What to Do After a Loved One Passes Away: A Guide for the First Year
- Colin McMichen
- Apr 21
- 5 min read
Losing someone you love is one of life’s most painful experiences. Whether the loss was sudden or expected, the grief can feel overwhelming—and knowing what to do next may be the furthest thing from your mind. Yet, important decisions and responsibilities often follow in the days, weeks, and months after a death. This guide is here to help you navigate the next year, one step at a time.
Take Care of Yourself First
Before you focus on paperwork and plans, pause to care for your emotional health. Grief is complex and consuming—especially when you have lost a spouse, parent, child, or close companion. Be kind to yourself, seek support from family and friends, and do not hesitate to reach out to a grief counselor or support group. Many people find therapy helpful not just in the immediate aftermath, but also in the months and years ahead.
What to Do in the First Few Days
Personal Tasks
Make funeral or memorial service arrangements. If your loved one pre-purchased a burial plot or crypt, contact the facility for next steps.
Write and publish an obituary. You can do this through a funeral home, newspaper, or social media. If your loved one left instructions, honor their wishes.
If your loved one was a veteran, contact the VA. They may offer burial allowances, a headstone, a flag, or other benefits.
Legal Tasks
Locate their will or trust. Check home and office safes, safety deposit boxes, and office files.
Consult an attorney. Legal guidance can help you transfer assets, pay debts, and fulfill your role as a personal representative or trustee, if applicable. Depending on your relationship to your loved one, and your access to their assets, you may have duties and responsibilities you must uphold to the beneficiaries and creditors of their estate. When you meet with an attorney, discuss their fees, the process (including how long it may take), and whether it is necessary for you to hire an attorney.
Financial Tasks
Avoid using their funds for personal expenses. Keep their finances separate until advised otherwise by a lawyer.
Track all expenses. Keep receipts for funeral costs, property upkeep, and anything else you pay out-of-pocket—you may be reimbursed by the estate.
Notify banks and financial institutions. If there are “payable on death” or “transfer on death” designations on file, these accounts will bypass probate. Additionally, if the accounts were owned jointly with rights of survivorship, they will bypass probate as well. The beneficiaries and joint owners will work with the financial institution to complete their paperwork and ensure the transfers occur.
Apply for death benefits. Contact Social Security, the VA, insurers, and past or current employers. Some benefits may be lost if not claimed promptly.
Check your own health insurance. You may be eligible to continue coverage or switch to a new plan. Visit healthcare.gov for options.
Identify and continue essential payments. This includes mortgage, utilities, and insurance premiums.
What to Do in the First Two Weeks
Personal Tasks
Locate important documents. These include:
Will
Trust
Certified Death Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Social Security Number or Card
Names and Addresses of Heirs, Beneficiaries, and Next of Kin
Prior Year(s) Tax Returns - 7 Years Back if You can Find Them (Your loved one's accountant may be able to help you access tax returns from prior years and may have information about your loved one's business arrangements that you are not aware of).
Original Life Insurance Policies and Annuity Contracts
Government Life Insurance Policy Numbers
Financial Institution Records (Banks, Investments, Retirement Accounts, etc.)
Cryptocurrency Records and Information to Access their Cryptocurrency Accounts
Safety Deposit Box Records and Keys
Real Estate Deeds
Automobile, Boat, and Plane Registrations
Business Records, such as Partnership Agreements, Buy-Sell Agreements, Tax Records, Balance Sheets, and Inventories
Employee Benefits and Pension Statements
Medical and Disability Insurance Policies and Certificates
Fire, Homeowners, Automobile, and Other Casualty Insurance Coverage
Credit Card Statements
Mortgage Statements
Loan Statements
Current Bills
Medical Bills
Do not discard anything too soon. Even old statements or expired policies may hold useful information or benefits. Your attorney and financial advisor can advise you as to which documents you need to keep.
Order 10–15 certified death certificates. These are required for legal, financial, and administrative tasks. If your loved one passed away in Alabama, visit: Alabama Public Health.
Legal Tasks
Discuss outstanding debts with your attorney. Many debts are paid by the estate, not you personally.
Financial Tasks
Notify creditors and lenders (with attorney guidance). Ask them to freeze accounts to prevent fraud and check if any debts are covered by insurance.
If children are in college, reach out to their school’s financial aid office. They may qualify for additional support.
What to Do in the First Month
Personal Tasks
Organize personal belongings. Make a list of sentimental or valuable items to distribute according to the will, trust, or through family discussions.
Legal Tasks
Discuss your next steps with your attorney, if probate is necessary, your attorney can advise you as to the steps you need to take and the information you need to gather. If you are the trustee for your loved one’s trust, your attorney can guide you through the steps you need to take to administer the trust.
Financial Tasks
Meet with a financial advisor. They can help you create a new budget and adjust your investments, especially if your financial situation has changed. If you have inherited retirement accounts, they can counsel you on the rules that apply to those accounts.
Update your own beneficiaries. Change life insurance and account designations if your loved one was previously listed.
Review your own insurance needs. A financial advisor can help reassess your situation.
What to Do in the First Six Months to One Year
Personal Tasks
Start organizing your personal information for your loved ones. Document your wishes and organize key paperwork. Consider using our Family Blueprint.
Avoid major decisions if possible. Give yourself space to grieve before moving, changing jobs, or making major lifestyle changes.
Legal Tasks
Update your estate plan. If your loved one was your personal representative, power of attorney, or healthcare proxy, name someone new.
Transfer ownership of jointly held assets. Work with your attorney to retitle deeds and update ownership records for vehicles, property, and utilities.
Update insurance coverage for assets that were previously jointly owned. The insurance coverage for each asset should reflect the new ownership of the property.
Review estate taxes and filings. Your attorney and accountant can help you determine which tax documents need to be filed on behalf of your loved one.
Continue to work with your attorney. Follow their advice as to the payment of debts and distribution of property.
Financial Tasks
Meet with a financial advisor to adjust your budget and financial goals. Whether your income has changed, or you have received an inheritance, now is the time to reassess.
Finding Your Way Forward
There is no “right” timeline for grieving. This guide is meant to help you stay organized and feel supported during one of life’s hardest seasons. Take each step at your own pace, ask for help when you need it, and give yourself grace every step of the way.
Your Next Steps
You are not alone in this. Our team at Provident Law / Estate Planning LLC is ready to walk with you, offering guidance tailored to your needs. Reach out to schedule a consultation today.
About the Author
Colin McMichen is an experienced attorney and the founder of Provident Law / Estate Planning LLC, a Birmingham, Alabama based firm. With a focus on estate planning and probate law, Colin is dedicated to helping individuals and families make estate planning easy.
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