Notebook to record any gifts, food, cards, visitors, and people helping, questions, to-do’s.
Check to see if your loved one left a will, pre-arrangements or other means describing what their
intentions were after death.
Notify the funeral service you are using. If it is an out of state death then notify your local funeral
home to help with arrangements.
Make arrangements for loved one’s dependents.
If your loved one had pets, make arrangements for them to be taken care of
Make arrangements for someone to look after the home of your loved one if they lived alone.
Notify loved one’s employer.
Stop any services such as meals on wheels, home health visits or other services.
Notify family and friends.
For travel arrangements, make sure you have Funeral home’s telephone number.
Order at least 10 certified death certificates.
Contact Insurance Agency and have them help you fill out all forms*.
Contact a lawyer to find out if the estate will need to go to probate court*
Contact Social Security Office *
If the person was a veteran, contact the local veterans office to find out any benefits available (The state will issue a free Veteran’s Death Certificate for this purpose)* Acquire discharge papers that are needed for the flag application.
If you will be out of town for the funeral have someone house sit for you and collect all
Notify any banks and credit card companies. They will require a certified copy of the death certificate
Notify any creditors where bills were in the deceased’s name only (cell phones, subscriptions)*.
Make sure bills are being paid.
Surviving spouse transfer all titles into your name*.
Change all home utilities into your name if you shared the home with the deceased*.
Open a checking account only in your name.
Update your will.
Update beneficiaries on IRA or 401K or other types of benefit plans.