need one for nearly every institution you deal with. Order at least 15 certified copies. Running out means delays and extra fees to order more.
2. Paying the deceased's debts from personal funds. Unless you are a co-signer or surviving spouse in a community property state, the deceased's debts are paid from the estate — not from your pocket. Do not let debt collectors tell you otherwise.
3. Canceling insurance on estate property. If the deceased owned a home or car that is now part of the estate, keep insurance active until the asset is transferred or sold. An uninsured loss during probate is devastating.
4. Distributing assets before the creditor period closes. Eager beneficiaries sometimes push for early distribution. If you distribute assets and then a valid creditor claim comes in, you can be personally liable for the difference.
5. Missing the stepped-up basis. When you inherit assets, you get them at their date-of-death value for tax purposes. If you sell inherited stock or property and report the wrong cost basis, you could pay thousands in unnecessary capital gains taxes.
6. Trying to do everything yourself. Asking for help is not weakness — it is wisdom. Whether it is a family member handling phone calls, a friend bringing meals, or a professional handling the legal work, accepting help makes this manageable.

Here is something nobody talks about: grief makes simple tasks feel impossible. You might stare at a phone for 20 minutes before making a call. You might fill out half a form and forget why you started. You might handle a complex insurance claim with perfect clarity one morning and be unable to open your email the next.

All of this is normal. Grief is not linear, and neither is productivity during grief.

Some practical strategies that help:

• Do one thing per day. If you made one phone call or filled out one form, that is a successful day. The checklist is not going anywhere.
• Batch the hard calls. Save phone calls for when you feel strongest, and give yourself permission to skip days when you do not.
• Designate a helper. Ask one person — a friend, sibling, or adult child — to be your "logistics buddy." They can sit with you while you make calls, track what has been done, and follow up on things that slip through the cracks.
• Write everything down. Grief affects memory. Keep a running log of who you called, what they said, and what the next step is. You will thank yourself later.
• Take the weekend off. Institutions are closed anyway. Use weekends to rest, not to catch up on paperwork.

You are doing something incredibly hard during the hardest time of your life. Be patient with yourself. The paperwork will get done. The accounts will get closed. The estate will be settled. It does not all have to happen today.