What to Do When Someone Dies

There's no need to do everything at once. These are the few things that genuinely can't wait — the rest of this guide will still be here when you're ready for it.

• Order certified copies of the death certificate

  Ask the funeral home to order 10–15 certified copies on your behalf — this is usually the fastest way. Nearly every step after this one requires an original certified copy, not a photocopy.

  See exact costs and ordering steps for your state →

• Notify Social Security

  If the person who died was receiving Social Security, the agency needs to know. Funeral homes often report this automatically — ask if they already have.

• Locate the will and estate planning documents

  Check a home safe, a filing cabinet, or the attorney who prepared it. The Executor (the person named to manage the estate) is usually named on the first page.

• Secure the home and property

  Lock up the house, car, and any valuables. If the home will sit empty for a while, ask a neighbor to keep an eye on it and consider stopping mail delivery temporarily.

• Notify close family and friends

  There's no right order for this. Start with whoever needs to know first, and let the rest happen at whatever pace feels manageable.

• Arrange funeral, burial, or cremation

  If there's a pre-paid plan or written wishes, the funeral home can walk you through them. If not, they'll help you decide what's needed.

Once the immediate arrangements are handled, this is where the paperwork starts. None of it needs to happen today — working through it a little at a time is enough.

• Check for survivor benefits

  A spouse or dependent children may be eligible for ongoing Social Security survivor benefits, separate from the notification above. It's worth checking even if you're not sure.

• Handle any Social Security overpayment

  Social Security payments aren't owed for the month of death. If a payment already arrived for that month, it typically needs to be returned — the agency can walk you through how.

• Find out if probate is required

  Probate (the court process for settling an estate) isn't always necessary — it depends on the state, how assets were titled, and whether there's a trust. This is worth confirming early since it shapes almost everything else.

• File the will with the probate court

  If probate applies, the original will is typically filed with the probate court in the county where the person lived — this is what allows an Executor to formally act on the estate's behalf.

• Redirect the mail

  A mail forward to the Executor's address makes it much easier to catch bills, statements, and notices that would otherwise be missed.

• Notify banks, insurers, and the employer

  This is the part that usually takes the most time — and it's exactly what Estate Assist automates. Once you upload a bank statement or policy, this checklist grows to include the specific institution, with a drafted letter ready to send.

• Cancel subscriptions and memberships

  Streaming services, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions — small recurring charges are easy to overlook. A recent bank or credit card statement is usually the fastest way to find them all.

Settling an estate takes time — often the better part of a year, sometimes longer. This is the paperwork that closes things out properly, not a race against the clock.

• Petition the court for Letters Testamentary

  Letters Testamentary (a court document proving someone has authority to act for the estate) are usually required before banks and other institutions will work with the Executor directly.

• Publish a notice to creditors

  Many states require a public notice — often in a local newspaper — giving creditors a window to make claims against the estate. The probate court can confirm what's required.

• Inventory the estate's assets

  A complete list of accounts, property, and belongings, often required by the probate court and always useful for the Executor's own records.

• File final tax returns

  A final personal income tax return is generally required for the year of death, and the estate itself may need to file its own return depending on its income and value. A tax professional can confirm what applies.

• Distribute assets to beneficiaries

  Once debts, taxes, and court requirements are settled, remaining assets are distributed according to the will — or state law, if there wasn't one.

• Close the estate

  A final accounting to the court (in states that require it) formally closes the estate and ends the Executor's responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions