Free Printable Checklist for When Someone Dies

A checklist for when someone dies works best as a sequence, because each step unlocks the next: the pronouncement produces the death certificate, the death certificate unlocks the bank accounts and benefits, and the benefits and account closures feed into probate and the final tax return. What follows walks through that sequence in the order you will actually face it, from the first hours through the tax deadlines the following spring.

The First 48 Hours

A death has to be officially pronounced by someone with legal authority, such as a doctor or hospice nurse, who also certifies the cause, time, and place. That pronouncement is what allows a death certificate to be prepared. If the person was in hospice, the hospice team already has a plan for this. If not, contact their doctor, the local medical examiner, or a funeral home to find out how to proceed. There is no need to move the body immediately.1National Institute on Aging. What To Do After Someone Dies

Within the first day or two, handle these practical matters:

  • Arrange transport. The funeral home you choose will usually pick up the body from the hospital, nursing facility, or home.
  • Secure the house. Lock doors, bring in the mail, and check that nothing is running.
  • Tell close family and friends. Naming one person as the point of contact spares everyone from repeating the same conversation.
  • Find the will and any pre-planned funeral arrangements. Check home files, a safe deposit box, or an attorney’s office. A pre-paid funeral contract will settle many decisions before they come up.

If the deceased was a registered organ donor, the hospital or organ procurement organization already knows through the state or national registry.2UNOS. Deceased Donation If no registration exists, the family will be asked whether to authorize donation, and that decision has to happen quickly.

Order Death Certificates and Pull Together Key Documents

Almost every step that follows requires a certified copy of the death certificate: closing bank accounts, filing insurance claims, applying for benefits, transferring property, filing tax returns. Order at least 10 to 15 copies. The funeral home usually handles the request through the vital records office, and the cost per copy runs roughly $5 to $34 depending on the state.3USAGov. How to Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate Running short later causes delays, so err high.

If a U.S. citizen dies abroad, the U.S. embassy or consulate issues a Consular Report of Death Abroad, which serves as the death certificate for use in the United States. You can get up to 20 free certified copies at the time of death and order more later from the Department of State.3USAGov. How to Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate

While you are gathering paperwork, locate:

  • The will or trust, which names the executor or trustee and controls distribution
  • Life insurance policies, including any employer group coverage
  • Recent bank, brokerage, and retirement account statements and the last few tax returns
  • The Social Security number, birth certificate, and, for a surviving spouse, the marriage certificate
  • Military discharge papers (DD-214) if the deceased was a veteran; if you cannot find the original, you can request a copy from the National Archives with a death certificate4U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Request Your Military Service Records (Including DD214)
  • Deeds, vehicle titles, and loan documents

Plan the Funeral and Know Your Rights on Price

If the deceased left written wishes or a pre-paid contract, those guide most of the decisions. Otherwise the family chooses between burial and cremation, the type of service, and the location. A funeral home walks you through the options, but federal law gives you more control over the bill than most people realize.

The FTC Funeral Rule requires every funeral home to hand you an itemized General Price List as soon as you begin discussing options or prices, whether in person or on the phone.5FTC. Funeral Rule Price List Essentials You can buy only the individual items you want. The funeral home cannot force you into a package, and it cannot add a fee or surcharge for using a casket bought somewhere else.6FTC. Complying With the Funeral Rule The only mandatory charge is a basic services fee covering the funeral home’s overhead; everything else should be à la carte.

If the deceased was a veteran, the VA may provide a headstone, burial flag, and military honors at no cost.

Notify Social Security and Claim Survivor Benefits

The funeral home will usually report the death to the Social Security Administration. If it does not, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213.7Social Security Administration. What To Do When Someone Dies Any Social Security payments the deceased was receiving stop, and any payment received for the month of death must be returned.8USAGov. Agencies to Notify When Someone Dies

Social Security also pays a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 to a surviving spouse or eligible child. The application has to be filed within two years of the date of death.9Social Security Administration. Lump-Sum Death Payment Monthly survivor benefits may also apply. A surviving spouse can receive reduced benefits starting at 60, or at 50 if disabled. A surviving spouse at any age can collect benefits if caring for the deceased’s child who is under 16 or has a disability. Unmarried children under 18, or 19 if still in high school, may also qualify.10Social Security Administration. Survivors Benefits

If the deceased was a veteran, contact the VA about burial benefits, death benefits, and survivor benefits, and cancel any active VA compensation, pension, education, or health benefits.8USAGov. Agencies to Notify When Someone Dies

Health Coverage for Dependents: The 60-Day Window

This is the most time-sensitive item on the list and the one families overlook most often. If the deceased carried employer-sponsored health insurance that covered a spouse or children, those dependents lose their coverage. Federal law treats the death of a covered employee as a qualifying event for COBRA continuation coverage.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 U.S. Code 4980B

Under COBRA, the surviving spouse and dependent children can stay on the same group health plan for up to 36 months after the employee’s death.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 U.S. Code 4980B The plan administrator should send an election notice, but do not wait for it. Call the employer or HR department. You typically have 60 days from the qualifying event to elect coverage, and letting that window close means losing the option entirely. Premiums run higher than what the employee paid because you now cover the employer’s share, but the coverage bridges the gap until dependents find another plan.

Protect the Deceased’s Identity

Identity theft targeting deceased people is common, and acting early prevents real damage to the estate.

Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) with a copy of the death certificate. Notifying one bureau flags the file with all three, so a single notice is enough. Experian accepts notifications by mail at its Consumer Assistance Center, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013, or by upload through its website.12Experian. How to Report a Relative’s Death to Credit Bureaus Include the deceased’s full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death.

If you are the executor or personal representative, file IRS Form 56 to formally establish your fiduciary relationship with the IRS. That filing gives you authority to receive tax notices, file returns, and handle tax matters for the deceased and the estate.13Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 56 Without it, important tax correspondence may not reach you.

Notify Financial Institutions and Other Organizations

With death certificates and any letters of authority in hand, work through this notification list:

  • Banks and credit unions. Joint accounts with a surviving owner generally stay accessible; sole accounts freeze until the executor shows proof of authority.
  • Investment and brokerage firms. Accounts with named beneficiaries transfer directly; others move through the estate.
  • Credit card companies. Report the death to stop new charges. Authorized users are not on the hook for the debt; joint account holders may be.
  • Insurance companies. File life insurance claims and cancel or transfer auto, health, and homeowner’s policies.
  • Employer and pension providers. Ask about final pay, accrued vacation, pension or retirement plan beneficiary claims, and any group life insurance.
  • Mortgage company or landlord.
  • Utility companies, to transfer accounts to the estate or a survivor or schedule shutoff.

Sort Probate Assets From Non-Probate Assets

Not everything the deceased owned goes through probate, and this catches many families off guard. Some assets transfer directly to a named beneficiary regardless of what the will says. If a retirement account names one person as beneficiary but the will names someone else, the beneficiary designation wins. Financial institutions follow the form on file, and courts consistently uphold that rule.

Assets that typically bypass probate include:

  • Retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, with a named beneficiary
  • Life insurance policies with a named beneficiary
  • Payable-on-death bank accounts and transfer-on-death brokerage accounts
  • Jointly owned property with a right of survivorship, which passes to the surviving co-owner
  • Transfer-on-death deeds for real estate, available in a majority of states
  • Assets held in a living trust

For each of these, the beneficiary contacts the institution directly with a death certificate. No court involvement, no probate waiting period. Sorting these out early separates them from the probate estate and saves considerable work later.

Probate or a Small Estate Shortcut

For assets without a beneficiary designation or joint owner, probate is the court-supervised process that validates the will, formally appoints the executor (called a personal representative in many states), and oversees distribution to beneficiaries. The executor inventories assets, pays debts and taxes, and distributes what remains according to the will, or under the state’s intestacy laws if there is no will. Probate can take anywhere from several months to over a year for complex estates, and filing fees vary widely by state.

Every state offers a simplified alternative for smaller estates, often called a small estate affidavit or summary administration. These procedures let you transfer assets without full probate. The qualifying threshold varies dramatically, ranging from about $10,000 to $275,000 in total estate value. Most states also impose a waiting period after the death, commonly 30 days, before the affidavit can be filed. Some states limit the shortcut to personal property and exclude real estate. Check with your local probate court to confirm the rules and dollar limits.

Tax Deadlines You Cannot Miss

The deceased’s tax obligations do not disappear, and the personal representative is responsible for filing every required return and paying any tax due out of the estate. Getting this wrong can create personal liability for the executor, which is why many families bring in a tax professional at this stage.

Final Individual Return (Form 1040)

A final federal income tax return has to be filed for the deceased, covering January 1 through the date of death. The due date is the normal April deadline of the following year. For someone who died in 2025, the final return is due April 15, 2026.14Internal Revenue Service. When to File A surviving spouse can file jointly for the year of death, and extensions are available using Form 4868 just as with any return.15Internal Revenue Service. How to File a Final Tax Return for Someone Who Has Passed Away

If the final return produces a refund, the person claiming it may need to file Form 1310. A surviving spouse filing jointly, and a court-appointed personal representative filing the original return, do not. Anyone else claiming the refund on behalf of the estate does, and should keep a copy of the death certificate on file.16Internal Revenue Service. Form 1310

Estate Income Tax Return (Form 1041)

If the estate itself earns income after the date of death from interest, rent, dividends, or asset sales, it needs its own return. The estate must file Form 1041 if its gross income reaches $600 or more for the tax year.17Internal Revenue Service. 2025 Instructions for Form 1041 Before filing, apply for an Employer Identification Number for the estate using Form SS-4. The estate’s start date is the date of death.18Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 The online EIN application issues the number immediately.

Federal Estate Tax

Most estates owe no federal estate tax. For 2026, the exemption is $15,000,000 per individual, so estates below that threshold pay nothing at the federal level.19Internal Revenue Service. What’s New — Estate and Gift Tax Married couples can effectively double that through portability of the unused exemption. State rules are separate: roughly a dozen states and the District of Columbia impose their own estate or inheritance taxes, sometimes at much lower thresholds. Check the state’s department of revenue if the deceased was a resident of one of those states.

Close Personal Accounts and Manage the Property

Cancel recurring charges. Work through the deceased’s bank and credit card statements to catch autopay for streaming, subscription boxes, gym memberships, and similar charges. Most companies require a death certificate and proof of authority to cancel. Some refund unused portions of a billing cycle; others do not, but stopping the charges keeps them from piling up.

Handle digital accounts. Most major platforms let you memorialize or delete a deceased person’s profile, and each has its own process. You will generally need a death certificate and proof of your relationship or authority. Think beyond social media to email, cloud storage, photo libraries, and any cryptocurrency wallets. Most states have adopted a version of the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which gives executors access to digital accounts when the deceased authorized it in a will or through the platform’s own settings. Where the will is silent and the deceased never set a legacy contact, access can be difficult to get.

Forward the mail. To forward a deceased person’s mail, you must go to a Post Office in person; a death certificate alone is not enough. You need documented proof that you are the appointed executor or administrator.20USPS. How to Stop or Forward Mail for the Deceased Doing this early helps you catch bills, statements, and creditor notices you would otherwise miss.

Protect the property. If the deceased owned a home that will sit empty, notify the homeowner’s insurance company immediately. Standard policies often contain vacancy clauses that limit or void coverage after 30 to 60 days of the home sitting empty, and you may need a specialized vacant-property policy. Keep the utilities on to prevent weather damage, and check on the property regularly until it is sold or transferred.