What to do when someone dies

First: stabilize the immediate situation

Focus first on care of the person who died, safety of the home and property, dependent children or pets, and the people who need to be notified. Do not try to solve probate, taxes, every subscription, and every account on the first day.

In the first few days

• Choose or contact a funeral home, cremation provider, or other disposition provider.
• Begin the certified death-certificate process.
• Secure the original will, trust, insurance policies, deeds, titles, and recent statements.
• Coordinate family communications and service arrangements.
• Keep essential home utilities, insurance, phone, mail, and security services stable.

Then build the estate picture

Identify legal authority, ownership, beneficiaries, assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, business interests, insurance, taxes, digital accounts, and unresolved legal matters before distributing property or making assumptions about debt responsibility.

Use a timeline, not panic

Separate “now” work from “later” work. Court deadlines, insurance lapses, property safety, dependent care, and business continuity can be urgent. Many account closures and transfers can wait until authority and documentation are clear.