What to Do When Someone Dies: The Complete Checklist

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences. In addition to the normal grieving process, grief, handling all the logistics can feel completely overwhelming, especially if you’ve never gone through it before.

What needs to be taken care of first? What accounts or benefits need to be handled? How do you start to settle the estate?

Taking it one step at a time with a clear checklist can help provide some order during this chaotic time.

Obtain a Legal Pronouncement of Death

When someone dies at home, the first step is to call 911 or contact a local medical professional. They will provide a legal pronouncement of death, which is necessary for obtaining a death certificate. If the death occurs in a hospital or nursing home, the staff will handle this process.

Choose a Funeral Home

Ideally, ahead of time, research and compare funeral homes in your area, taking into account your family’s preferences and the deceased’s wishes. Consider factors such as location, services offered, and overall reputation.

Arrange for Transportation of the Body

Contact a funeral home to discuss the transportation of your loved one’s body. If an autopsy is required due to the circumstances of the death, the medical examiner or coroner will be involved in this process.

Notify Close Family and Friends

Create a list of family members and close friends who should be informed about the death. Consider delegating this sensitive task to a trusted relative or friend who can provide support and assistance during this difficult time.

Decide on the Type of Service

Discuss with family members the most appropriate way to honor your loved one, whether through a traditional funeral, memorial service, or celebration of life. Consider the location, date, and time that will allow the most people to attend and pay their respects.

Handle the Remains

Decide whether your loved one will be buried, cremated, or donated to science based on their wishes and your family’s beliefs. The funeral home can guide you through the necessary arrangements.

Prepare an Obituary

Write an obituary that captures your loved one’s life, accomplishments, and the impact they had on others. Include key details such as their date of birth, place of residence, and surviving family members. Publish the obituary in local newspapers and on online memorial sites.

Obtain Death Certificates

Request at least ten certified copies of the death certificate from the funeral home or your local vital records office. You’ll need these documents to handle various legal and financial matters in the coming weeks and months.

These official certificates serve as crucial proof for an overwhelming number of matters, including:

• Filing life insurance claims or other policy benefits your loved one was entitled to
• Accessing their financial accounts, safe deposit boxes, credit reports, and more
• Applying for any survivor benefits from Social Security, VA affairs, employer pensions, etc.
• Handling estate taxes, outstanding debts, probate court proceedings when applicable
• Terminating or transferring utilities, subscription services, and other personal accounts
• Updating property titles, vehicle registrations, and other ownership records

Fees can vary but typically run $10-20 per certified copy issued by the county or state. It’s an investment well worth the expense to keep this process streamlined.

Locate Important Documents

If your loved one had any official estate planning documents prepared (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, etc.), you’ll need to locate those as well. Scour their home office, safe deposit boxes, attorneys’ files – wherever they may have squirreled away those all-important materials.

If no such documentation can be found after an exhaustive search, that’s okay—we’ll address those complications separately. But having an official will, trust, or other legal directives in hand becomes your north star for properly distributing assets and upholding their final wishes according to their explicitly stated desires.

Beyond locating estate paperwork initially, you’ll also want to thoroughly inventory, collect, and safeguard any other vital personal documentation like:

• Financial and asset records (statements, deeds, etc.)
• Legal certificates (birth, marriage, divorce, etc.)
• Digital devices, hard drives, and account passwords
• Historical keepsakes (military records, ancestral artifacts, etc.)

These remaining personal effects must be itemized – you may need to reference portions during upcoming legal proceedings or taxes.

Officially Report the Death to the Relevant Parties

You’ll also need to formally report your loved one’s death to the Social Security Administration to either initiate any survivor benefits you may be owed or terminate their benefit distributions. The SSA maintains a specific process for these reports.

Additionally, make a checklist of all financial institutions, creditors, memberships, and subscription services affiliated with your loved one’s identity and accounts. Each one—whether banks, credit cards, loan servicers, utility companies, or otherwise—needs to be separately notified and provided death certificates to close out, settle, or transfer ownership where applicable.

Manage the Deceased’s Assets and Accounts

Determine whether probate is necessary based on the size and complexity of your loved one’s estate. In Minnesota, if the estate’s value exceeds $75,000 or includes real estate, it will likely need to go through probate. Safe Harbor Estate Law can help you determine if probate is necessary and can represent you throughout the probate process. The probate court will appoint a personal representative to collect assets, pay taxes, prepare a final accounting, and distribute assets according to the will or state law.

Locate & Update Existing Policies

Perhaps one of the biggest priorities is locating any existing life insurance, retirement fund, pension, or annuity policies your loved one held – these accounts typically have designated beneficiaries and clauses to address payouts upon the holder’s death.

Once identified, you’ll need to formally file claims by providing documentation like policy numbers, account details, death certificates, and more. The benefit payouts from these claims can be vital for covering immediate estate costs and other expenses, so don’t let them linger unaddressed.

Pay Outstanding Debts and Taxes

Notify creditors of the death and arrange for payment of any outstanding balances. File your loved one’s final tax return and pay any taxes owed to ensure their financial affairs are properly settled.

Prevent Identity Theft by Contacting Credit Bureaus

Contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to place a “deceased alert” on your loved one’s credit report. This will help prevent fraudulent activity and protect their identity. Cancel email accounts and social media profiles to further reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Secure the Deceased’s Residence

If your loved one lived alone, lock their home and vehicle and notify the landlord or mortgage company of their passing. Forward mail to the executor or a trusted family member to ensure important correspondence is not missed.

Distribute Personal Belongings

Follow the instructions outlined in the will or work with family members to divide personal items according to your loved one’s wishes. If there are unwanted items, consider donating or selling them, as appropriate.

If Your Loved One Died Without a Will, Expect Probate

When your loved one passes away “intestate” (without any will, trust, or estate plan in place), their affairs become significantly more complicated from a legal perspective. In these cases, official probate court proceedings are virtually guaranteed under Minnesota state law.

The probate process is designed to identify lawful heirs when no personally appointed executor exists, settle any taxes and outstanding debts, and then allocate the “residual” assets according to Minnesota’s predetermined inheritance statutes – not necessarily aligning with what your loved one may have wished for.

Retaining experienced probate counsel like Safe Harbor Estate Law is essential to properly protect your family’s rights and your loved one’s interests throughout these proceedings.

Get Comprehensive Care for Your Loved One’s Legacy

Losing a loved one creates an overwhelming cascade of notifications, paperwork requirements, legal filings, and difficult family conversations that can challenge even the most prepared individual.

At Safe Harbor Estate Law, it’s our calling to compassionately lift these burdens from our client’s shoulders so they can grieve without distractions. For years, our full-scope probate attorneys have guided families through this journey – protecting loved ones’ legacies with the utmost respect and experience.

If someone you love has passed away in Minnesota or Wisconsin, contact our legal team today to discuss the next steps.