The First 24–48 Hours

What to do

Secure their phone

This is the most important thing on this list. Their phone is where two-factor authentication codes arrive, where password resets get sent, and where identity thieves will try to gain access. If you have access to their phone, keep it charged and accessible. Do not cancel the phone number yet — you will need it for weeks to access their online accounts.

Do not close their email account

Their email is where account confirmations, password resets, and final statements will arrive for the next several months. You will need access to it. If you can log in, do so now. If you can't, note that you'll need to request access — but don't rush. The email account should stay open.

Notify their bank to freeze accounts

Call their primary bank and notify them of the death. Ask them to flag the accounts. This is a freeze, not a closure — it prevents unauthorized transactions while you gather the documentation needed to formally settle the accounts. You'll need a death certificate to do this properly; most banks will accept a verbal notification now and require documentation later.

Notify their employer

If they were employed, contact HR. This stops direct deposits, begins any death benefit process, and starts the clock on benefits-related notifications for their dependents if applicable.

Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate

You will need 10 to 15 certified copies. Every financial institution, every insurer, every government agency will require one. The funeral home typically orders them; ask how many they are ordering and whether you should order more. Certified copies (with the raised seal) are different from regular copies. Get more than you think you need.

Notify the Social Security Administration

The funeral home often handles this. Confirm that they have. If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, any payment received after the date of death must be returned. If the family is eligible for survivor benefits, the SSA will explain the process.

What not to do

• Do not start closing accounts yet. You need the death certificate first, and most institutions won't act without it. Starting now will result in frustration, not progress.
• Do not cancel their phone number. You may need it for two-factor authentication on their accounts for weeks. This is a common mistake that creates serious problems later.
• Do not delete their email. You will need it. See above.
• Do not make major financial decisions. The first 48 hours is not the time to decide what to do with the estate, the house, the car, or the investments. These decisions can wait. You cannot make good decisions right now, and you don't have to.
• Do not post on their social media unless you're ready. There is no deadline for this.