For executors and families · US edition
Someone you love has died. Here is exactly what to do next.
The paperwork arrives at the same time as the grief, and nobody hands you instructions. This calm, step-by-step kit tells you what to do and when, from the first 48 hours to closing the estate.
- What is truly urgent in the first 48 hours, and what can wait
- Which deadlines you can't miss: Social Security, benefits, insurance and accounts
- One place to track every account, call, bill and letter
23-page workbook · 12 letter templates · estate tracker spreadsheet
$19 · instant download (PDF, Word, Excel) · secure checkout via Gumroad · print as many copies as your family needs
What to do first when someone dies
Only a few things are truly urgent in the first 24 to 48 hours: get a legal pronouncement of death, tell close family, care for dependents and pets, check for written wishes, choose a funeral home, secure the home and do not pay the person's debts from your own money. Banks, Social Security, insurance and subscriptions can usually wait a few days.
- Get a legal pronouncement of death. In a hospital or care facility, staff handle this. At home under hospice, call the hospice nurse. For an unexpected death at home, call 911.
- Tell close family and friends. Ask one or two people to help spread the news so you do not have to make every call yourself.
- Arrange care for dependents and pets. Children, an adult who relied on the person, and animals in the home.
- Check for written wishes. Look for a pre-paid funeral plan, organ or body donation papers, or burial and cremation instructions before choosing a funeral home.
- Choose a funeral home or cremation provider. They transport the body, help file the death certificate and can order certified copies. You can ask for an itemized price list.
- Secure the home, car and valuables. Lock up, take in mail, put valuables and medications out of view.
- Tell the employer, if the person was working. Ask HR about final pay, life insurance and benefits. Details can follow later.
- Do not pay bills or debts from your own money. Debts are generally paid by the estate, not by family members. Hold off until you know more.
Next read: who to call when someone dies, in order and what not to do when someone dies.
What's inside the After-Loss Admin Kit
Everything a family or executor needs after a death, in the order you actually need it. Print it or fill it in on screen.
23-page workbook (PDF)
Timeline checklists for the first 48 hours, first week, first month and months 2–12 · who-to-notify master list (36 organizations) · death certificate tracker · asset, debt and subscription inventories · insurance claims · expense log · call log · questions for the funeral home and estate attorney · phone scripts · plain-English glossary.
12 letter templates (Word / Google Docs)
Bank, credit card issuer, credit bureaus, utilities, subscriptions, life insurance, employer/HR, creditors, pension, landlord, social media and a general notification letter. Fill in the brackets and send.
Estate tracker (Excel / Google Sheets)
Task list with status dropdowns and an auto-updating dashboard: progress, assets, debts, unreimbursed expenses and subscriptions still billing. Plus notify, certificates and call-log tabs.
$19 · instant download · secure checkout via Gumroad
The First 48 Hours Checklist
The few things that are truly urgent after a death, and the one thing not to do, on one printable page. It is the first page of the After-Loss Admin Kit.
The Family Paperwork Bundle
The After-Loss Admin Kit plus the three kits families most often need around a loss: funeral planning, getting your own affairs in order, and caring for an aging parent. 4 printable workbooks (78 pages), 4 sets of editable Word templates and 4 spreadsheets.
| What you get | After-Loss Admin Kit | Family Paperwork Bundle |
|---|---|---|
| What to do after a death: checklists, 12 letters, estate tracker | Included | Included |
| Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack (FTC Funeral Rule rights, budget, obituary & eulogy templates) | – | Included |
| Just-In-Case Life Binder (accounts, documents, digital life, final wishes) | – | Included |
| Family Caregiver Binder (medications, appointments, ER summary, care schedule) | – | Included |
| Price | $19 | $34 ($62 if bought separately) |
| Get the kit | Get the bundle |
Instant download of all files · secure checkout via Gumroad · bundle details
Who it's for
- Executors and personal representatives
- Adult children handling a parent's affairs
- Surviving spouses and partners
- Friends who want to give a grieving family something genuinely useful
Why we made it
Most advice after a death is scattered across dozens of websites, and families are expected to find it while grieving. The kit puts it in one place, in the order you need it. About 3 million people die in the United States every year (CDC, 2024); behind each one is a family facing this paperwork.
Free guides after a death
- Who to Call When Someone Dies: The First 24 to 48 Hours, In Order
- What Not to Do When Someone Dies: 10 Mistakes Families Regret
- How Many Death Certificates Do You Need? (And Who Will Ask for One)
- Executor Checklist: What an Executor Does, Step by Step
- Estate EIN: How Executors Get One Free From the IRS (Don't Pay a Website)
- How to Close a Deceased Person's Bank Accounts, Cards and Subscriptions
- Notifying Social Security and the Credit Bureaus After a Death
- Do You Have to Pay a Deceased Parent's Debt? Usually No. Here's Why
Rules in your state
Death certificate fees, where to order them, and whether the estate can skip full probate with a small estate procedure. Every figure links to an official source.
Death certificates & small estate limits: 50 states + DC
Planning a funeral
Questions
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a general organizing guide. Probate rules, deadlines and thresholds differ by state. For complex estates (no will, property in several states, a business, disputes, large debts) please speak with a licensed estate attorney or tax professional. The workbook includes questions to ask them.
When do I get the files?
Right after checkout. Gumroad shows your download page immediately and also emails you the download link, so you can open it again later on any device.
What if it doesn't fit my state?
The checklists, trackers and letters work in every US state. Probate rules, fees and small estate limits differ, so the kit tells you when to check local rules or bring in an attorney. Our free state pages list death certificate and small estate rules for all 50 states and DC, with links to official sources.
Does it work outside the US?
The timeline, trackers and logs work anywhere, but agency names, phone numbers and tax forms are for the United States.
Can I use it on my phone or computer?
Yes. Print the PDF or fill it with any PDF annotation app; the letters open in Word, Google Docs or Pages; the tracker opens in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers.
What is the difference between the kit and the bundle?
The After-Loss Admin Kit ($19) covers everything after a death. The Family Paperwork Bundle ($34) includes that kit plus the Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack, the Just-In-Case Life Binder and the Family Caregiver Binder. Bought separately those four cost $62.
I'm buying this for a friend. How do I give it?
Buy it and forward the download email, or print the workbook and bring it in a folder. Both are allowed for personal use.
Also helpful
Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack · Just-In-Case Life Binder · Kits for other family paperwork (caregiving, moving, home buying, a new baby, landlords, layoffs)