Checklist for families
What to Do When Someone Dies: The First 30 Days
Short answer
In the first day, get the death officially pronounced and call a funeral home. In the first week, plan the service and order death certificates. In the first month, file insurance claims, notify Social Security, banks and credit bureaus, and find out about probate. You don't have to do it all at once.
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Day 1 to 2
The first 24 to 48 hours
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Days 3 to 7
The first week
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Days 8 to 30
Weeks two to four
Who to contact
A funeral home
They will usually move the person into their care and can file the death certificate. Ask for the General Price List.
Your rights with funeral homesSocial Security
Funeral homes usually report the death, but confirm it. A surviving spouse or child may qualify for a $255 payment.
The Social Security death benefitVital records
Order several certified copies of the death certificate. Insurers, banks and agencies each usually want one.
How to get a death certificateLife insurance companies
File claims with the policy number and a certified death certificate. Not sure there is a policy? You can search for one.
Find a lost policyThe VA (for veterans)
Veterans may qualify for burial allowances, a headstone or marker, and burial in a national cemetery.
Veterans burial benefitsBanks and credit bureaus
Notify banks and ask Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to flag the person as deceased to help prevent identity theft.
How claims and payouts workAbout the person's debts
Family members generally are not personally responsible for a loved one's debts. Debts are usually paid from the person's estate. You may be responsible if you co-signed, held a joint account, or in certain other situations. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains the rules.
Paying for the funeral
See what a funeral costs, the Social Security death benefit, and VA burial benefits.
Helpful next reads
How to Pay for a Funeral: Every Realistic OptionMany families pay for a funeral with a mix of sources: the person's life insurance, savings or payable-on-death accounts, and money from the estate. Public help is…Read the guide →
How to Get a Death Certificate: Who Can Order and How Many You NeedTo get a death certificate, ask the funeral home to order certified copies for you, or order them from the vital records office in the state or county where the…Read the guide →
How Long Does Life Insurance Take to Pay Out? The Claim ProcessHow long life insurance takes to pay out depends on how soon the insurer has a complete claim and whether it needs to review anything further. The clock usually…Read the guide →