What to Do Bureaucratically When Someone Close to You Dies

This is the worst possible time to deal with paperwork, yet it is when the most paperwork is required. Having a checklist for this moment is not morbid — it is an act of compassion toward your future self. First: obtain the death certificate (multiple certified copies — you will need them everywhere). Then: notify the bank, insurance companies, employer or pension fund, and the landlord or mortgage holder.

Cancel subscriptions, redirect mail, close or transfer utility accounts. If the person had a will, locate it and contact the executor or a lawyer. If there is no will, consult a lawyer about inheritance procedures. Keep a folder for every document, every call, every confirmation number. You will not remember details during grief — the folder will.