Calls To Make Immediately After a Death Occurs

• Call 911 to report the death (unless death occurred in a nursing home, hospice care facility or hospital)
• Call the deceased’s doctor or care nurse.
• Call a religious figure (minister, priest, rabbi, etc.)
• Call the social security office if you do not know the social security number of the deceased
• Call the deceased’s landlord and employer
• Close all bank accounts, credit cards and utility contracts
• Contact the post office and stop or forward all mail

Immediate Needs

• Will
• Insurance policies
• Preplanned contracts
• Cemetery deeds or transfers

Asset Information

Copies or originals of the following documents will be needed:

• Account statements – including bank, brokerage, and retirement accounts for at least the three months prior to death
• Life insurance policies – note that some insurance companies will require the return of the original insurance policy
• Beneficiary designations – for life insurance, retirement accounts, and payable on death accounts
• Deeds for real estate – there’s a common misconception that the original deed is needed, but a copy may be acceptable
• Automobile and boat titles – the originals will be needed to transfer legal title
• Stock and bond certificates – for stocks or bonds held in certificate form, the original certificate will be needed to transfer legal title

Business Documents

If the decedent owned a business, then copies or originals of the following documents will be needed:

• Corporate, LLC or partnership documents – this includes copies of the corporate charter or articles of organization and minutes; a copy of the shareholder’s agreement, operating agreement, or partnership agreement; and original stock or LLC certificates to transfer legal title
• Account statements – including bank, brokerage, and retirement accounts for at least the three months prior to death
• Automobile and boat titles – the originals will be needed if legal title will be transferred
• Contracts – including leases, loans, and employment agreements
• Business licenses – including local and state licenses

Contracts

• Copies or originals of the following contracts will be needed:
• Prenuptial agreements – including any amendments
• Postnuptial agreements – including any amendments
• Loans – including personal loans, lines of credit, and mortgages, along with the original promissory notes
• Leases – including real estate and automobile leases

Copies of the following bills will be needed:

• Utility bills
• Cell phone bills
• Credit card bills
• Mortgages and personal loans – including lines of credit
• Real estate tax bills
• Storage unit bills
• Medical bills
• Funeral bill
• Estate planning documents

Estate Plan

If the decedent had an estate plan, then copies or originals of the following documents will be needed:

• Last will and testament and any codicils – the originals will be required. If the originals can’t be found, then it’s presumed the decedent destroyed them
• Revocable living trust and any amendments – a copy of the trust or amendment is all that’s usually needed

Tax Returns

• Copies of the last three years of the following tax returns
• Federal Income tax returns
• State income tax returns
• Gift tax returns