A place to begin
When someone has just died
The first hours and days can feel unreal. You do not have to understand everything or make every decision at once. Begin with the people who can stand beside you, then take one necessary step at a time.
Begin with support
- Ask one trusted person to stay close, take notes and help return calls.
- Tell close family members before posting publicly, when that is possible.
- Let other people handle meals, transportation, children, pets and ordinary errands.
- Write decisions down. Shock and exhaustion can make details difficult to remember.
Gather the first information
- Locate any written funeral, burial, cremation or faith wishes.
- Gather the person’s full legal name, birth information, family details and military service, if applicable.
- Ask how many certified death certificates may be needed for insurance, financial and legal matters.
- Keep important papers, keys, identification and account information together in one safe place.
Let some decisions wait
Closing accounts, sorting belongings and making major financial decisions may not all be urgent. Unless a deadline or safety concern requires action, it is reasonable to pause until you have reliable guidance and more capacity to think.