What to do when someone dies

Part 1: The first 72 hours

The hours right after someone dies are overwhelming. Most people have never been through this before, and there is no obvious first step. Here is what actually needs to happen, in roughly the right order.

Who handles the immediate situation

If the death happened at home and was expected (because of illness, hospice care, or old age), call the person's doctor or hospice provider first. They will either come to the home to pronounce the death or authorize a pronouncement by phone. A nurse or hospice worker can often handle this.

If the death was sudden, unexpected, or unattended (no one was present), call 911. Police may be required to respond for any sudden or unexplained death, and the medical examiner or coroner may become involved. This does not necessarily mean anything is wrong; it is standard procedure in most states.

Once the death has been pronounced, a funeral home can take over. You do not need to decide anything immediately. The body can remain in the home for several hours if you need time with your loved one before they are moved.

Getting started with a funeral home

You do not need to call the first funeral home you think of, and you do not need to call immediately. When you are ready, you will want to contact a licensed funeral home. They will transport the body, handle the death certificate paperwork, and guide you through the immediate decisions: burial or cremation, whether to embalm, and arrangements for a service or memorial.

Funeral homes are required by law (the FTC Funeral Rule) to give you itemized pricing over the phone. You have the right to shop around. You are also not required to purchase a casket or urn from the funeral home. You can buy one separately and they must accept it.

Who to call first

After the funeral home, the next calls depend on your family situation. A general order that works for most families:

• Immediate family members who do not already know
• The person's employer, if they were still working. Most employers have bereavement policies and will need to know quickly
• Close friends or a religious leader if applicable
• The executor of the estate, if that person is not already involved

You do not need to notify banks, Social Security, government agencies, or subscription services yet. Those calls come in the following weeks and require the death certificate first.

What not to do right away

Well-meaning family members sometimes take actions in the first 72 hours that create problems later. Avoid these:

• Do not cancel bank accounts, credit cards, or any financial accounts yet. Bills may still need to be paid from these accounts during estate administration.
• Do not post on social media before all immediate family members have been personally notified. This is one of the most common sources of family conflict after a loss.
• Do not rush to divide or distribute personal belongings. Even if a will seems clear, personal property distribution should wait until after legal guidance.
• Do not pay off debts from personal funds if you are not legally responsible for them. Many debts die with the person and do not need to be paid by the family.
• Do not throw away any mail. Financial statements, government notices, and account information will arrive by mail for months after the death.

Practical matters

If your loved one lived alone, someone will need to secure the home: locking doors, pausing mail or setting up forwarding, and making sure perishable food is dealt with. If there are pets, arrange care now.

If your loved one was receiving home care, let the agency know so they can cancel future visits.

The first 72 hours, organized.

Everyone knows what they're handling.

Part 2: The first two weeks

The death certificate

The death certificate is the most important document you will deal with. Almost everything else depends on it. Your funeral home will prepare it and file it with the state, but you need to request certified copies (not photocopies, but official certified versions with a raised seal or stamp).

How many do you need? More than you think. Plan on ordering at least 10 to 15 certified copies. Each institution that holds an asset will typically require its own original copy. Banks, brokerages, mortgage lenders, life insurance companies, pension administrators, Social Security, the VA, and probate court will each want one. Getting additional copies later costs more money and takes more time.

The funeral home will usually order them for you from the state vital records office. You can also order additional copies directly from your state's vital records office, though wait times vary.

Where you'll need certified copies

The 10–15 copy recommendation can feel arbitrary until you see the list. Here is where certified copies typically go:

• Each bank or credit union where accounts were held
• Life insurance companies — each policy requires its own copy
• Employer benefits office (for final paycheck, group life insurance, pension)
• Pension administrator or 401(k) plan
• Investment firms and brokerage accounts
• Social Security Administration
• Veterans Affairs (if applicable)
• Probate court when opening the estate
• DMV or vehicle title office to transfer or retitle vehicles
• Mortgage lender if there is real estate
• County recorder (in some states, required for property transfers)

Order copies upfront — getting them later from the state vital records office takes longer and costs more than ordering through the funeral home at the time of death.

One certificate. Eleven institutions need it.

Every institution gets a task. Nothing slips.

Funeral and burial decisions

If there were no pre-arrangements, your family will need to make several decisions together. The main options:

• Traditional burial: The body is preserved through embalming (optional), held in a casket, and buried in a cemetery. Costs vary widely by location and choices but typically run $8,000 to $15,000 or more.
• Cremation: The body is reduced to ashes, which are returned to the family. Cremation is significantly less expensive than burial. A simple cremation often costs $1,500 to $5,000, and adding a viewing and service costs more. Families can still hold a memorial service.
• Green or natural burial: The body is buried without embalming chemicals or a traditional casket, in a biodegradable container. Regulations vary by state.
• Body donation to science: Some medical schools and research institutions accept donated bodies. This must typically be arranged in advance. The institution usually returns the cremated remains to the family after research is complete.

Whatever the choice, a memorial service does not have to happen immediately. Many families hold services weeks or even months after the death when out-of-town family can gather.

Notifying government agencies

The most time-sensitive government notifications:

• Social Security Administration: Notify SSA as soon as possible. If the person was receiving Social Security benefits, payments must stop. Any payment for the month of death or later must be returned. For example, if the person died in July, the payment that arrives in August must be returned. The funeral home often notifies SSA, but confirm this. Call 1-800-772-1213.
• Medicare: SSA will typically notify Medicare. If your loved one had a Medicare Advantage plan, contact the plan directly.
• Veterans Affairs: If your loved one was a veteran, contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000. Surviving family may be entitled to burial benefits, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and other programs. See the military families guide for a full breakdown.
• Employer and pension: Notify the employer immediately. Ask about group life insurance, pension survivor benefits, and final paycheck handling.
• State agencies: Depending on your state, there may be additional notifications required: a state pension, state tax authorities, or a state motor vehicle department to cancel the driver's license. Rules vary significantly by state. Your state's guide covers what applies where you are.

The bank and financial accounts

What happens to bank accounts depends on how they were set up:

• Joint accounts with right of survivorship: Pass directly to the surviving account holder. The surviving owner typically just needs to show the bank a certified death certificate to remove the deceased's name.
• Accounts with a named beneficiary (POD, or payable on death): Also pass outside of probate. The beneficiary presents the death certificate and their own ID to claim the funds.
• Accounts in the deceased's name only: These become part of the estate. The bank will freeze them until a court-appointed executor or administrator presents legal authority (letters testamentary or letters of administration from probate court).

Do not close accounts until you understand which type you are dealing with. Bills may still be paid from these accounts during estate administration.

Part 3: The first 90 days

Probate: what it is and when you need it

Probate is the legal process through which a court validates the will (if there is one), appoints someone to manage the estate, and oversees the distribution of assets. It is handled through your state's probate court (often called surrogate court or orphans' court depending on the state). For a thorough walkthrough of how the process works, the executor's responsibilities, and what families can do to speed things up, see the complete probate guide.

Trust-owned assets can bypass probate entirely.

Your plan adapts automatically.

Most states have simplified procedures for small estates. If the total value of probate assets is below a certain threshold (which varies dramatically by state, from about $15,000 to over $200,000), families can use an affidavit or simplified process instead of formal probate. This is one area where your state's rules matter a lot. See your state guide for the specific threshold and procedure where you are.

For formal probate, the general timeline:

• File a petition with the probate court (usually 30 to 90 days after death)
• Court appoints an executor or administrator
• Executor notifies creditors (typically 2 to 4 months for creditors to file claims)
• Executor inventories and values estate assets
• Debts and taxes are paid
• Remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries

A simple estate with a clear will can close in 6 to 9 months. Larger, contested, or complex estates can take 1 to 3 years.

The will: what happens if there isn't one

If your loved one left a will, the executor named in it should file it with the probate court promptly. The will becomes a public document once it is filed.

If there is no will, the estate is called "intestate." The state's intestacy laws determine who inherits what. In most states, assets pass to a surviving spouse first, then to children, then to other relatives in a specific order set by law. The court will appoint an administrator to manage the estate.

Intestacy rarely distributes assets the way people actually would have wanted. This is one of the strongest reasons to have a will in place before it is needed.

Closing digital and online accounts

Digital account management has become a substantial part of settling an estate. The accounts to address:

• Email (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo): Google allows family to request account access or deletion with a death certificate. Apple ID accounts require legal documentation. Each platform has its own process.
• Social media: Facebook and Instagram allow memorialization (the profile stays up in a memorial state) or removal. LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and TikTok also have removal processes for verified family members.
• Subscriptions and streaming: Cancel Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, newspaper subscriptions, gym memberships, and any other recurring charges. Check bank statements for charges you might not know about.
• Cloud storage: iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox. These may contain photos, documents, and files the family wants to preserve before the account closes.
• Cryptocurrency and digital assets: These are particularly time-sensitive. Without access to wallet keys or passwords, digital assets can be permanently lost. Look for hardware wallets, printed recovery phrases, or notes about exchange accounts.

The tax picture

Taxes after a death fall into three distinct categories that are easy to confuse:

• The final income tax return: A regular tax return for the year in which the person died, filed by the estate or surviving spouse. For example, if the person died in 2026, their final return (Form 1040) is usually due April 15, 2027, or later with an extension. The executor is responsible for filing it.
• Estate tax: The federal estate tax only applies to estates valued at more than $15 million for people who die in 2026 (IRS). Most families do not owe federal estate tax. However, some states have their own estate or inheritance taxes with much lower thresholds, as low as $1 million in Oregon and $2 million in Massachusetts. Check your state's rules.
• Inherited retirement accounts (IRAs, 401ks): Most non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit these accounts are required to withdraw all funds within 10 years (the SECURE Act rule). Minor children, disabled or chronically ill beneficiaries, and beneficiaries not more than 10 years younger than the owner have other options. Withdrawals from traditional accounts are taxed as ordinary income. A financial advisor can help minimize the tax impact.

A CPA or estate attorney familiar with your state's rules is worth consulting if the estate is anything beyond very simple.

Part 4: The first year

Life insurance claims, pension enrollment windows, and property transfers all have deadlines that are easy to miss when you are grieving. The first year brings a series of paperwork milestones that can catch families off guard.

Deadlines that sneak up on you

• Life insurance claims: There is technically no hard deadline for most life insurance claims, but waiting years can complicate things. File as soon as you have a certified death certificate. Group policies through an employer sometimes have shorter windows.
• Annuity payments: Contact the annuity company promptly. Some annuities have a death benefit or continuation features with enrollment windows.
• Pension survivor benefits: Each plan sets its own deadline for survivor benefit elections, and some are 90 days or less. Missing a deadline can mean losing the benefit, so contact the plan administrator early.
• COBRA health insurance: Surviving spouses and dependents who were covered by the deceased's employer health plan usually have 60 days from the COBRA election notice to elect continuation coverage. After that window closes, the option is gone.
• Property tax exemptions: Many states offer exemptions for surviving spouses or for estates of a certain size. These often require annual application and the first filing must happen within a specific window. Your state guide covers what applies where you are.
• Annual dates that bring paperwork: Some asset transfers, tax elections, and trust distributions happen on specific calendar dates. Mark these before the estate closes.

These windows don't pause for grief.

Never miss a deadline.

Selling or transferring real estate

If the deceased owned real property, transferring or selling it typically requires going through probate (unless the property was in a trust or had a transfer-on-death deed). The process varies significantly by state.

Real estate sales from an estate go through the executor, who has legal authority to sign. In many states, the court must approve the sale price. This can add months to a transaction. Working with a real estate attorney who handles estate sales is often worth it.

Capital gains on inherited property are calculated from the stepped-up basis (the value at the date of death, not the original purchase price). For highly appreciated property, this can mean significant tax savings compared to selling it during the owner's lifetime.

Military survivor benefits

If your loved one served in the military, several federal programs have deadlines or enrollment windows in the first year. The most important:

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): Monthly payments to eligible surviving spouses and dependents when a veteran's death was connected to their service, or when a service member died in the line of duty. File as soon as possible.
• Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP): If the veteran was retired military and enrolled in SBP, contact DFAS as soon as you can after the death to begin the annuity. The annuity starts the day after the death, and DFAS usually processes the first payment within 60 days of receiving a complete DD Form 2656-7 (DFAS).
• TRICARE: Surviving dependents have a transitional period to continue TRICARE coverage. Contact TRICARE to understand your window.
• State benefits: Every state has additional programs for veteran families, including property tax exemptions, license plates, and state-specific survivor programs. These vary significantly. The military families guide covers the federal programs, and your state guide covers what is available in your state.

State-specific rules that affect the whole process

Throughout this guide, "it depends on your state" comes up again and again. It really does matter. Probate thresholds, property tax exemptions, estate tax rules, homestead protections, and transfer-on-death deed availability all vary significantly from state to state.

Some examples of how different the rules can be: California's current small-estate personal-property affidavit limit is $208,850 and community property rules apply. Texas has independent administration that significantly simplifies probate. Florida has strong homestead protections that can complicate or streamline property transfers. New York has a state estate tax that kicks in at $7.35 million for 2026 deaths, well below the federal threshold.

The state guides cover the rules specific to each of the 50 states and DC, and Order automatically surfaces the right tasks when you select your state inside the app.

Part 5: Planning before a death

If you are reading this guide because you want to get ahead of it (not because you are in the middle of it right now), you are doing one of the most useful things you can do for your family.

The families that struggle most after a loss are usually the ones who had to make decisions under pressure with no information. The families that manage it best almost always had something in place: a document, a conversation, a plan.

Why a plan changes everything

When someone dies without a plan in place, their family typically spends the first weeks dealing with uncertainty on top of grief:

• No one knows if there is a will or where it is
• No one knows what accounts exist or which bank holds them
• No one has the passwords needed to access email or notify contacts
• Family members disagree about funeral preferences because nothing was written down
• Benefits and insurance policies go unclaimed because no one knew they existed

A plan does not have to be complicated. Even a simple document that answers the most common questions eliminates most of the uncertainty.

Documents to gather now

The most important documents to locate, organize, and communicate to trusted family members:

• Will: Where is it? Who is the executor? Where is it stored (safe deposit box, attorney's office, home safe)?
• Trust documents: If assets are held in a trust, the successor trustee needs to know where the trust document is and what it says.
• Advance directive (living will) and healthcare proxy: Who makes medical decisions if you cannot? This needs to be documented and accessible to the people who need it.
• Life insurance policies: Which policies exist, who the insurer is, and who the beneficiary is.
• Account inventory: A list of bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, and any digital assets. Not passwords, just enough information that a family member can track down the accounts.
• Real estate documents: Deeds, mortgage statements, and information about any property owned.
• Military discharge records (DD-214): Required for virtually every veterans benefit claim. Keep a copy somewhere accessible.

See what you'd leave behind — before it matters.

Gaps surface before your family has to find them.

The conversation to have with family

Beyond documents, the single most useful thing most families can do is have a direct conversation while everyone is healthy and it is not urgent.

The conversation does not have to cover everything. It just needs to answer: Where is the will? Who is in charge? What are your funeral preferences? Where is important paperwork kept?

Many people avoid this conversation because it feels morbid. But families who have had it almost universally report that it was a relief, not a burden. It gives everyone clarity and removes the guesswork at the hardest possible time.

If you are not sure how to start, Order lets you build out a checklist for a living person, not just after a death. You can fill in the documents, accounts, and preferences now, and share access with the people who will need it later.