Afterward Guide
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The First 30 Daysa guided checklist
Read top to bottom, or skip to the section that matches today. Each item is small enough to do in one phone call or one trip. Your progress saves on this device. Share the link to send the same view to family.
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Before You Begin
Two warnings that matter only if you haven’t done these yet. If you have, skip ahead.
If you haven’t notified the bank, move autopay charges first.
Banks freeze accounts the moment they learn of a death. Mortgage, insurance, and utility payments linked to the account will bounce. Move them to another account before you call. If the account was already frozen, contact the bank’s estate services department to request emergency releases for critical payments.
If you haven’t canceled the phone plan, port the number first.
Most online accounts use this number for two-factor authentication. Port it to Google Voice ($20) or your own plan before canceling. If the number is already gone, you can still access most accounts — it just takes longer (call each provider directly).
Phase 1 — Immediate (Days 1–3)
Most urgent. Only a death certificate is required for these.
Call Social Security to report the death
1-800-772-1213 • Phone only — cannot be done online • Any benefits paid after the date of death must be returned • Your funeral home may have already done this — call to confirm.
Secure the home and keep insurance active
Lock up, check that homeowner’s/renter’s insurance is current. A lapsed policy during probate can be catastrophic.
Preserve your loved one’s phone number
Port to Google Voice ($20) or your plan BEFORE canceling theirs. It’s the key to accessing their online accounts.
Notify the employer (if applicable)
Contact HR. Ask about final paycheck, life insurance, pension, COBRA continuation for dependents.
Phase 1 — This Week (Days 3–7)
Still death-certificate-only. Knock these out within a week.
Notify the credit bureaus
Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. Send by mail with a certified death certificate. Prevents identity theft on the deceased’s credit file. Tip: Experian and TransUnion share records — you only need to send two letters, one to Equifax and one to either of the others.
File life insurance claims
Call the claims department. You’ll need the policy number, death certificate, and beneficiary ID.
Notify banks and credit unions
Call each bank’s estate services department. Joint accounts with a surviving co-owner transfer automatically. Sole accounts require Letters Testamentary.
Contact pension or retirement plan administrators
Employer HR can direct you. Ask about survivor benefits and required paperwork.
Update auto and homeowner’s insurance policies
Remove the deceased from policies. Do NOT cancel — update the policyholder name.
Begin searching for unknown accounts
Pull credit reports from annualcreditreport.com • Search the NAIC life insurance locator • Check missingmoney.com for unclaimed assets.
Phase 2 — Weeks 2–4
Most of these need Letters Testamentary (court proof you can act for the estate). If you don’t have them yet, talk to a probate attorney — typically $3,000–$8,000 for a simple probate, paid from estate assets.
Close or transfer sole bank accounts
Requires Letters Testamentary + death certificate. The bank will guide you through their estate process.
Handle retirement accounts (IRA, 401k, 403b)
Contact the plan administrator. Surviving spouses can do a spousal rollover. Non-spouse beneficiaries follow the 10-year distribution rule. Consult a CPA ($200–$500) before making any withdrawal decisions — cashing out a $300,000 IRA at once could result in $70,000–$100,000+ in taxes.
Address the mortgage
Contact the mortgage servicer. Surviving spouses can typically assume the loan. If the estate will sell the property, keep making monthly payments until closing.
Transfer vehicle titles
Visit your state DMV. Bring death certificate, title, and your ID. Process varies by state.
Transfer or cancel utilities and services
Electric, gas, water, internet, phone. Call each provider to transfer to a new name or close the account.
Notify the post office
File a mail forwarding request if the deceased lived separately. Monitor all incoming mail for at least 6 months to discover unknown accounts.
Cancel credit cards in the deceased’s name only
Call the number on the back of each card. Ask about balance forgiveness — some issuers will forgive remaining balances if you ask.
Phase 3 — Months 2–6
Longer deadlines. Handle these as you discover them.
File the deceased’s final federal tax return
Form 1040. Due April 15 of the year after death. Consider hiring a CPA ($200–$500 for a final return).
File the deceased’s final state tax return (if applicable)
Check your state’s requirements. Nine states have no income tax.
Cancel the deceased’s driver’s license
Contact your state DMV. Some states do this automatically when the death is registered.
Cancel the deceased’s passport
Mail to U.S. State Department with a death certificate and a letter requesting cancellation.
Cancel subscriptions and memberships
Streaming services, gym, magazines, software, meal kits. Check bank statements for recurring charges.
Handle digital accounts
Email, social media, cloud storage. Each platform has a deceased-user process. Prioritize email access — it’s the master key to resetting other passwords.
Monitor credit reports for identity fraud
Check all three bureaus at 30, 60, and 90 days. annualcreditreport.com.
Register with the Deceased Do Not Contact list
ims-dm.com/cgi/ddnc.php. Reduces predatory mail and solicitations.
Opt out of prescreened credit offers
optoutprescreen.com or 1-888-567-8688. Stops credit card offers in the deceased’s name.
Find accounts you don’t know about
Unknown accounts are the #1 source of surprises months after a death. Do all five within the first two weeks.
Pull credit reports from all three bureaus
annualcreditreport.com (free, official). Lists every open account, loan, and credit card.
Search for unknown life insurance policies
NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator at eapps.naic.org/orphanedpolicy. Free. Results take up to 90 days — submit early.
Check for unclaimed assets
missingmoney.com. Search every state the deceased lived in. Finds forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, refunds.
Review 12 months of bank and credit card statements
Look for recurring charges you don’t recognize — subscriptions, storage units, insurance premiums, donations.
Monitor all incoming mail for 6 months
Bills, renewal notices, and annual reports will surface accounts nobody knew about. Do not forward or discard.