A Checklist for Loved Ones After a Loss

Losing someone you love is hard enough. Then the paperwork starts.

This checklist won’t make it easy, but it can help you take things one day at a time.

In the first few days

Contact the funeral home your loved one chose, or the one your family prefers.
Let close family and friends know.
Look for any written final wishes, a prearranged funeral plan, or burial or cremation instructions.
Secure the home, vehicles, and any pets.

In the first few weeks

Order several certified copies of the death certificate. Many offices and companies ask for their own copy.
Notify Social Security. The funeral home can often report the death for you.
Contact each life insurance company to start a claim. Have the policy number and a death certificate ready.
Notify banks, credit card companies, and any pension or retirement plan.
If your loved one was a veteran, contact the VA to ask what burial benefits may be available.
Contact the attorney or executor named in the will, if there is one.

In the following months

Cancel or transfer utilities, subscriptions, and memberships.
Watch the mail for bills, statements, and policies you may not have known about.
Keep a folder of every call, letter, and receipt.

How to give your family a head start

The easiest checklist is the one you fill out ahead of time. Writing down your policies, accounts, contacts, and wishes in one place means your family isn’t left searching. The free Gavrel Family Planning Kit gives you a simple place to do that.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Product features and availability vary by carrier and state.