The first few hours
Give yourself a moment
You don't have to sort everything out at once. There's no legal deadline in the first hours that puts you under pressure – the administrative clock only really starts once the death is registered. The one thing that needs doing soon is getting a medical professional involved.
Let the people close to you know
Tell close family and friends personally – a phone call means more than a text. It helps to jot down a short list of who needs telling: immediate family, close friends, the person's employer. You don't have to make every call yourself; ask someone you trust to take on part of the list.
Get the death pronounced
If the death happened at home under hospice or home health care, call the hospice nurse or attending physician, who can pronounce the death without involving 911. If it was sudden or unexpected, call 911 instead. In a hospital or nursing facility, staff handle this step. This pronouncement is what allows a funeral home to take the next steps.
The first few days
Contact a funeral home
A licensed funeral home is reachable around the clock and will arrange transport of the deceased, walk you through burial or cremation options, and – in most states – file the death certificate paperwork with the county or state vital records office on your behalf. Nothing has to be decided immediately; a good funeral director will give you the time you need.
Order certified copies of the death certificate
The funeral home typically requests the death certificate from the state or county vital records office on your behalf. Order at least 10-15 certified copies – the exact number depends on how many accounts and assets there are. Extra copies ordered later from vital records cost more per copy and take longer to arrive.
Notify Social Security
Funeral homes often report a death to the Social Security Administration (SSA) electronically while filing the death certificate, but this isn't guaranteed everywhere – confirm with the funeral home directly. If in doubt, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. Any benefit payment received for the month of death or later generally must be returned; a surviving spouse or dependent child may separately be eligible for a one-time death benefit or survivor benefits.
Look for a will
Check the person's papers, safe deposit box, or ask their attorney if they had one, for a will. If you find one, it usually names an executor and sets out who inherits. Some states have an online will registry, but most don't – a will is often just kept at home, with an attorney, or in a bank's safe deposit box.
Secure the home and the mail
If the person lived alone: check the mail regularly (important letters can still arrive), consider a mail hold or forwarding through USPS, and keep the keys somewhere safe. Leave utilities connected until the property's situation is resolved – cancelling too early can cause practical problems, including with homeowner's insurance on a vacant property.
Admin to plan for
For everything below you'll need the death certificate (step 5) – get that sorted first. Most organizations accept a certified copy.
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Social Security / pensions
Payments received after the date of death typically must be returned. A surviving spouse or dependent may be eligible for survivor benefits – contact the SSA directly to ask. -
Banks
Let the bank know about the death – individual accounts are usually frozen until you can show proof of authority (Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or a small estate affidavit, depending on the estate). -
IRS
A final federal income tax return (Form 1040) is generally required for the year of death, filed by the surviving spouse or the appointed executor/administrator. See our guide on proving your authority to act for what the IRS and others will ask to see. -
DMV
The state motor vehicle department needs to know so a vehicle title can eventually be transferred – requirements for this vary significantly by state.
Common questions about the first steps
Do I need to do anything immediately after a death?
No. In the first hours there's no legal deadline putting you under pressure. The only time-sensitive step is contacting a doctor, hospice nurse, or – for an unexpected death at home – 911, so a medical professional can pronounce the death and a death certificate can eventually be issued.
How many copies of the death certificate should I order?
At least 10-15 certified copies is a common recommendation. Banks, life insurers, the DMV, pension providers, and the county recorder's office may each want their own certified copy, and ordering extra copies later from the state vital records office costs more and takes longer.
Does Social Security need to be notified separately?
Often the funeral home reports the death to the Social Security Administration electronically as part of registering it, but this isn't guaranteed in every county. It's worth confirming with the funeral home and, if in doubt, calling the SSA directly – any benefit payment received for the month of death or later generally has to be returned.
What happens if I can't find a will?
If no will turns up, state intestacy law decides who inherits and who can petition the probate court to act as administrator – usually a surviving spouse or adult child. It's a common situation; the probate court clerk or a local attorney can explain who typically inherits under your state's rules.