If someone has died or received a terminal diagnosis
First of all, let's acknowledge the difficulty of what is ahead. Grief, fear, and confusion are all common after a loss or a diagnosis. This checklist walks you through what to do, in order, and shows you what can wait.
Where are you right now?
When someone has died: a step-by-step checklist
Only one decision is truly time-sensitive: the care of the body. Everything else can move at a steadier pace than it feels like in the moment. Check items off as you complete them.
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Right now
The first few days
The first month
Caring for yourself
After a terminal diagnosis: what to do with the time ahead
The most useful things you can do in this period are simpler than they seem, and they are acts of care, not last-resort tasks. Doing them while the person is well enough to have opinions makes every later decision easier for everyone left to act on them.
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Start here
The conversations that matter
Getting organized
If you are the one with the diagnosis: the same list applies. The goal is to make sure that when you can no longer direct things, the people who love you have what they need to act on your behalf without guessing.
Common questions after a death
Who do I call first when someone dies?
If the death was expected and hospice was involved, call the hospice first. They will handle the legal pronouncement and guide the next steps. If the death was unexpected, call 911. There is no other call that has to happen in the first hour.
How many death certificates do I need?
Most families need 10 to 15 certified copies. Banks, life insurance companies, and government agencies each typically require their own. The funeral home can order them for you, or you can request copies from your county or state vital records office.
How quickly does the funeral have to happen?
In most situations there is no legal deadline for a funeral or memorial service. Some religious and cultural traditions hold services quickly, and that choice belongs to the family. A service held when the family is ready is better than one rushed to meet an imaginary deadline. The free Memorial Planner can help you plan at your own pace.
Who needs to be notified after a death?
Close family first, then the person's employer, Social Security, life insurance companies, banks and lenders, and the three credit bureaus. Notifying the credit bureaus helps prevent identity theft, which is common after a death. The checklist above walks through each notification in order.
What happens if there is no will?
The estate is distributed according to your state's intestacy laws, usually to the closest relatives, and the probate court appoints someone to manage it. This is common and manageable. An estate attorney can explain what applies in your state in a single conversation.
What should I do if someone I love has received a terminal diagnosis?
Spend real time together, help them document their healthcare, legal, financial, and personal wishes while they can still share opinions, and learn what palliative care and hospice offer. The diagnosis checklist above covers each step, and the free end-of-life checklist is a good place to start.
