Someone died. What do I do now?
A calm, step-by-step guide for the person handling things — in plain words, free, no sign-up.
First: take a breath. We're so sorry you're here. This guide walks you through everything, one step at a time — and very little has to happen today. You cannot mess this up.
Before anything else — three things NOT to do
- Don't wipe, reset, trade in, or return their phone. It is the key to almost every account they had.
- Don't cancel their phone plan for at least 6 months. Banks and email send security codes as texts to that number.
- Don't close their email accounts. Email is the master key for resetting everything else, and where the bills arrive.
The most expensive mistakes after a death happen in week one, with the best intentions.
Right now — the first 24 hours
Very little has to happen today. Here is all of it.
Get an official pronouncement of death
If they were in a hospital or hospice, the staff handles this. If it happened unexpectedly at home, call 911. Nothing official can happen without it.
Check their organ donor wishes
The one truly time-sensitive decision — hours matter.
Tell the closest family members
You don't have to call everyone — ask each person to tell one more.
Make sure pets and dependents are cared for
Someone needs food and a safe place tonight.
Lock up their home and car if they'll sit empty
Sadly, homes of the recently deceased get targeted.
Find any funeral wishes they left — but don't book anything yet
Just so nothing gets decided that contradicts what they wanted.
You do NOT need to call banks, pay bills, or find paperwork today.
The first few days
Choose a funeral home
Bring their wishes with you if you have them — it makes every decision easier and keeps costs grounded.
Order 10–15 death certificates through the funeral home
Notify their employer, close friends, faith community
The employer also starts any final-pay and benefits process.
Start keeping every receipt
The estate often reimburses funeral and related costs.
Write the obituary when you're ready
There is no deadline. It can wait until after the hardest days.
The first two weeks
Locate the will
It names the executor — the person legally in charge from here.
Contact their attorney, or one of your choosing
The executor doesn't have to know the law — that's the attorney's job.
Notify Social Security (1-800-772-1213) and any pension
Stops overpayments the estate would have to return, and starts survivor benefits. Have a death certificate copy ready.
Start life insurance claims
Payouts can take weeks — starting early helps the family's finances.
Keep a log of every call you make
Who you talked to, when, what they said. Future-you will be grateful.
The first month
Bills triage — KEEP paying these
Mortgage or rent, utilities, home and car insurance. Letting these lapse causes real, expensive damage.
Bills triage — CANCEL these
Subscriptions, memberships, streaming. Their bank statements are the easiest way to find them all.
Notify their banks and credit card companies
Go through the executor and do it officially — don't just log in.
Notify the credit bureaus
One call each to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Identity thieves target the recently deceased, and no grieving family expects it.
DMV and voter registration
Cancels the license — an identity-theft risk — and the registration.
Months two to six
Probate, if required
The court process that makes the will official. It is slow for everyone — that's normal, not a problem. Anything with a named beneficiary (retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death bank accounts) skips it entirely.
Final tax return
Files next April; the estate's accountant or attorney handles specifics.
Claim retirement accounts and beneficiary payouts
401(k)s, IRAs, and POD accounts pass directly to named beneficiaries.
Transfer titles — house, cars
The attorney guides this; it usually waits for probate.
Memorialize or close digital accounts
Apple and Google have official legacy processes (death certificate required). No rush — do this when it feels right.
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