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What to Do When Someone Dies: A Step-by-Step Checklist
When someone you love dies, the world doesn’t stop — but it should. Instead, you’re handed an overwhelming list of things that need to happen. This guide walks you through it, step by step, so nothing falls through the cracks.
The First 24 Hours
1
Get a legal pronouncement of death. If your loved one died at home, call 911 or their hospice provider. In a hospital or care facility, staff will handle this.
2
Contact a funeral home. They will arrange transportation and begin helping with arrangements. You don’t need to decide everything today.
3
Notify immediate family and close friends. Ask one trusted person to help spread the word so you don’t have to make every call yourself.
4
Secure the home. If your loved one lived alone, make sure the home is locked and secure. Collect mail and check on pets.
The First Week
5
Order certified death certificates. You’ll need 10–15 copies. Banks, insurance companies, and government agencies all require originals. Your funeral home can order these for you.
6
Locate the will and important documents. Look for the will, trust documents, life insurance policies, Social Security card, and financial account information.
7
Contact the employer. If your loved one was employed, notify their employer about final paychecks, benefits, and any life insurance through work.
8
Notify Social Security. Call 1-800-772-1213. The funeral home may report the death, but you should confirm and ask about survivor benefits.
The First Month
9
File life insurance claims. Contact each insurance company with a certified death certificate and the policy number. Most claims are paid within 30–60 days.
10
Close or transfer bank accounts. Bring a death certificate and your executor documents to each bank. Joint accounts may only need a death certificate.
11
Cancel subscriptions and memberships. Streaming services, gym memberships, magazines, software subscriptions — make a list and cancel each one.
12
Notify credit bureaus. Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to place a deceased alert. This helps prevent identity theft.
13
Set up mail forwarding. Visit the post office or USPS.com to forward mail from your loved one’s address to yours.
Months Two and Three
14
Transfer or close utility accounts. Electric, gas, water, internet, phone — transfer to a surviving resident or cancel.
15
Handle vehicle titles. Transfer or sell vehicles. You’ll need the title, death certificate, and possibly probate documents.
16
File the final tax return. A tax return is due for the year of death. Consult a tax preparer if you’re unsure.
17
Handle digital accounts. Social media, email, cloud storage — memorialize, download data, or close each account.
This list has 50–75 tasks in a typical situation. It’s a lot for anyone, especially while grieving. You don’t have to do it alone.
Don’t want to handle this yourself?
Koda Vault handles all of this for you — every phone call, every form, every follow-up. We move at your pace, and we treat your loved one’s affairs with the same care you would.