What to Do When a Parent Dies: Checklist
Updated October 11, 2026
What to do when a parent dies: take it one step at a time. This checklist breaks the work into the first 24 hours, the first week, the first month, and the first year, so you only have to look at today.
First 24 hours
- If the death was at home, call 911 or the hospice nurse
- Get a legal pronouncement of death
- Call close family and one friend who can help
- Choose and call a funeral home
- Secure the home, car, pets, and valuables
First week
- Order 10 or more certified death certificates
- Plan the service with the funeral home
- Notify the employer and Social Security
- Look for the will and any end-of-life binder
- Forward mail and keep a list of expenses
First month and first year
File the will with the probate court if required, get appointed as executor, notify banks and insurers, and file life insurance claims. Over the year: inventory assets, pay valid debts, file final taxes, and distribute what remains. Rules differ by state, so an estate attorney can confirm what applies.
Make it easier for your own children
The In Case I Die Binder puts your accounts, documents, and wishes in one place, with this full checklist built in.
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
What is the first thing to do when a parent dies?
Get a legal pronouncement of death, then call close family and a funeral home.
How many death certificates do I need?
Many families order 10 or more; banks, insurers, and agencies each may want a certified copy.
Do I have to pay my parent's debts?
Generally, debts are paid from the estate, not by children personally. Ask an estate attorney about your state.
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.
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.