What actually happens the week after someone dies
Your family won’t need to do everything at once. A good plan tells them what comes first, who’s in charge, where the documents are, and what can wait — so the first week feels manageable instead of overwhelming.
These are the questions that matter most when you’re thinking about what your family will actually do.
What does my family do in the first 24 to 72 hours?
The first few days are mostly about people and arrangements — not paperwork. The legal work waits.
First day
- Contact the funeral home or hospice.
- Notify close family — spouse, children, parents, siblings.
- Secure the home — lock doors, bring in the mail, care for any pets.
- Secure vehicles and any property at risk of loss.
- Notify the employer of the deceased if they were working.
- Take care of yourself — eat, rest, accept help when it’s offered.
Next day or two
- Locate the original will, trust, powers of attorney, and advance directives.
- Find any list of contacts and beneficiaries the deceased left behind.
- Identify the named executor (in the will) or successor trustee (in the trust).
- Begin making funeral or memorial arrangements.
- Notify clergy or officiant if you want one involved.
- Notify extended family and close friends.
- Start a running list of accounts, policies, and assets as you find them.
By end of week
- Hold the funeral, memorial, or service.
- Order multiple original death certificates — 10 or more is typical, and the funeral home can usually handle the request.
- Notify Social Security if the deceased was receiving benefits.
- Notify the primary bank and any joint-account holders.
- Notify the employer’s HR about benefits, life insurance, and final pay.
- Contact the estate planning attorney about next steps for probate or trust administration.
- Stop recurring charges that should end — subscriptions, memberships, automatic renewals.
- Don’t make irreversible decisions yet — distributions, asset sales, and large transfers can all wait.
Who takes charge — and how do they know it’s them?
Who takes charge depends on what’s in your estate plan. Each path has a different answer.
If you have a will
The executor you named
Confirmed by the probate court after the will is filed.
If you have a trust
The successor trustee you named
Takes charge immediately under the terms of the trust — no probate filing required.
If you have no plan
An administrator appointed by the court
A family member petitions; the court chooses among those who apply.
In each case, telling that person ahead of time — and leaving the documents where they can find them — is what prevents the family disputes about authority that complicate so many estates.
What documents will my family need?
A short list, kept somewhere they can find it. The smoother the search, the faster the rest moves.
Estate plan documents
- The will, with original signatures.
- The trust document and any amendments.
- Powers of attorney for finances.
- Advance directive for healthcare and any HIPAA authorization.
- A list of who to contact and in what order, with phone numbers.
- A letter of instruction or any personal-effects memorandum.
Financial information
- A list of bank, brokerage, and retirement accounts with institution names.
- Life insurance policies and beneficiary designation forms.
- The deed to the home and any other real estate.
- Vehicle titles and registrations.
- Recent tax returns — needed for the final return.
- Passwords and access information for key accounts and devices.
- Safe deposit box location, number, and key.
What gets handled quickly — and what can wait?
Most of the legal work isn’t urgent. Trying to do everything in the first week is what overwhelms families.
| What needs to be done | Handle quickly | Can wait days or weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral and burial arrangements. | ||
| Notify close family and the employer. | ||
| Secure the home and any vehicles. | ||
| Stop recurring charges that should end. | ||
| Probate filings or trust administration. | ||
| Closing accounts and consolidating assets. | ||
| Distributing personal property. | ||
| Selling real estate or other major assets. |
How Brent helps you
- Drafts your plan so the right person clearly takes charge when the time comes
- Builds a document and information list so your family can find what they need fast
- Walks your executor or trustee through what they’ll actually do
- Stays available to your family after death so they aren’t figuring it out alone
Will your family know what to do?
Five quick questions about what your family would face in the first week after you’re gone.
60-second guided check. Bring the result to your consultation.