Steps to Take After a Parent Dies: What to Do First
3 sections · Expert-curated · Free
Immediately After
Call the funeral home or hospice nurse
Notify siblings and close family persona...
Find the will and any pre-planned funera...
Secure their home and care for pets
Within the First Week
Order 10+ certified death certificates
Notify Social Security (1-800-772-1213)
Contact life insurance companies
Notify their employer
Plan the memorial or funeral
Within the First Month
Open an estate bank account
Cancel subscriptions and online accounts
Consult a probate attorney if needed
Notify credit bureaus
Start gathering tax documents
Track your progress — assign tasks, check things off, share with family
Get my planImmediately After
Take a breath. You do not need to do everything today.
Call the funeral home or hospice nurse
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Notify siblings and close family personally
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Find the will and any pre-planned funeral arrangements
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Secure their home and care for pets
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Within the First Week
These are time-sensitive but can wait a few days.
Order 10+ 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.
Contact life insurance companies
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Notify their employer
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Plan the memorial or funeral
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Within the First Month
Handle these as you have energy and capacity.
Open an 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 a probate attorney if needed
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.
Start gathering tax documents
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first thing to do when a parent dies?
If they were on hospice, call the hospice nurse. Otherwise, call 911 or their doctor. Then notify your siblings and closest family members personally before posting anything on social media.
How do I access my parent's bank accounts after death?
You will need a certified death certificate and documentation showing you are the executor or administrator of the estate. Contact the bank directly — each institution has its own process.
You don’t have to figure this out alone
Get a personalized, interactive checklist that tracks your progress and lets you assign tasks to family members. Free to start.
Start your personalized plan