Printable Checklist After Death of Spouse
Updated October 11, 2026
This printable checklist after death of spouse is for the days when you cannot think straight. Print it, put it on the counter, and check off one thing at a time.
The first days
- Get a legal pronouncement of death
- Call family and a funeral home
- Ask one friend to be your helper for calls
- Secure the home and pets
- Order certified death certificates
The first weeks
- Notify Social Security and ask about survivor benefits
- Call life insurance companies and file claims
- Contact banks about joint and individual accounts
- Check which bills come out of which accounts
- Talk to an estate attorney about the will and property
Later on
Update your own will and beneficiaries, re-title the car and home if needed, and file a final tax return. There is no deadline for grief, and most of this can wait a few weeks.
Get the free printable
Our free First 7 Days checklist is two pages and prints on any home printer. If you want to spare your own family this search one day, the In Case I Die Binder keeps everything in one place.
The In Case I Die Binder: Simple Fill-In Edition · 46-page fillable PDF · US Letter
Get the Binder nowType on your computer or print and write. Yours to keep and re-print.
Questions
Can I get survivor benefits after my spouse dies?
Possibly. Contact Social Security; they will explain eligibility.
Should I close joint bank accounts?
Talk to the bank first. Many joint accounts pass directly to the surviving owner.
Is the checklist free?
Yes, the 2-page First 7 Days checklist is free.
Free: The First 7 Days After a Death checklist
A calm, 2-page printable checklist. Day by day, what to do and what can wait.
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