First hours
Get an official pronouncement of death, notify close family, and contact the appropriate funeral home or authority.
After a death
A calm checklist for the days ahead.
There is a great deal to do, but very little of it must happen all at once. Start with immediate care, protect important information, and move outward from there.
First days
Locate identity documents and existing wishes, secure the home and pets, and order certified death certificates.
First weeks
Notify key institutions, identify the person responsible for the estate, and begin a complete inventory—without distributing property too soon.
Rules and deadlines vary by state and by the estate. Do not pay debts from your own money, distribute property, or make assumptions about ownership before getting qualified advice.