When someone you love dies, the last thing you want to think about is paperwork. But there are things that need to happen — some immediately, some within a few weeks, some within a few months. Knowing what they are, even roughly, can take some of the panic out of an already painful time.
This isn’t legal advice for your specific situation. Every family is different. But this is a general roadmap for the practical and legal steps that typically need to happen after a death, organized by timeframe so you can focus on what matters now and come back to the rest later.
The first 24–48 hours
Right now, you’re in crisis mode. That’s okay. Focus on the immediate necessities and give yourself permission to handle everything else later.
Notify close family and friends
This comes first. Delegate if you can — ask one trusted person to make calls so you don’t have to tell the story twenty times.
Contact a funeral home
If the death occurred at a hospital or care facility, they can help coordinate this. If the person had pre-arranged funeral plans, locate those documents. If not, the funeral home will walk you through the decisions that need to be made.
Obtain death certificates
The funeral home typically handles this. Order more copies than you think you need — at least 10 to 15. Every bank, insurance company, retirement account, and government agency will want a certified copy. Running out and ordering more later is a hassle you don’t need.
Secure the home and property
If the person lived alone, make sure the home is locked and secure. Check that utilities are still on, perishable food is handled, and any pets are being cared for. Collect any mail — bills and financial statements will start arriving, and you’ll need them later.
Give yourself grace. You do not need to do everything on this list right now. The legal and financial steps can wait a few days. Take care of yourself and your family first.
The first 1–2 weeks
Locate the estate planning documents
Look for a will, trust, powers of attorney, and any letter of instruction. Check the person’s home (a safe, filing cabinet, or desk), their attorney’s office, or a safe deposit box. If there’s a trust, the successor trustee named in the trust document is the person who takes over management of the trust assets.
Identify the executor or trustee
The will names an executor (sometimes called a “personal representative”). The trust names a successor trustee. These may be the same person or different people. This person has legal authority to act on behalf of the estate — but they may need to be formally appointed by the court (for a will) or simply step into the role (for a trust).
Contact the person’s attorney
If the person had an estate planning attorney, contact them. They’ll have copies of the documents and can advise the executor or trustee on next steps. If the person didn’t have an attorney, the executor may want to consult one — especially if the estate is going through probate.
Notify the person’s employer
If the person was employed, contact their employer’s HR department. Ask about any final paycheck, accrued vacation pay, life insurance through the employer, retirement accounts (401k, pension), and continuation of health insurance for dependents (COBRA).
Notify Social Security
If the person was receiving Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration needs to be notified. The funeral home may do this automatically, but confirm. A surviving spouse may be eligible for survivor benefits.
The first 1–3 months
Notify financial institutions
Contact every bank, investment firm, retirement account custodian, and insurance company where the person held accounts. Each will have its own process for handling accounts after a death — most will require a certified death certificate and proof that you’re the executor, trustee, or beneficiary.
File life insurance claims
If the person had life insurance (individual or through an employer), contact the insurance company to file a claim. You’ll need the policy number and a death certificate. Life insurance generally pays out within a few weeks of a valid claim.
Notify credit card companies and lenders
Contact credit card companies, mortgage lenders, auto loan holders, and any other creditors. Some debts are forgiven at death. Some are the responsibility of the estate. Some may be the responsibility of a co-signer or surviving spouse. Don’t assume you personally owe a deceased person’s debts — the rules vary by state and by type of debt.
Be cautious with debt collectors. After a death, some creditors or collection agencies may contact family members and imply that they’re personally responsible for the deceased person’s debts. In many cases, this isn’t true. The estate may owe the debt, but you personally may not. If you’re unsure, consult an attorney before making any payments.
Begin the probate process (if needed)
If the person had a will but no trust — or if there are assets that weren’t held in a trust — those assets typically go through probate. The executor files the will with the probate court, the court appoints the executor, creditors are notified, and eventually the court authorizes distribution of assets to the beneficiaries. This process takes months, sometimes longer.
If the person had a funded trust, the assets in the trust avoid probate entirely. The successor trustee distributes them according to the trust terms without court involvement.
Cancel subscriptions and recurring charges
Go through the person’s bank and credit card statements to identify recurring charges — subscriptions, memberships, streaming services, insurance premiums, gym memberships. Cancel everything that’s no longer needed. This is tedious but important — charges can accumulate for months if nobody catches them.
File a final tax return
A final federal and state income tax return needs to be filed for the year of death. This covers income earned from January 1 through the date of death. If the estate generates income after the date of death (investment earnings, rental income), a separate estate tax return may also be required. A CPA or tax professional can help with this.
The first 6–12 months
Distribute assets according to the plan
Once debts are settled, taxes are filed, and any probate proceedings are complete, the executor or trustee distributes the remaining assets to the beneficiaries. If there’s a trust, this can happen relatively quickly. If there’s only a will, distribution happens after the probate court approves it.
Transfer titles and deeds
Real property, vehicles, and other titled assets need to be formally transferred to the new owners. For real estate, this typically requires a new deed. For vehicles, contact your state’s DMV. For investment and bank accounts, the financial institution handles the transfer based on the beneficiary designations or the executor’s/trustee’s instructions.
Close remaining accounts
Once all assets have been distributed and all obligations met, close the deceased person’s remaining bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial accounts. Notify the credit bureaus to prevent identity theft. Cancel the driver’s license and passport.
A note on grief
This checklist is about logistics. It’s not about the grief, which is its own process and doesn’t follow a checklist or a timeline. You don’t have to be strong. You don’t have to handle everything yourself. Delegate what you can. Ask for help. Hire professionals where it makes sense. The paperwork will get done. Take care of yourself first.
If the person who died had a good estate plan in place — a trust, a will, powers of attorney, updated beneficiary designations — the practical side of this process is significantly easier and faster. If they didn’t, it’s harder and more expensive, but it still gets done. Either way, you’ll get through it.
