Before you start
You don't have to do this alone, and you don't have to do it fast. In the first few days, only a few things are truly urgent: the pronouncement of death, the funeral home, and anything time-sensitive like organ donation. Most of the financial and legal work can wait until after the funeral. If a sibling, spouse or friend offers to help, give them a specific item from this list.
Who does what depends on the will. The executor named in it, or an administrator the court appoints if there's no will, has the legal authority to deal with banks, property and debts. If that's you, keep a simple log of every call, every document you send, and every dollar that comes in or goes out of the estate. It will save you hours later.
About this checklist: general information for the United States, written by Vik Chadha from public government sources linked below. It isn't legal or tax advice, and probate and tax rules vary by state. Last updated November 8, 2026.
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Immediately
The first 24 to 48 hours
Nothing in the first two days has to be perfect. The goal is to get the essentials handled, and to let other people help you.
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If your parent died in a hospital or care facility, staff will handle this. If they died at home under hospice care, call the hospice nurse, who can pronounce the death and guide the next steps. If they died at home without hospice, call 911.
Make the first few calls yourself, then ask one or two trusted people to pass the news along. Give someone the job of keeping a list of who has been told, so nobody hears it second-hand by accident.
Check for a prepaid funeral plan, written instructions about burial or cremation, and organ or body donation paperwork. Donation decisions are time-sensitive, so look for these first.
They will transport your parent, help you plan a service, and usually file the death certificate with the state. Ask for an itemized price list. Funeral homes are required to give you one, and you are not obligated to buy a package.
Lock the house, keep valuables and documents safe, and arrange care for any pets. Ask a neighbor to bring in mail and packages, since an obviously empty home can attract break-ins.
Ask about final pay, unused vacation, group life insurance, and any retirement plan. Also let your own employer know you need time off, and ask what bereavement leave is available.
Days 2 to 7
The first week
This week is about the service and about gathering paperwork. Nearly every later step depends on two things: certified death certificates and the will.
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Banks, insurers, pension plans, the DMV and others usually each want their own certified copy, and some won't return it. Order more than you think you need through the funeral home or your state's vital records office. Ordering extra now is easier than going back later.
Leave the home address, exact date of birth and mother's maiden name out of the obituary. Identity thieves use obituaries to target people who have died, and those details make it easier.
Look for the will and any trust, life insurance policies, deeds and vehicle titles, recent bank and investment statements, the last few tax returns, a Social Security card, and military discharge papers (DD-214) if your parent served.
The funeral home usually reports the death, but confirm it yourself by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting a local office. You can't report a death online. Benefits aren't payable for the month of death, so any payment received for that month must be returned. A one-time $255 death payment may be available to an eligible surviving spouse or child.
Veterans may be eligible for burial in a national cemetery, a headstone or marker, military funeral honors, and help with burial costs. Have the DD-214 ready.
Some payments need to continue for now, such as the mortgage, utilities, and homeowner's insurance on a home you still own. Others, like subscriptions and memberships, can stop. Don't close joint accounts until you know what draws on them.
Weeks 2 to 4
The first month
Now the work shifts to the estate. Find out who is legally in charge of it and what will need to go through the courts.
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The will usually names an executor (sometimes called a personal representative). If there's no will, the court appoints an administrator. Whether you need full probate depends on your state and how assets were held. A short consultation with a probate attorney in your parent's state is often worth it.
The executor can request an Employer Identification Number for the estate from the IRS, free and online, then open an estate account to collect money and pay bills. Keep estate money separate from your own.
Contact each life insurer, pension plan and annuity provider. Life insurance and retirement accounts with named beneficiaries usually pass directly to those beneficiaries, outside the will and probate.
Each institution will explain its process and what it needs, usually a certified death certificate and proof of the executor’s authority from the court.
Ask Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to add a deceased notice to your parent's credit file. This helps stop anyone from opening new credit in their name.
Cancel the driver's license or state ID, credit cards, phone plan and subscriptions. Memorialize or close email and social media accounts. Most large platforms have a process for this.
The executor can have mail forwarded through the Postal Service. Mail is often the best way to discover accounts and bills you didn't know about.
Many policies limit coverage when a home is vacant for an extended period. Tell the insurer what has happened and ask what coverage you need while the estate is settled.
The rest of the first year
Months 1 to 12
Settling an estate usually takes months, and complex estates can take longer. Taking it one step at a time is normal.
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List what your parent owned and owed. Valid debts are generally paid from the estate before anything is distributed. Children usually aren't personally responsible for a parent's debts unless they co-signed or shared the account, but rules vary by state.
A final individual income tax return (Form 1040) is due for the year of death. The estate may also need its own income tax return (Form 1041) if it earns income. Only very large estates owe federal estate tax, but some states have their own estate or inheritance taxes. A tax professional is worth it here.
If you're the beneficiary of an IRA or 401(k), how and when you withdraw affects your taxes. Most adult children who inherit must empty the account within 10 years. Talk to the account custodian or a tax advisor before moving money.
Inherited property usually gets a "stepped-up" tax basis, generally its value on the date of death, which can sharply reduce capital gains if you sell. If your parent owned a rental, compare keeping it, selling it, or exchanging it before you decide.
Once debts and taxes are settled, the executor distributes what is left according to the will or state law, then formally closes the estate. Talk as a family about sentimental items before anyone starts clearing the house.
The paperwork can crowd out grief, and grief can show up months later. Grief support groups, a counselor, or simply time with people who knew your parent can help. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S. to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Documents to gather in one place
Most of the delays in settling an estate come from hunting for paperwork. Set up one folder, physical or digital, and collect these as you find them:
- Certified copies of the death certificate
- The will, and any trust documents
- Life insurance policies and beneficiary designations
- Recent statements for bank, brokerage and retirement accounts
- Deeds, mortgage statements and property tax bills
- Vehicle titles and loan documents
- The last three years of tax returns
- Social Security number and Medicare card
- Military discharge papers (DD-214), if your parent served
- A list of regular bills, subscriptions and online accounts
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first when a parent dies?
Get a legal pronouncement of death. Hospital or hospice staff handle this, or call 911 if your parent died at home without hospice. Then tell close family, look for any written wishes about funeral arrangements or organ donation, and choose a funeral home. Almost everything else can wait a few days.
How many death certificates do I need?
There's no fixed number. Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies want their own certified copy, and some keep it. Count the institutions your parent dealt with and order a few extra. It's easier than reordering later.
Am I responsible for my parent's debts?
Usually not personally. Debts are generally paid from the estate before anything is passed on. You may be responsible if you co-signed a loan, shared a joint account, or live in a state with specific rules. Check with a probate attorney before paying any debt from your own money.
Do I have to go through probate?
It depends on your state and on how your parent held their assets. Accounts with named beneficiaries, jointly owned property, and assets in a living trust often skip probate. Many states also have simplified procedures for smaller estates.
How long does it take to settle an estate?
Simple estates can settle in a few months. Estates with real estate, disputes, or complicated taxes often take a year or more. Your state’s probate timelines and creditor-claim periods set the minimum.
Is this legal or tax advice?
No. This checklist is general information for the United States, and rules vary by state. For decisions about probate, taxes or property, talk to a licensed attorney or tax professional in your parent's state.
When you're ready
The tasks end, but adjusting to life without a parent takes longer. Our guide to navigating life transitions looks at why big changes feel the way they do and what helps.
If you inherited a rental property, the free keep-or-sell calculator from our sister site compares keeping, selling and exchanging it after tax.