Who to Notify After a Death: A Complete Checklist
The list of people and organizations that need to know about a death is longer than most families expect. Here is a complete, organized checklist to help you work through the notifications without missing anything important.
Notify First Within 24 Hours
In the first 24 hours after a death, the priority is to notify the people and organizations that need to take immediate action. The funeral home should be your first call, as they will arrange for the transportation and care of the body and guide you through the next steps. If the death occurred at home, you may also need to call 911 or the deceased person's physician to have the death officially pronounced.
Notify close family members and friends as soon as you are able. These are the people who will want to know immediately and who may need to make travel arrangements for the funeral. If the deceased was employed, notify their employer so that final pay, benefits, and any employer provided life insurance can be processed.
If the deceased had dependents, whether children, elderly parents, or pets, make sure someone is taking responsibility for their care right away. This is easy to overlook in the chaos of the first hours, but it is one of the most urgent tasks.
Government Agencies to Notify
The Social Security Administration needs to be notified so that benefits are stopped and the surviving spouse or dependents can apply for survivor benefits. In most cases, the funeral home handles this notification, but confirm that it has been done. Call 1-800-772-1213 if you need to report the death yourself or to inquire about survivor benefits.
If the deceased was a veteran, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-827-1000 to stop disability or pension payments and to learn about burial benefits, headstone markers, and survivor benefits. Contact the state Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel the deceased person's driver's license, which helps prevent identity theft. Notify the county voter registration office to remove the deceased from the voter rolls.
If the deceased held a valid passport, you may return it to the U.S. Department of State, though this is not required. The IRS does not need a separate notification, but the executor is responsible for filing the deceased person's final income tax return by the standard filing deadline. Contact the U.S. Postal Service to forward or hold the deceased person's mail.
Financial Institutions to Contact
Every bank, credit union, and financial institution where the deceased held accounts needs to be notified. This includes checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and any safe deposit boxes. The executor should visit each institution with a certified death certificate and letters testamentary to begin the process of closing or transferring accounts.
Contact any brokerage firms, mutual fund companies, or retirement account providers where the deceased held investments. 401(k) plans, IRAs, and other retirement accounts may have named beneficiaries who can claim the funds directly. If the deceased had a mortgage, contact the mortgage company to discuss options, especially if a surviving spouse plans to remain in the home.
Notify credit card companies and request that accounts be closed. Review recent statements for recurring charges that may indicate subscriptions or automatic payments that need to be canceled. If the deceased had outstanding loans, such as a car loan, student loan, or personal loan, contact each lender to report the death and learn about the estate's obligations.
Insurance Companies
Contact the deceased person's life insurance company to file a claim. You will need the policy number, a certified death certificate, and the claimant's identification. Life insurance benefits are typically paid within 30 to 60 days of filing a complete claim. If you are unsure whether the deceased had life insurance, check their mail, email, and financial records, or contact the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for help locating lost policies.
Notify the deceased person's health insurance provider to cancel coverage and to prevent further premium charges. If the deceased was covered by Medicare, the Social Security notification will typically trigger the cancellation of Medicare coverage. If the deceased had employer provided health insurance, the employer's HR department will handle the cancellation.
Auto insurance, homeowners or renters insurance, and any other active policies should also be addressed. If a surviving spouse or family member is a co-insured on any of these policies, the policy may need to be updated rather than canceled. Contact each insurer to understand your options and ensure continuous coverage where needed.
Subscriptions and Memberships to Cancel
Review the deceased person's bank and credit card statements from the past three months to identify all active subscriptions and memberships. Common ones include streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify, gym memberships, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, meal delivery services, software subscriptions, and cloud storage plans.
Contact each provider to cancel the subscription. Most companies will process the cancellation with a certified death certificate, though some may require additional documentation. If you are unable to reach a provider or they are uncooperative, closing the credit card or bank account that funds the subscription will eventually stop the charges.
Do not overlook professional memberships, alumni associations, religious organization dues, or club memberships. These may have annual fees that will continue to charge unless explicitly canceled. Some memberships may have death benefits or refund policies that the estate can claim, so ask about these when you call to cancel.
Employer and Pension Notifications
If the deceased was currently employed, notify their employer as soon as possible. The employer will need to process the final paycheck, provide information about any employer sponsored life insurance, and explain options for continuing health insurance coverage under COBRA for eligible dependents. Ask about any unused vacation or sick time that may be owed to the estate.
If the deceased was retired and receiving a pension, contact the pension plan administrator to report the death. Pension payments received after the date of death may need to be returned, so timely notification is important. Ask about survivor benefits, as many pension plans provide ongoing payments to a surviving spouse or dependent.
If the deceased was a member of a labor union, professional association, or trade organization, contact these groups as well. Some organizations offer death benefits, memorial funds, or assistance to the families of deceased members.
How to Stay Organized
The notification process can take weeks or even months to complete. Staying organized from the start will save you significant time and stress. Create a simple spreadsheet or written log that tracks each organization you need to contact, the date you called, the name of the person you spoke with, and the outcome of the conversation. Note any follow up actions required and any deadlines you need to meet.
Keep a folder or envelope with copies of all the documents you are sending out, including death certificates, letters testamentary, and any correspondence from the organizations you contact. Having everything in one place makes it easier to track your progress and to respond quickly if an organization requests additional information.
Do not try to handle everything in a single day or even a single week. Prioritize the most time sensitive notifications, such as Social Security, the employer, and financial institutions, and then work through the rest of the list at a manageable pace. Ask family members or trusted friends to help with some of the calls, especially if the process is becoming overwhelming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do you have to notify when someone dies?
After a death, you need to notify the funeral home, close family and friends, the deceased person's employer, Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs (if the deceased was a veteran), the state DMV, all banks and financial institutions, credit card companies, insurance providers (life, health, auto, homeowners), utility companies, subscription services, the postal service, the deceased person's landlord or mortgage company, and any professional organizations or memberships. The full list can be extensive, so it helps to work through it systematically over several weeks.
How long do you have to notify Social Security of a death?
Social Security should be notified as soon as possible after a death. In most cases, the funeral home reports the death to Social Security on behalf of the family. If the funeral home does not handle this, a family member should call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 promptly. Any benefits paid after the date of death must be returned, so timely notification prevents overpayments that would need to be repaid later.
Does the funeral home notify Social Security?
Yes, in most cases the funeral home reports the death to the Social Security Administration as part of the standard process. The funeral home typically submits the report using the deceased person's Social Security number when filing the death certificate with the state vital records office. However, it is a good practice to confirm with your funeral home that this has been done, and to follow up with Social Security directly if you have any concerns.
What happens if you don't notify the IRS of a death?
The IRS does not require a separate death notification, but the deceased person's final federal income tax return must be filed by the regular deadline for the year in which the death occurred. If the return is not filed, the IRS may assess penalties, interest, and potentially pursue the estate for unpaid taxes. The executor or administrator of the estate is responsible for filing the final return. If the estate earns income after the death, a separate estate income tax return (Form 1041) may also be required.
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