What to Do When a Loved One Dies

Introduction

Grief doesn’t pause for bureaucracy. When a parent dies, you’re faced not only with loss but also a tangle of paperwork - bank accounts, death certificates, taxes, and digital accounts.

This guide breaks the process into simple steps, helping you balance grief and logistics while protecting your parent’s legacy.

1. The First Week: Immediate Tasks

• Get multiple certified copies of the death certificate, you’ll need them for banks, insurance, and estate processes. (AARP checklist)

• Notify the employer (if applicable) and request benefit details.

• Secure important documents - will, insurance, IDs, passwords, property deeds.

• Redirect mail to your address to prevent identity theft.

Read more:

• 10 Healthy Ways to Cope With Grief and Loss

• The 7 Types of Grief Explained

• Grief vs Depression: How to Tell the Difference

  
  

2. The First Few Months: Estate & Accounts

• Meet with an estate or probate specialist to understand your role and timelines. (Wealth Management guide)

• Create an inventory of assets and debts - include digital assets like PayPal, social media, and cloud storage.

• Close or transfer accounts - many platforms now offer legacy contact options.

• Notify government agencies to stop benefits and avoid fraud.

3. Long-Term: Closing the Estate and Honoring Legacy

• File final tax returns for your parent and the estate.

• Settle debts, distribute assets per the will or probate ruling.

• Address digital legacy - what happens to online memories, photos, or archives.

• Begin your healing work - many find meaning through rituals or digital memorials.

  
  

  Read more:

• Life After Loss: How to Heal, Rebuild, and Find Meaning Again

• Grief Rituals Around the World: How Cultures Honor Loss and Healing

• How Grief Affects the Body

Tips to Stay Grounded

• Break tasks into daily goals.

• Share responsibility with siblings or trusted friends.

• Keep copies of every document.

• Take breaks - emotional and administrative work require different energy.

• Start a small “memory project” alongside the forms - scan photos, write letters, or begin a digital Glow memorial.

The paperwork after a loved one’s death is heavy - but it’s also a final act of love. Each document you complete helps preserve their story, close chapters, and make space for what continues.