If the deceased was a registered organ donor or expressed a wish to donate their organs or tissues, it’s important to act quickly. Organ and tissue donation is time-sensitive and often needs to be arranged shortly after death, depending on the circumstances.

Helpful Tips

• Check for Donor Registration: Look for an organ donor card, check their driver's license, or consult national donor registries (e.g., Donate Life in the U.S., NHS Organ Donor Register in the UK).

• Inform Medical Staff Promptly: Notify hospital or emergency personnel immediately if the deceased is a donor.

• Contact a Local Organ Procurement Organization (OPO): These organizations coordinate the donation process and can guide you through the legal and medical steps.

• Respect Legal & Ethical Guidelines: If there’s no formal registration, next of kin may still be able to authorize donation—check local laws and hospital policies.

• Include Donation Wishes in Obituary or Memorial Plans (if desired): This can help honor the person’s legacy and inspire others.

If the deceased was responsible for the care of children, pets, elderly family members, or others with special needs, making immediate and longer-term arrangements is essential. Ensuring their safety, comfort, and emotional well-being is a top priority during this time.

Helpful Tips

• Secure Immediate Care: Reach out to trusted family, friends, or neighbors who can step in right away to provide temporary care.

• Check Legal Guardianship Plans: Review the will or legal documents to see if guardianship or care instructions were outlined.

• Contact Relevant Authorities if Needed: If no arrangements are clear, or there’s no one available, contact child protective services or animal welfare organizations to ensure safe, temporary custody.

• Maintain Routine Where Possible: Keeping familiar routines, items, or surroundings can help reduce stress for children and pets during the transition.

• Communicate Clearly with Caregivers: Share medical info, routines, and emotional needs to help temporary or permanent caregivers provide appropriate support.

Most people have a few close family members and friends who should be told about your loved one's passing as soon as possible and before they hear from others. You should quickly identify these people and call them directly or tell them in person.

If your loved one lived on their own, make sure the home and any vehicles are locked up to prevent crime. If you anticipate that it will sit empty for a while, consider notifying the landlord, a neighbor and/or the police so they can keep an eye on it.

A legal pronouncement of death is the official confirmation and documentation that someone has passed away. This step is required before a death certificate can be issued and is crucial for handling all legal, financial, and funeral arrangements.

Helpful Tips

• If the Death Occurred in a Hospital or Care Facility: The attending medical staff will usually handle the pronouncement and begin the paperwork automatically.

• If the Death Occurred at Home (Expected): Contact the person's doctor or a hospice nurse (if applicable) to officially confirm and document the death.

• If the Death Occurred at Home (Unexpected): Call emergency services (911 or your local equivalent). Paramedics or a coroner may be required to confirm death and determine whether an investigation is needed.

• Wait for the Official Documentation: Once pronounced, you’ll receive confirmation—this may be a preliminary document before the full death certificate is issued.

• Keep Copies: You’ll need multiple certified copies of the death certificate for legal and administrative tasks like closing accounts, claiming insurance, and arranging the funeral.

Registering the death with the local or national government is a legal requirement in most countries. This process officially records the death, allows you to obtain certified copies of the death certificate, and is necessary for handling the person’s estate, benefits, and other official matters.

Helpful Tips

• Know Where to Register: This is usually done through a local registry office, municipal office, or vital records department. In some countries, hospitals may initiate this process.

• Bring Required Information: You’ll typically need the deceased’s full name, date and place of birth, address, occupation, marital status, and the names of their parents and spouse.

• Provide the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death: This is issued by a doctor or coroner and must be presented when registering the death.

• Request Multiple Certified Copies of the Death Certificate: These will be needed for closing bank accounts, managing insurance claims, transferring property, and more.

• Ask About Next Steps: Some offices may offer guidance on notifying government agencies (like social security, pensions, or tax authorities) or may do so automatically.

Many families find that they still need to pay thousands of dollars in funeral expenses out of pocket. If doing so will cause your family hardship, consider setting up a memorial fundraiser where friends and family can donate in your loved one's memory to help you cover funeral costs and other expenses.

Usually included within funeral home services.

First, check to see if your loved one had existing arrangements with a funeral home or other service. If you aren't sure, it's a good idea to ask other family members and look anywhere that your loved one kept important papers. If the responsibility falls to you to select a provider, there are three types of organizations for you to choose from: Funeral home, Direct cremation company, Whole body donation organization.

Funeral home.

Working with a traditional funeral home is required if you want to bury your loved one and/or if you want support in planning the funeral or memorial service.

Direct cremation company.

This is a good option if you want your loved one to be cremated and you want to organize a memorial event on your own (or don't want to have one). It's generally much more affordable than working with a traditional funeral home.

Whole body donation organization.

This option is usually completely free to families where an organization accepts and manages the donation of a deceased body for scientific research and medical education.

If you haven't already, decide whether you'd like to bury or cremate your loved one. It's a personal choice, and each has its pros and cons.

The final resting place options available to you depend on the method of disposition you choose (burial or cremation, for example). Select the method of disposition for further guidance.

You can choose to purchase a casket or urn directly through your funeral home. However, you can generally save about 50% by buying either online, and some sellers can even deliver overnight. Your funeral home cannot charge you extra for purchasing these items elsewhere.

There's no one right way to hold an event for someone you've lost. Some families prefer more traditional, somber funerals, while others prefer more lively celebrations of life and many families hold several different events. Connect with those who were closest to your loved one to decide what event(s) you'd like to hold.

Determine the budget for your funeral and how you plan to pay for it. Check average funeral costs in your state or region.

A memorial event can be held almost anywhere. Common locations include: The funeral home, The religious institution of the deceased, A friend or family member's home, A favorite restaurant or club, A favorite park or other outdoor location.

Work with close friends and family, as well as the venue, to determine the date and time of the funeral.

There will likely be people who are unable to attend in person due to personal conflicts, health concerns or an inability to travel. Streaming can be a helpful way to let those people still watch the event(s) from afar.

If you'd like people to welcome people, give eulogies, serve as pallbearers or hold any other roles, it's a good idea to select these people in advance and ask them to participate.

Arrange for a clergy member or celebrant to lead the service.

If you are tasked with giving a eulogy, it's a good idea to prepare and practice your remarks in advance. If you're struggling to find the right words yourself, a professional obituary writer can help.

It's helpful to plan out who will speak when, as well as any other formal activities you'd like to hold.

Many families like to have printed programs, prayer cards or other materials to hand out at the service.

It's common to put together a memorial slideshow or video to show at the service. If you'd like to have one, but don't have the skills or time to put one together yourself, you can hire someone to make one for you.

Some families like to hire a photographer or videographer for funeral events. If you'd like to have one, we can provide professional recommendations.

If you'd like to decorate with flowers or any other meaningful decor (photos are a popular choice), be sure to order them in advance.

People often choose to serve food either at the memorial event (with more informal setups) or at a reception after.

Writing thank you notes is a thoughtful way to express gratitude for support, kindness, or gifts during challenging times. It helps maintain connections and offers emotional closure. To do it, list those who helped, then write brief, heartfelt notes expressing specific appreciation, either handwritten or typed, and send them promptly.

If you were a surviving spouse (or other close family member), you may be eligible for a one-time survivor benefit of $255 and potentially monthly social security payments. You may be eligible for social security survivor benefits if you: Were married to the deceased at their time of passing and are age 60 or older (or age 50 and over if disabled), Were previously married to the deceased under some circumstances, Are an unmarried child of the deceased who is younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if you are a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school) or over the age of 18 with a disability that began before age 22, Are a parent of the deceased age 62 or older who was dependent on the deceased for at least half of your support.

If your loved one was a veteran, there's a good chance they're eligible for veterans benefits. Service related deaths receive up to $2,000 towards burial expenses for deaths that occurred on or after 9/11/01. If the body was buried in a national VA cemetery, you might also be entitled to reimbursement for transportation fees. For non-service related deaths, the VA will cover up to $796 of burial and funeral expenses for deaths that occurred on or after 10/1/2019, so long as the veteran was hospitalized by the VA at the time of death. If the veteran was not hospitalized by the VA at the time of death, the VA will pay up to $300 towards burial and funeral expenses with an additional $796 plot allowance if the veteran is not buried at a national cemetery. The VA increases burial and plot allowances annually, so it's always good to check the current allowances.

If your loved one was working at the time of their death, contact his or her employer to find out about union death benefits, pension plans and credit unions.

If your loved one had any trusts that were transferable upon death, follow the instructions of the trust in order to transfer it.

Death certificates are necessary for many different things after someone passes (such as closing accounts and receiving social security death benefits). Most families find that they need at least five, but sometimes many more.

Many people like to make donations in memory of someone after they pass. You can suggest donations to a favorite charity, a more personal cause (e.g. an education fund for a family member or to help with funeral expenses), or let people know to donate to any cause of their choosing.

Most estates will need to go through probate. To get started, contact a local probate attorney or enlist the help of a digital first-probate service (which can often save you many thousands of dollars).

You'll need to file a tax return on behalf of both the individual and the estate, and many people find that they need help.

Identify any bank accounts that your loved one had (mail can help with this) and cancel them or transfer them to your name.

Closing credit cards will help prevent fraud and unexpected automatic charges. Leverage your loved one's mail, wallet and any online accounts you have access to in order to identify open credit card accounts.

Cancel insurance policies that are no longer needed to avoid unnecessary payments. These may include: Long-term disability insurance, Health insurance, Automobile insurance, Homeowner's insurance.

Identify any other online accounts that your loved one had, so you can close those, as well. These could be social media accounts, shopping accounts, professional accounts and anything else they may have signed up for. If you have access to your loved one's email account, go through their emails to identify accounts they've signed up for. If you don't, ask family members and close friends about which accounts they're aware of. You'll need to check each company's support section or reach out to their support team to learn more about how to close each account.

Closing email accounts should generally be the last accounts that you close, as they can contain information that helps you identify other accounts to close. When you're ready to do so, select your loved one's email provider to get instructions.

If your loved one used online payment accounts like Venmo or Paypal, you should make sure any available funds get made available to the estate.

If your loved one traveled, they may have airline miles that can be transferred or donated. If you have access to their email or mail, search both for any account statements or look through any calendars to see which airlines they may have booked.

Similar to airline miles, your loved one may have hotel rewards points that can be transferred or donated. Look for statements in their email or mail, or check any calendars or date books to find out which hotels they've booked regularly.

If the person had a job (paid or volunteer), you should let the company or organization know as quickly as possible, so they aren't worried or left in a bad situation when your loved one doesn't show up.

As soon as close friends and family members have been notified, it's generally a good idea to let everyone know about the death. The easiest way to do this quickly is to share a memorial website, which allows others to easily reshare the information and ensures that everyone hears the same thing. Simply add any information you want to a memorial website, then share the link with others on Facebook and via email or text. If you're struggling with what to say, here are some articles that may help: How to Announce a Death on Facebook, How to Inform Someone of a Death via Email.

You'll need to fill out claim forms for any life insurance policies that your loved one had. If you're unsure about whether your loved one had a life insurance policy, start by searching 'How to Find a Life Insurance Policy After Someone Dies'.

Writing someone's obituary may feel daunting, but templates can help you get started. With a little work, they're a great way to capture the life and impact your loved one had.

Adding your loved one to the Deceased Do Not Contact (DDNC) will prevent you from continuing to receive marketing content addressed to your loved one in the mail. To do this, simply fill out the Deceased Do Not Contact Registration.

Notifying credit reporting agencies of the death will help minimize the chance of identity theft, and fortunately, you only need to notify one agency (which will then inform the others on your behalf). Make sure the social security office has been notified first. To do this, send a letter to one of the agencies along with a death certificate. Include the following info about the deceased: Legal name, Social security number, Date of birth, Date of death. If you're the spouse of the deceased, include: Your name, Mailing address, Copy of a piece of ID (like a license). If you're the executor or someone other than the spouse, include: Copy of the requester's ID, Copy of the will, executor agreement or power of attorney documentation. To report it to TransUnion, mail the letter to: TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016. Once TransUnion receives the letter and supporting documents, they'll mark the individual as deceased on their credit report within 5 days. They will also notify the other two major credit reporting agencies. Once the file has been marked, they will send you letter to let you know it's been processed.

Once you've notified major credit reporting agencies, request a copy of the deceased's credit report so that you can review the report and find any outstanding debt and other credit accounts you may not already know about. (If you need to request a credit report from other agencies, you'll have to request it from them directly). Contact all creditors to notify them of the death. (You should be able to find their contact info on the credit report.) Ask them to mark the person who died as deceased in their files. You'll need to send them a copy of the death certificate. You should also check the credit report for any suspected fraud.

If your loved one had valuables that you or others don't want to keep, you can sell them individually or organize an estate sale to sell everything at once.

If there are items that you don't want and have permission to give away, you many find that other friends and family members would like them. An item that belonged to someone can be a great way to continue to feel close to them.

If there are useful items that no one in your community is interested in, consider donating them.

Finally, throw away anything else that hasn't been claimed or donated. If there is a lot, you may want to consider calling a junk removal service.

Arrange for personal support and reflection if needed (grief counseling, support groups).

Having a legal will can reduce stress and conflict for your family when you pass away. There are now several websites that allow you to put together a will online for free or a low fee, so getting things in writing is now easier than ever.

Help your family by recording your funeral preferences, open accounts and more. Make things as easy as possible for your family if something happens to you.

If your death could cause financial troubles for your family, life insurance may be a good option for you. Smaller life insurance policies can be used to cover basic funeral costs, while a larger policy may be helpful if your family is dependent on your salary.

Document preferences for burial or cremation, preferred funeral service type, and any specific wishes (e.g., music, readings).

Obtain and store a copy of the deceased’s will and any advance directives. Collect vital records: birth certificate, marriage certificate, and social security card. Gather insurance policies, pre-paid funeral plans, and any other relevant documents.

Compile a list of the deceased’s personal information: full name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number.

Note any religious or cultural practices that should be observed. Identify preferred clergy or celebrants if applicable.

Determine if there is an existing will and estate plan if none, consult with an estate attorney to set one up if needed.

Anything mentioned in your loved one's will or covered in probate needs to be distributed to the new owner.