Checklist
What to do when someone dies
If someone has just died, you don't have to figure out everything at once. Almost nothing has to happen tonight. This is the order most families move through — the urgent few things first, then the rest as you have the energy. Breathe; take it one line at a time.
In the first hours
What's needed first depends on where the death happened. If it was expected and at home under hospice care, call the hospice line — not 911. If it was unexpected, call 911.
- Get a legal pronouncement of death (hospice nurse, hospice line, or 911 / emergency services)
- If they wished to donate organs or tissue, mention it right away — timing matters
- Notify the closest family members and one or two people who can help you make calls
- Arrange transport of the body to a funeral home or crematory when you're ready — there is rarely a rush
In the first day or two
Now the practical decisions begin. Bring in a trusted friend or family member; you do not have to do this alone.
- Decide on cremation or burial, and choose a funeral home or crematory
- Look for any written wishes, a pre-paid plan, or a will
- Secure the home, pets, and any property left unattended
- Begin planning the service, or decide to hold off on it for now
Within the first week
These steps protect the estate and start the official notifications. The funeral home can help with several of them.
- Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate
- Write the obituary and notify wider family, friends, and the employer
- Notify Social Security (a funeral home often reports the death, but confirm it was done)
- Hold the service, memorial, or gathering if you're having one
In the weeks after
There's no deadline on most of this. Pace yourself — a little each day is plenty.
- Contact life-insurance companies and any pension or benefits providers
- Notify banks, the mortgage or landlord, utilities, and credit-card companies
- Begin probate or estate settlement with the executor or an attorney if needed
- Cancel subscriptions, memberships, and close or memorialize online accounts
- Give yourself permission to grieve, and accept the help people offer
See also
Maintained by Calla Editorial. These templates and examples are general information, not legal or financial advice, and any sample names are fictional. See our editorial standards.