First steps after death

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences. Amidst the grief, there are a series of practical steps you need to take immediately following the death of a family member. This guide will walk you through those steps to help ensure that legal, medical, and financial aspects are handled appropriately, while also addressing how to care for your emotional needs during this difficult time.

Notify the Appropriate Authorities

If your loved one passes away at home, the first thing to do is notify the proper authorities. Depending on the circumstances of the death, you may need to:

  • Call Emergency Services (911): If the death is unexpected, you should immediately contact emergency services to report it. The police and paramedics will typically come to the home to confirm the death and assist with any necessary documentation.

  • Notify the Family Doctor or Medical Professional: If the death was expected due to a terminal illness, the attending physician should be notified to pronounce the death and complete the death certificate. If hospice care was in place, contact the hospice organization, which can guide you through the next steps.

Decide body disposition

After death, there is a semi-urgent need to move the body for storage and handling. Classically a local funeral home will come pick up the deceased and charge for this later. Once at the funeral home, you can make plans moving forward with the funeral directors. You are allowed to change funeral homes, but this can cost thousands of dollar! Unfortunately, the pressure of time can cause us to be forced into a decision without the chance to make an informed decision. That’s why we have vetted Funeral Homes that we recommend you can start with knowing that the process will continue to be easy, safe and reliable. If you are looking for where to start for a loved one who just passed Start Here Now. You don’t need to plan the whole memorial now, but you can rest comfortably knowing that you have started with a reputable company and not stuck with less than desirable option that could cost you thousands of dollars to fix. Obtain a Legal Pronouncement of Death A legal pronouncement of death is crucial for moving forward with many administrative tasks. This is typically handled by the attending doctor, hospice nurse, or medical examiner. The legal death certificate will be needed for various purposes such as:
  • Arranging funeral services
  • Settling insurance claims
  • Managing financial affairs like bank accounts and estate planning
Be sure to request multiple certified copies of the death certificate from the funeral home or local government office as you will need them to handle multiple affairs.

Inform Immediate Family Members

Once the death has been legally pronounced, you will need to inform close family members and loved ones. It’s advisable to do this in person or via phone, rather than through text or email, as it’s a sensitive matter. You can also consider asking a close friend or relative to assist with making these calls if you feel overwhelmed.

Some families find it helpful to appoint a point person to manage communication with extended family and friends to reduce stress on the immediate family. Creating a list of people to notify and designating a person to handle inquiries about funeral arrangements can ease the burden.

Start planning the funeral

The legal decision maker should be involved at this point, each state has its own laws and regulations, for example see California below. In California, the following individuals, in order of priority, have the right to make post-death disposition decisions:
  1. The person, prior to their death.
  2. The Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD) on a U.S. Department of Defense Record of Emergency Data (DD Form 93).
  3. An agent under a California power of attorney for health care.
  4. Surviving competent spouse or registered domestic partner.
  5. Surviving competent adult child or majority of surviving competent adult children.
  6. Surviving competent parent.
  7. Surviving competent adult sibling or majority of surviving competent adult siblings.
  8. Surviving competent adult(s) in the next degree of kinship.
  9. Conservator of the person (if the decedent has sufficient assets).
  10. Conservator of the estate (if the decedent has sufficient assets).
  11. Public administrator (if the decedent has sufficient assets).
The next step is determine what body disposition is wanted. If your loved one had pre-planned their funeral, the process will be smoother. If not, you will need to discuss key aspects of the funeral such as casket burial, cremation, alternative funeral etc . With this in mind, you can start making arrangements for the funeral or memorial service. Our Funeral Checklist (R) (link to information page) will guide you through the process for any choice you wish to make above. The Solstice checklist has been curated to made to make sure you will be shown trusted vendors with clear pricing while being confident that everything will be taken care of and no steps missed. If you are ready to start planning, head over to our Planning Page to get started.

Notify Financial Institutions and Agencies

Once the death certificate has been issued, it’s time to notify the relevant institutions and agencies about your loved one’s passing. This may include:

  • Social Security Administration (SSA): Contact the SSA to stop payments and inquire about potential survivor benefits if applicable.

  • Life Insurance Providers: File claims with your loved one’s life insurance provider. You will need a copy of the death certificate for this process.

  • Banks and Credit Unions: Notify your loved one’s bank to close or transition accounts as per the estate plan or will.

  • Employers: Inform your loved one’s employer to cease payments and handle any final benefits or pension disbursements.

  • Credit Bureaus: Notify the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to avoid identity theft by marking the person’s credit report as deceased.

     

    Make a checklist of all the institutions to contact to ensure that all financial matters are handled promptly and appropriately.

Locate the Will and Estate Documents

Locating your loved one’s will or trust documents is a critical step in managing their estate. The will specifies how the deceased’s assets should be distributed and names an executor to handle the process. If the will is not easily found, check with the family lawyer or any secure location your loved one may have used for important documents.
The executor of the will is responsible for:

  • Filing the will with the local probate court

  • Managing and distributing assets according to the will

  • Paying any outstanding debts or taxes

  • Closing the estate once all assets have been distributed
    If your loved one did not have a will, the estate will go through the probate process, which can vary depending on the state laws.

Care for Yourself and Others

Losing a loved one is emotionally overwhelming, and it is important to take care of your mental and physical well-being during this time. Grief affects everyone differently, so allow yourself time to process your emotions and seek support from others.

  • Lean on family and friends: Surround yourself with loved ones who can provide emotional support during the grieving process.

  • Consider professional grief counseling: A grief counselor or support group can help you work through your feelings and provide strategies for coping with the loss.

  • Take time off work if needed: Many employers offer bereavement leave, so take time to rest and recover from the emotional strain.

It’s also important to consider that other family members, especially children or elderly relatives, may be struggling with the loss. Encourage open communication and share memories of your loved one to support one another.

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