How long does all of this take?

The arrangements usually take one to two weeks. Accounts, benefits and insurance typically take one to three months. Estate work can run from a few months to over a year depending on complexity.

What if I've missed something?

Almost nothing here is unrecoverable. The items with real deadlines are benefit claims and any court or tax filing, so check those first if you are worried.

After-death checklist: what to do, in the order it matters

Most checklists you'll find are exhaustive lists of everything that might apply to anyone. This one is ordered by when it matters, so you can stop reading after the part you are currently in. Very little in the first week is legally urgent.

The short version

01First 24 hoursDeath pronounced. Person taken into care. Immediate family told. Home, pets and valuables secured.
02First weekFind any written wishes. Choose a funeral home. Agree who is doing what. Decide burial or cremation. Compare an itemized price list.
03Second weekConfirm the service. Collect death certificate copies. Notify the benefits agency and employer. Start a single document folder.
04First monthNotify banks, insurers, pension providers, utilities and landlords or lenders. Submit life insurance claims. Redirect mail.
05Months two to sixClose or transfer accounts. Handle property, vehicles and subscriptions. Begin any estate or probate process. Deal with digital accounts.
06AnytimeUpdate your own will and beneficiary designations, and write down what you learned for the next person who has to do this.

What can wait longer than people think

Clearing the house
Closing social media profiles
Selling a car or property
Thank-you notes
Deciding on a permanent memorial or headstone

What is worth doing sooner than people think

Finding out which regular income into the household stops
Asking about survivor or death benefits, which can have time limits
Getting an itemized price list before signing with a funeral home
Preserving photos and files before any account is closed
Writing down decisions as they are made

Why a generic list stops working

Around week two, the list stops being generic. Whether there was a will, whether there is property, whether a spouse survives, whether the person was employed or retired, each of these removes some items and adds others. That is the point where a checklist should become a plan for your situation rather than a longer list.

Common questions

How long does all of this take?: The arrangements usually take one to two weeks. Accounts, benefits and insurance typically take one to three months. Estate work can run from a few months to over a year depending on complexity.
What if I've missed something?: Almost nothing here is unrecoverable. The items with real deadlines are benefit claims and any court or tax filing, so check those first if you are worried.

You don't have to hold all of this in your head.

Tell AndWithYou what happened and we'll turn it into a short, prioritized path, and keep track of the rest as things change.

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