What to Do When a Family Member Dies
The death of a family member is something most people don’t plan for. It’s tragic and deeply emotional—but knowing what comes next can reduce stress and help you focus on mourning and honoring your loved one.
What to do when a family member dies: right away checklist
Below is a straightforward checklist of actions to take after a loved one passes. Take what you can, one item at a time.
- Contact family members and other close people who should know immediately.
- If your late family member had dependents, contact the person set up as the child’s guardian.
- Begin making plans for the remains of the deceased.
- Contact official agencies that should know of the passing, such as the post office, the Social Security Administration, and banks or creditors.
- Begin planning a funeral or memorial service if you would like to do so—and ask for assistance if you need it. Managing everything on your own is difficult.
- Contact the paper and prepare an obituary to let the community know.
- Locate your loved one’s will and prepare for settling the estate.
Turn decisions into a plan
When you’re ready, you can start turning key decisions into a step-by-step plan—remains, service, and obituary.
- Remains: Begin making plans for the remains of the deceased.
- Service: If you want a funeral or memorial service, begin planning it. It’s okay to get help—planning and logistics can feel overwhelming while you’re grieving.
- Obituary: Contact the paper to develop and publish an obituary so your community knows about the passing.
Notify important agencies and institutions
As part of the early process, it can help to notify key organizations that keep records tied to your loved one.
- Post office
- Social Security Administration
- Banks or creditors
Settling an estate: practical overview
Settling an estate can be confusing—especially while you’re grieving. These are core steps to consider once you’ve located the will.
Key steps
- Once you have located the will, identify the chief executor.
- Contact the beneficiaries identified in the will.
- Locate important legal documents of the deceased, such as their birth certificate, marriage certificates, Social Security card, and death certificate.
- Develop a list of the deceased’s assets and locate related paperwork (for example, mortgages).
- Speak with a tax advisor about any tax steps necessary in settling the estate.
- Contact the life insurance company to begin the collection process.
- After these steps are underway, you can begin distributing assets.
Common questions
Here are answers to some of the most common planning and estate questions people have during this time.
Should we contact someone designated for dependents right away?
Yes. If your late family member had dependents, the guidance is to contact the person set up as the child’s guardian.
Who should we notify about the passing?
In addition to family and close contacts, the checklist includes contacting official agencies that should know, such as the post office, the Social Security Administration, and banks or creditors.
When should funeral or memorial planning begin?
Begin making plans for a funeral or memorial service if that’s what you want. The page also emphasizes that it’s okay to ask for assistance, because it’s extremely difficult to manage everything alone.
What documents are helpful for settling an estate?
The page specifically suggests locating legal documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificates, Social Security card, and death certificate, along with the will and related paperwork for assets.
Do we need a tax advisor?
The checklist includes speaking with a tax advisor to understand any tax steps necessary in settling the estate.