If you're in the first 24 hours: You do not need to do everything today. Three things matter most right now — death certificates, Social Security notification, and securing the home. Everything else has a timeline. Read this guide and breathe.
Order 10–15 certified death certificates
The funeral home starts this process. Tell them you need at least 10–15 certified copies — not photocopies. Every bank, government agency, insurance company, and employer requires an original. Most families order 4–5 and spend weeks waiting for more. Order more than you think you need.
Notify Social Security Administration
Call 1-800-772-1213. The funeral home can also do this — ask them. If the deceased received a Social Security payment for the month they died, that payment must be returned to the government. Missing this creates overpayment demands that are difficult to resolve. Do this today or tomorrow.
Secure the home and valuables
If the deceased lived alone, change the locks or ensure the home is locked and secure. Do not publicize the death on social media until the home is secured — opportunistic burglars monitor obituaries. Locate and secure any cash, jewelry, important documents, and firearms.
Locate the will
Search the home for a will, trust, or any estate planning documents. Check: home filing cabinet, safe deposit box, home safe, and email inbox (search "will" and "estate planning"). Contact any attorneys the deceased worked with — they often hold the original. Do not distribute any assets before finding the will.
Do not touch sole bank accounts yet
Accounts held solely in the deceased's name are frozen at death. Withdrawing from them without legal authority — even as a family member — can be considered fraud. Joint accounts and TOD accounts transfer normally. Ask the bank what type each account is before taking any action.
You do not need to do everything in week one. Estate administration takes 6–16 months. The tasks below have deadlines but most are measured in weeks and months — not hours. Focus on the red items above first.
Notify the employer and pension provider
Contact the deceased's employer to stop payroll and begin any death benefits or survivor benefit claims. Contact any pension provider separately. Ask specifically about survivor benefits, life insurance through the employer, and final paycheck processing.
Notify Medicare and any health insurance
Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Cancel any supplemental health insurance. Any insurance premiums paid after the date of death may be refundable — ask specifically about prorated refunds.
Notify life insurance companies
Call each life insurance company to begin the claims process. You'll need a certified death certificate for each claim. Get the claim number and expected timeline in writing. Life insurance typically pays out within 30–60 days of a complete claim submission.
Begin inventory of all accounts and assets
Search 3–6 months of bank and credit card statements for all recurring charges and accounts. Search email for "statement," "account," "balance," and "invoice." Do not close anything yet — just build the complete picture. You need to know what exists before you can deal with any of it.
Notify immediate family and key contacts
Beyond immediate family, notify: attorney (if they had one), financial advisor, accountant, and anyone who may have a claim on the estate. Do not make any financial decisions or promises in the first week — emotions run high and commitments made early are hard to undo.
📞 Key Numbers — Keep This Accessible
Open probate (if required)
If the deceased owned assets solely in their name with no beneficiary designation, you'll need to file for probate in the county where they lived. Small estates below your state's threshold ($50,000–$184,500 depending on state) may qualify for simplified procedures. Consult an estate attorney before filing.
Cancel all subscriptions
The average person has 32 active subscriptions. Search bank and credit card statements for every recurring charge. Cancel Netflix, streaming services, Amazon Prime, gym memberships, magazines, software subscriptions, and anything else billing monthly. Many services will refund unused portions with a death certificate. See our complete cancellation guide →
Close or transfer bank accounts
Bring certified death certificates to each bank. Joint accounts transfer to the surviving owner. TOD accounts transfer to named beneficiaries. Sole accounts require Letters Testamentary from probate court before the bank will release funds. See our complete bank account guide →
Search for unclaimed property
The deceased may have forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, or insurance payouts in state databases. The average amount per person is $892. Search all 50 states at missingmoney.com or use our dedicated unclaimed property search →
Set up mail forwarding
File a mail forwarding request with USPS at usps.com to redirect all mail to the executor's address. This ensures you don't miss bills, financial statements, or important correspondence. Mail forwarding requires a death certificate and executor information.
200+ tasks. One guided system.
This page covers the first 15. There are 200+ more — bank transfers, probate, tax returns, real property, digital accounts, beneficiary distributions. We guide families through every single one.
Get Free 200-Task ChecklistOr get guided support from $199 →
Common questions — first 24 hours
Not necessarily in the first 24 hours. The immediate tasks are administrative — death certificates, notifications, and securing the home. A lawyer becomes important when opening probate, dealing with contested assets, or if the estate is complex. Many families handle the first month without legal help and consult an attorney when they reach the probate filing stage.
The estate goes through intestate succession — state law determines who inherits. Assets freeze until the court appoints an administrator. The process takes 12–24 months instead of the typical 6–12 months with a will. See our complete guide on dying without a will →
It depends on the account type. Joint accounts transfer to the surviving owner immediately with a death certificate. TOD (Transfer on Death) accounts go directly to the named beneficiary. Sole accounts are frozen until you have Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court. Do not withdraw from a sole account without legal authority.
Order at least 10–15 certified copies. Every bank, insurance company, government agency, and employer requires an original — not a photocopy. Most families order too few and spend weeks waiting for additional copies while estate administration stalls. They cost $10–$25 each depending on your state.
The five most common: (1) ordering too few death certificates, (2) missing the 30-day Social Security notification deadline, (3) withdrawing from frozen accounts without legal authority, (4) distributing assets before all debts are paid, (5) missing the final income tax return filing deadline. Our guided process prevents all five.
Administrative guidance only. Nyota Signals provides organizational and administrative guidance — not legal advice. For legal questions about your specific estate, consult a licensed estate attorney in your state.