Free guide for families
What to do when
someone dies.
Step-by-step guidance for the first hours, days, and weeks. Free, clear, and written for families — not lawyers.
Immediate steps
The first 24 hours
These five actions are time-sensitive. Handle them as soon as you are able.
Get a death certificate
You will need multiple certified copies — typically 10 or more — for banks, insurers, and government agencies. The funeral home usually helps obtain these.
Contact a funeral home
The funeral home will transport the body, file paperwork, and guide the next steps. You have the right to shop around and are not obligated to use the hospital's recommendation.
Notify Social Security
Call 1-800-772-1213 to report the death. Any Social Security payment sent for the month of death must be returned, and survivors may be eligible for benefits.
Secure the home and property
Ensure the residence is locked, pets are cared for, and valuables are safe. If there is a vehicle, keep it secured and do not transfer ownership yet.
Notify immediate family
Make direct phone calls before posting anything publicly. Close family and friends deserve to hear the news personally — not through social media.
State guides
Every state has different rules.
Death certificate requirements, probate timelines, and next-of-kin laws vary widely by state.
Funeral home directory
Find a trusted funeral home near you.
Compare verified funeral homes by price, services, and location. You have the right to choose — take your time.
Cost transparency
Know what things cost before you call.
Funeral homes are legally required to provide pricing on request. Here are the national averages so you can negotiate with confidence.
National averages for 2026. Actual costs vary by region and provider.
Free guides
Common questions, answered plainly.
Practical articles on every step — from cremation costs to closing bank accounts.
What Is Direct Cremation?
Direct cremation is the most affordable cremation option, typically $700–$2,000. Learn exactly what is included, what happens to the ashes, and whether it is right for your family.
Cremation vs. Burial: Which Is Right for Your Family?
Cremation averages $1,500–$3,500. Burial averages $9,000–$12,000. Compare costs, environmental impact, religious considerations, and practical factors to decide what is right.
How to Write an Obituary
A step-by-step guide to writing an obituary. Includes what to include, how long it should be, where to publish it, and a free template you can use.
Ready to organize everything
in one place?
Once you have chosen a funeral home, the paperwork begins — and it is overwhelming. Death triggers 47 different forms across banks, government agencies, insurers, and courts, each with its own deadline.
FuneralFlow handles all of it — guiding you through every document, tracking legal deadlines, and keeping everything in one secure place.
No credit card required
Full checklist
A complete guide, phase by phase.
Every task has a time window. Here is a preview of what needs to happen — and when.
- Obtain a pronouncement of death
- Call the funeral home
- Notify immediate family
- Secure the home and property
- Care for any pets
- Locate the will or estate documents
- Order 10+ certified death certificates
- Notify Social Security Administration
- Contact life insurance companies
- Arrange the funeral or memorial
- Notify the employer and bank
- Redirect mail if needed
- File for probate if required
- Close or transfer financial accounts
- Notify credit card companies
- Cancel subscriptions and memberships
- Transfer vehicle titles
- File a final tax return