What to Do When Someone Dies: A 30-Day Step-by-Step Checklist (2026)

Not Legal Advice. This checklist is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice, not a substitute for an attorney, and not a guarantee of any outcome. Probate laws, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and county. Consult a licensed probate attorney in the jurisdiction where the deceased resided for legal guidance specific to your situation. FinalCostGuide is not a law firm and does not provide legal services.

You Just Lost Someone. Here's What to Do, in Order.

Most people handle funeral arrangements once or twice in a lifetime. The funeral home will guide you, but they're also selling you services. This checklist tells you what's required by law, what's optional, and what nobody tells you until it's too late.

Immediate Steps (First 24 Hours)

1. Pronouncement of Death

If the death occurs at home under hospice care: call the hospice nurse. They will pronounce death and handle the initial paperwork. If the death occurs at home unexpectedly: call 911. Paramedics will attempt resuscitation and, if unsuccessful, the coroner or medical examiner will take jurisdiction. If death occurs in a hospital or nursing facility: the staff handles pronouncement and will ask which funeral home to contact.

Do not move the body before pronouncement. If you call the funeral home before death is legally pronounced, they can't transport. Get the pronouncement first, then call the funeral home.

2. Call the Funeral Home (You Choose — Not the Hospital)

The hospital will offer to "call someone." Politely decline. You have the right to choose your own funeral home. Call 2-3 funeral homes, tell them it's an at-need situation, and ask: (1) What is your direct cremation price? (2) What is your basic services fee? (3) Can you pick up the body now? Write down the answers. The funeral home that answers clearly and doesn't upsell is the one to use. They will arrange transportation of the body — this usually happens within 2-4 hours of the call.

3. Notify Key People

Do NOT post on social media before notifying immediate family and close friends by phone. Call: the person's spouse or partner, children (oldest first), parents, siblings, and employer/supervisor. Ask two people to help with notifications — one for family, one for friends. Delegating this reduces your phone time from 6 hours to 2.

4. Secure the Home and Dependents

If the person lived alone: lock the residence, check for pets or dependents, secure valuables, and check the mailbox (especially if they were hospitalized before death — important bills and notices may have accumulated). If there are minor children or dependent adults in the household: arrange immediate care. If you're the executor or next of kin, you may need to access the home to secure financial documents, will, and insurance policies. Bring a second person as witness.

Week 1: Legal & Funeral Arrangements

5. Obtain Death Certificates (Order 10-15 Copies)

The funeral home typically files the death certificate with the state vital records office within 5 days and orders certified copies for you. You need more copies than you think — every financial institution, insurance company, and government agency wants a certified copy. Order 10-15 copies upfront. Cost: $15-30 per copy depending on state. Do not order fewer than 10. If you run out later, ordering replacements from vital records takes 2-6 weeks.

6. Locate the Will and Identify the Executor

Find the original will. Common locations: home safe, safety deposit box (you may need a court order to access), attorney's office, or filed with the county probate court. If there's no will (intestate), state law determines who inherits and who has authority to handle affairs. The executor named in the will has legal authority to act once the will is admitted to probate — this can take weeks, so immediate funeral decisions are usually made by next of kin.

7. Make Funeral/Cremation Decisions (Within 3-5 Days)

You don't need to decide everything on day one, but you should decide within 3-5 days. The funeral home will hold the body in refrigeration during this period. Key decisions: cremation or burial? Viewing/visitation? Religious service? Memorial service later? Budget: what can the estate or family afford? You are not required to buy a package. The FTC Funeral Rule gives you the right to select only the services you want, item by item.

8. Arrange the Service

Choose date, time, and location. If the person was religious, contact their clergy — they handle many funeral logistics and can advise on religious requirements. If secular, a funeral celebrant or a family member can officiate. Write the obituary: newspapers charge $200-800 depending on length and circulation. A shorter obituary with a link to a memorial website where people can leave tributes is increasingly common and saves money.

Week 2: Financial & Administrative Tasks

9. Notify Social Security

The funeral home usually reports the death to Social Security as part of their service. If not, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213. The surviving spouse may be eligible for a $255 lump-sum death benefit. If the deceased was receiving benefits, stop payment immediately — SSA will reclaim any payments issued after the date of death.

10. Contact Life Insurance Companies

Locate all life insurance policies. Check: employer benefits (group life insurance is common), mortgage or credit card protection insurance (often forgotten), and any policies purchased individually. Call each insurer with the policy number and certified death certificate. Payout typically takes 2-4 weeks. File claims even if the policy seems small — they add up.

11. Stop or Transfer Recurring Payments & Services

Cancel or transfer: utilities (electric, gas, water, internet, phone), subscriptions (streaming, magazines, gym), credit cards, and auto-payments linked to the deceased's bank account. If the account was joint, the surviving account holder can handle this. If sole-owned, the executor handles after probate opens. Notify USPS to forward mail to the executor's address using a Change of Address request (requires proof of executor authority).

12. Contact Employer & Pension Administrators

The employer's HR department will need a death certificate and will process: final paycheck (including accrued but unused vacation/PTO), 401(k) or pension benefits, stock options or equity grants, and COBRA health insurance continuation for dependents. Ask about any life insurance through the employer. Pension benefits may take 2-3 months to process — start early.

13. File Veterans Benefits Claim (If Applicable)

If the deceased was a veteran with a discharge other than dishonorable: contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000. Benefits include: free burial at a VA national cemetery, free headstone or marker, burial flag, Presidential Memorial Certificate, and a burial allowance of $300-$2,000 depending on circumstances. The funeral director can assist with the cemetery scheduling (1-800-535-1117) and the burial allowance application (VA Form 21P-530). Veterans' spouses and dependent children are also eligible for burial alongside the veteran.

Weeks 3-4: Estate & Long-Term Tasks

14. Open Probate (If Required)

Probate is the legal process of validating the will and transferring assets. Not all estates require probate — it depends on asset types, total value, and state law. Small estates may qualify for simplified procedures. Jointly-owned assets, payable-on-death accounts, and assets with named beneficiaries generally bypass probate. Consult a probate attorney to determine whether probate is needed. Attorney fees: typically $2,000-5,000 for simple estates, more for complex or contested cases. The executor should file the will with the county probate court within 30 days of death (deadline varies by state — check your county's requirement).

15. Handle Vehicle, Real Estate & Digital Assets

Transfer vehicle title through the DMV (process varies by state — some allow transfer by affidavit, others require probate). Notify mortgage lender and property insurer — the surviving spouse may need to assume or refinance the mortgage. Cancel or memorialize social media accounts (Facebook allows memorialization; Instagram/Twitter do not — executor must request deletion). Access email accounts: Gmail and Apple have processes for accessing a deceased person's account with proof of death and executor authority. Close or transfer domain names and hosting accounts.

16. File Final Tax Returns

The executor must file: the deceased's final federal and state income tax returns (due April 15 of the year after death). If the estate generates income during probate, the executor must also file an estate income tax return (Form 1041). Most estates don't owe federal estate tax — the 2026 exemption is approximately $14 million per individual. State estate taxes may apply at lower thresholds in some states.

What You Can Ignore (Common Upsells)

• Embalming: No state requires embalming for burial or cremation under normal circumstances. The funeral home cannot claim embalming is "required by law" unless specific conditions apply (communicable disease, transport across state lines by common carrier). Refrigeration is a legal and less expensive alternative.
• Sealed caskets or gasketed caskets: These are marketed as "protective" but serve no legal or practical purpose. A standard casket costs $1,200-2,500. A gasketed "protective" casket costs $3,000-10,000+ and does not preserve the body — it just costs more.
• Funeral insurance sold at the funeral home: You are grieving. You are not in a position to evaluate an insurance policy. Say no. You can always buy one later if you decide it makes sense.
• Package deals: Funeral homes often package services at a "discount" — but the package includes items you may not want. The FTC Funeral Rule gives you the right to buy services individually. Ask for the itemized General Price List and select only what you need.

Quick Reference: Who to Call

Reminder: State laws vary. Deadlines for filing a will, opening probate, and claiming benefits differ by jurisdiction. Use this checklist as a starting point, then confirm specific requirements with the county probate court and a licensed attorney in the state where the deceased lived. The FTC Funeral Rule applies in all 50 states — but state consumer protection laws may provide additional rights beyond the federal minimum.

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