What Do We Do Next?

Wait for the death to be legally pronounced and notify the right people

A doctor, hospice professional, emergency responder or other authorized official must handle the medical pronouncement according to state and local rules. An unexpected death may also involve law enforcement or the medical examiner. Allow those professionals to complete their work before making transportation or funeral arrangements.

• Notify immediate family or the person identified as next of kin.
• Contact the person’s hospice, physician, clergy member or faith community when appropriate.
• Choose one trusted person to keep notes, record calls and share updates with relatives.
• Secure the home, vehicle, pets, medications and easily misplaced valuables.
• Do not post sensitive details, account information or the person’s Social Security number publicly.

Gather the records that organizations will request

Create one secure folder—paper or digital—and keep a simple log of every organization contacted, the date, the representative’s name and the next required action.

Order certified death certificates

Many insurers, financial institutions and government agencies require a certified death certificate. The funeral home may help order them, or they can be requested through the vital-records office in the state where the death occurred. Ask each organization whether it requires a certified copy or will accept another form of verification before sending documents.

Locate written wishes and compare arrangements carefully

Look for prepaid arrangements, cemetery documents, religious instructions, military preferences, organ or tissue donation information and any written wishes. If no instructions exist, the person legally authorized under state law may need to make decisions.

• Contact more than one provider when time and circumstances permit.
• Ask for the provider’s current General Price List and a written, itemized estimate.
• Separate required charges from optional goods and services.
• Confirm transportation, permits, death certificates, obituary charges and cemetery or crematory fees.
• Do not allow urgency or grief to pressure the family into services it does not want or cannot afford.

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Identify who has legal authority before handling property

Locate the original will and any trust documents. A will may name an executor, but that person may still need formal court authority before controlling estate assets. If there is no will, state law determines who may serve and who may inherit.

• Do not distribute money, vehicles, jewelry or other property simply because someone expects to inherit it.
• Do not use the deceased person’s debit card, signature, passwords or online identity.
• Contact the probate court in the county where the person lived or consult a qualified estate attorney.
• If a trust exists, contact the named successor trustee and the attorney who prepared it.
• Keep receipts for funeral, property-protection and estate expenses; reimbursement rules vary.

Contact each insurer and benefits administrator directly

A beneficiary usually files the life-insurance claim directly with the carrier. The insurer—not the funeral home or website—determines what documents are required and who is entitled to receive policy proceeds.

1. Locate policies, annual statements, premium drafts and employer-benefit records.
2. Call the insurer using the number on an official statement or the carrier’s verified website.
3. Ask for the claim number, claim form, required death certificate and beneficiary-identification requirements.
4. Confirm whether each claimant must submit a separate form.
5. Keep copies of everything submitted and record the delivery or confirmation number.
6. Ask how the benefit can be paid and whether any settlement options have fees or restrictions.

Also contact the employer’s human-resources department about group life insurance, final wages, unused paid time, retirement plans, pensions, health coverage and any workplace death benefits. Avoid paying anyone who promises to “find” a policy without first checking employer records, bank drafts, mail and state unclaimed-property resources.

Report the death and review possible survivor assistance

The funeral home usually reports a death to Social Security, but families should confirm this. Survivor benefits are not automatically the same for every household, and eligible survivors may need to apply.

For a Veteran, locate the DD Form 214 and ask the funeral director about military funeral honors. Review possible national-cemetery eligibility, a burial flag, memorial items, burial allowances and transportation benefits directly with the VA.

Work through accounts methodically—do not try to finish everything at once

Before closing a joint account, changing a title or canceling important coverage, confirm who has authority and whether the account is needed to protect the surviving household or estate. Keep estate funds separate from personal funds.