What to Do When Someone Dies: A Free Printable Checklist

When someone you love dies, it’s hard to think straight. This free, interactive checklist walks you through what to do — from the first hours to honoring their memory — one calm step at a time. Check items off (your progress saves on this device), and print it to share with family. There’s no need to do everything at once.

The first hours

Get a legal pronouncement of death (hospice/doctor if expected; call 911 if unexpected)
Notify immediate family and closest friends
Decide who will handle arrangements (and lean on others for support)
Locate any end-of-life wishes, will, or prepaid funeral plan
Arrange care for dependents, pets, and the home
Secure the home and any valuables

The first days

Choose a funeral home or cremation provider (you can compare prices — they must give an itemized list)
Decide burial vs. cremation (or aquamation) per the person’s wishes
Order 10–15 certified copies of the death certificate
Plan the funeral, memorial, or celebration of life
Write the obituary and choose where to publish it
Notify extended family, employer, and close community
Gather photos, videos, and stories for the service and memorial

The first weeks

Notify Social Security and any pension/benefits providers
Contact life insurance companies to start claims
Notify banks, and locate/secure financial accounts
Contact the estate attorney or begin probate if needed
Cancel or transfer subscriptions, memberships, and utilities
Forward mail and review recurring bills
Keep a simple record of who you’ve notified

The first months

Notify credit bureaus to prevent identity theft
Close or memorialize social media accounts
File the final tax return when due
Distribute belongings thoughtfully, at your own pace
Choose a headstone, grave marker, or urn if you haven’t
Give yourself permission to grieve — consider a support group or counselor

Memorial & legacy

Create a free digital memorial page for their photos, voice, and story
Invite family and friends to add their own memories and tributes
Consider a QR memorial plaque so visitors can open the memorial at the graveside
Preserve their voice, handwriting, and the small everyday things
Plan how you’ll mark birthdays and anniversaries going forward

Honoring their memory

When you’re ready, create a free digital memorial page to gather their photos, voice, and story, and invite family to add their own. A small QR memorial plaque can open it from the graveside. For more, see our funeral planning guide and resource hub.

Frequently asked questions

First, get a legal pronouncement of death — hospice or a doctor if it was expected, or call 911 if it was sudden. Then notify immediate family, decide who will handle arrangements, and locate any will or prepaid funeral plan. There is no need to rush the bigger decisions in the first hours.

Over the following days and weeks: immediate and extended family, the employer, Social Security, pension and benefits providers, life insurance, banks, the estate attorney, credit bureaus, and subscription/utility providers. Keeping a simple checklist of who you’ve told prevents things from slipping.

Order about 10–15 certified copies. Banks, insurers, Social Security, and property transfers each typically require an original certified copy, and getting more later is slower and costlier.

What to Do When Someone Dies: A Checklist