What to do when someone dies

1. 1

   Get a legal pronouncement of death

   Someone with authority must formally declare the death. In a hospital or care facility, staff handle it. If hospice is involved, call them. If the death was unexpected or happened at home without medical supervision, call 911 and follow their guidance.

2. 2

   Arrange transfer into a funeral provider's care

   Once death is pronounced, the body is transferred to a funeral home or crematory. You don't have to choose final arrangements yet — you can authorize a transfer and decide on a service afterward, and you're entitled to compare itemized prices first.

3. 3

   Obtain certified copies of the death certificate

   The funeral director usually files the death certificate and can order certified copies for you. You'll need several certified originals — to close accounts, claim insurance and benefits, and settle the estate. Many families order 10 or more.

4. 4

   Notify Social Security and federal agencies

   The funeral home often reports the death to the Social Security Administration; if not, you must. SSA notifies Medicare. A surviving spouse or dependent may be eligible for a one-time death payment and survivor benefits.

5. 5

   Notify banks, insurers, employers, and others

   Contact the person's bank, credit-card companies, pension and insurance providers, employer, and the credit bureaus (to guard against identity theft). Each has its own process and will usually ask for a certified death certificate.

6. 6

   Find the will and begin settling the estate

   Locate the will and identify the executor. Depending on what the person owned and your state's thresholds, you may need to open probate or use a simplified small-estate process. An attorney can help if the estate is complex.

General guidance, not legal advice. Processes vary by state, county, and circumstance.