After Death Checklist: Everything You Need to Do (Printable)
3 sections · Expert-curated · Free
First 24 Hours
Contact hospice nurse or call 911 for pr...
Notify immediate family personally
Contact funeral home for transport
Locate will and legal documents
Secure the home and care for pets
First Week
Order 10-15 certified death certificates
Notify Social Security (1-800-772-1213)
File life insurance claims
Notify employer
Plan memorial or funeral
+1 more
First Month
Open estate bank account
Cancel subscriptions and online accounts
Consult probate attorney
Notify credit bureaus
File final tax return
+2 more
Track your progress — assign tasks, check things off, share with family
Get my planFirst 24 Hours
The most urgent items.
Contact hospice nurse or call 911 for pronouncement
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Notify immediate family personally
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Contact funeral home for transport
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Locate will and legal documents
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Secure the home and care for pets
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
First Week
Time-sensitive but can wait a few days.
Order 10-15 certified death certificates
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Notify Social Security (1-800-772-1213)
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
File life insurance claims
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Notify employer
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Plan memorial or funeral
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Begin notifying financial institutions
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
First Month
Important but less urgent.
Open estate bank account
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Cancel subscriptions and online accounts
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Consult probate attorney
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Notify credit bureaus
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
File final tax return
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Transfer vehicle titles
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Update property deeds
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a time limit for handling estate matters?
While there is no single deadline, many items are time-sensitive. Life insurance claims should be filed promptly, Social Security should be notified within days, and probate should be initiated within a few months.
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