What to do when someone dies.

If you’re reading this, chances are someone you love just died. We’re sorry. And we know you don’t have time for fluff.

Need a one-page printable summary of the most urgent tasks? See our postmortem most important guide — the things that must happen first, on a single page.

The first steps are: have the death officially pronounced, notify immediate family, secure the home and belongings, and contact a funeral home or cremation provider. In the days that follow, order 5-10 certified death certificates, locate the will, and notify the employer.

After interviewing 200+ families, we found that every family, regardless of estate size, faces 100+ of the same core tasks. You don’t have to do all of this today. You just have to do the next thing.

First 24 hours

These are the only things that need to happen today. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.

Get the death officially pronounced

If they died in a hospital or hospice, staff will handle this. At home, call 911 or hospice. The pronouncement unlocks every form, certificate, and account closure that follows.

Notify immediate family

You don’t have to call everyone. Pick one or two people who can help you call others. A short text is fine.

Contact a funeral home or cremation provider

They will pick up the body and walk you through next steps. You do not have to make every decision on this call. Start the conversation.

Secure the home and belongings

Lock the door. Bring in mail. If they lived alone, ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on the property. Don’t move valuables yet; you may need an inventory later.

Care for dependents and pets

Children, an aging spouse, or pets need someone watching them today. Ask one person to own this task.

Eat something. Sleep if you can.

The next 12 months are a marathon. You will be making financial and legal decisions on very little sleep. Protect your body now.

First week

This is the funeral and paperwork sprint. Keep a notebook. Write down every person you talk to, what they told you, and the date.

• Order 5-10 certified death certificates.
• Locate the will and any estate documents.
• Plan the funeral or memorial service.
• Write and submit the obituary, if you want one.
• Notify their employer.
• Notify Social Security, if applicable.
• Notify the VA, if they were a veteran.
• Forward mail and pause subscriptions.
• Lock down digital accounts.
• Make a list of everyone who needs to be told.

First month

This is when probate begins and the financial picture starts to come into focus.

• File the will with the probate court.
• Hire a probate or estate attorney when needed.
• Open an estate bank account.
• Notify all banks and credit unions.
• Notify the three credit bureaus.
• Cancel credit cards and pay final balances from estate funds.
• File life insurance claims.
• Notify retirement accounts and pensions.
• Cancel health insurance and Medicare when appropriate.
• Cancel driver’s license and voter registration.
• Inventory the assets.
• Notify mortgage lenders and other lenders.

First 3 months

Probate is now in motion. Creditors get notified, the estate starts paying bills, and you find out what you actually inherit.

• Publish creditor notice, if required.
• Pay valid debts from the estate.
• Transfer or sell vehicles.
• Address real estate.
• Sort through belongings.
• Cancel utilities and services when ready.
• Refile jointly owned property in the survivor’s name.
• Update beneficiaries on your own accounts.
• Update your own will and estate plan.
• Find a grief support resource.

First year

Most of the heavy lifting is done. This phase is taxes, distributions, and closing the estate.

• File the final personal tax return.
• File the estate income tax return, Form 1041, if the estate earned $600 or more.
• File an estate tax return only for very large estates or state-specific estate tax rules.
• Distribute assets to beneficiaries.
• File final accounting with the court.
• Close the estate bank account.
• Keep all records for 7 years.
• Mark the anniversary the way you want.
• Write down what you learned for the next person.

You did it. We’re sorry it fell to you. We’re glad you’re still here.

Related guides

This checklist is the entry point. These guides cover the next questions most families hit, in roughly the order you will hit them.

• Estate Settlement Checklist — the executor roadmap from day one to closing the estate, including probate, debts, and final distribution.
• How Many Death Certificates Do I Need — the exact number to order, what a certified copy means, and why reordering later is a pain.
• How to Notify Social Security of a Death — who reports the death, what you need, and what happens to benefits next.
• Accounts to Close After Death — bank accounts, credit cards, subscriptions, and what not to close too soon.
• Do I Need Probate — a plain guide to when probate is required and when an estate can skip it.
• Probate Timeline: How Long It Takes — what happens from filing to final distribution, and where delays usually happen.
• What to Do If There Is No Will — what intestacy (dying without a will) means, who has authority, and what steps come first.
• Executor FAQ — answers to the most common questions people hit when they have been named executor.
• What to Do After Someone Dies in Texas — the Texas-specific version of this checklist, including county-by-county filings and Texas probate options.

Frequently asked questions

What is the very first thing to do when someone dies?

Get the death officially pronounced. If the person died in a hospital, hospice, or under medical care, the staff will handle this. If they died at home without hospice, call 911. The pronouncement unlocks every death certificate, account closure, and filing that comes next.

Do I need a lawyer or probate attorney right away?

Not usually. Most of the first 24 hours is paperwork, not law. You will likely need an attorney when you file the will with the probate court, when the estate includes real estate or a business, or if a beneficiary disagrees with the plan. See our Executor FAQ for the full breakdown.

How many death certificates do I need?

Most families need 5 to 10 certified copies. Banks, insurers, courts, and government offices usually want originals and do not return them. Order more than you think you need — reordering later is slower and costs more. Our death certificate guide walks through the math.

Does every estate have to go through probate?

No. Whether probate is required depends on state law, the size of the estate, how accounts are owned, whether assets have named beneficiaries, and whether there is a trust. Our guide on whether you need probate walks through when it is required and when it is not.

What if there is no will?

If there is no will, state intestacy law (the rules that decide who inherits when there is no will) decides who handles the estate and who inherits. A court will usually appoint an administrator, often the closest next of kin, to act in place of an executor. Our guide on what to do if there is no will covers the steps in order.

How long does it take to settle an estate?

Most estates take 6 to 18 months to settle. Simple estates with no real estate, no disputes, and small balances can close in a few months. Complex estates with property, businesses, taxes, or family disagreements can take longer. Our probate timeline guide shows the typical stages and where delays happen.