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What to do when someone dies in United States

When someone dies in the United States, a doctor or medical examiner confirms the death, notify a funeral home, and request death certificates from the vital records office.

Some steps differ by region inside the country.

Immediate, First 24-48 Hours

  1. Arrange funeral, burial, or cremation, follow written wishes if available and review any prepaid funeral or cemetery contracts
  2. Notify close family and friends; secure the home, vehicles, and valuables
  3. Request official death certificates from the state or local vital-records office where the death occurred. Ask each institution which copies it needs; New York City has a separate office.
  4. Notify the deceased's employer; ask about group life insurance, final pay, and 401(k) beneficiary contacts
  5. Locate the original will and any trust documents, the executor named in the will will lead probate, if required

Week 1

  1. Report the death to the Social Security Administration (often handled by the funeral home, but verify), survivor benefits may apply for spouses and eligible dependents
  2. Contact banks, brokerages, and credit card issuers with a certified death certificate; ask what the institution needs from the probate court or trustee
  3. Check whether probate, a trust process or a simplified transfer is required. Use the selected state’s court route to confirm the appropriate county, forms, notices and waiting periods before filing; this is not a universal first-week deadline.
  4. Notify life, health, auto, and homeowners insurers; start claims with policy numbers if you have them
  5. List recurring payments and use each provider’s deceased-customer process. Preserve necessary insurance and utilities, and confirm authority before accessing accounts or cancelling services.

Month 1

  1. Work with the executor and a probate or estate attorney on inventorying assets, debts, and beneficiary designations (401(k), IRA, POD/TOD accounts often pass outside the will)
  2. Notify the IRS; file the final individual income tax return and, if required, obtain an estate EIN and meet estate or trust filing obligations
  3. Transfer vehicle titles through your state DMV with death certificate and probate or affidavit documents as your state requires
  4. Update property deeds, mortgages, and homeowners insurance if ownership or occupancy changes
  5. If more copies are needed, order from the vital-records office for the place of death, not automatically the deceased’s home state.

Ongoing, Estate Administration

  1. Settle debts and taxes according to state law and court direction; keep the estate account separate from personal funds
  2. Distribute assets per the will, trust, and beneficiary designations once the probate court approves or trust terms allow
  3. Close probate with the court when the estate is ready, timelines vary widely by state and complexity
  4. Seek grief support (counseling, GriefShare, faith communities), practical tasks and emotional healing both take time

Finding their documents

  1. Emergency contacts
  2. Advance directives
  3. Healthcare proxy
  4. HIPAA authorizations
  5. Medical history
  6. Device access
  7. Password manager
  8. Financial portals
  9. Subscription autopay
  10. Wills
  11. Trusts
  12. Financial power of attorney
  13. Letter of instruction
  14. Social Security cards and info
  15. Birth certificates
  16. Passports
  17. Drivers licenses
  18. Marriage divorce
  19. Bank accounts
  20. Retirement accounts
  21. Brokerage investments
  22. Tax returns irs
  23. Debts, loans and liens
  24. Life insurance
  25. Health insurance
  26. Homeowners renters
  27. Auto insurance
  28. Umbrella ltc
  29. Deeds
  30. Vehicle titles
  31. Mortgage servicer
  32. Leases storage
  33. Business documents
  34. Digital legacy accounts

This is practical information, not legal, medical, or financial advice.

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