When a parent dies: the financial to-do list

Losing a parent is one of the most disorienting experiences most adults face, and it comes bundled with a surprising amount of administrative work. Here is a practical sequence to carry you through the financial and legal parts so you can focus on the rest.

First week

• Order 10–20 copies of the death certificate through the funeral home. You will need them for every account, benefit, and legal process.
• Locate the will, if one exists. Check the safe deposit box, home files, and attorney contacts.
• Notify Social Security. Funeral homes often do this, but confirm. Survivor benefits may apply.
• Notify the deceased's employer if they were still working. Final paychecks, unused PTO, and benefits may be due.

First month

• Work with an attorney to open probate if required by state law. Not all estates need probate — assets held in trust, with named beneficiaries, or jointly owned often bypass it.
• Notify banks, investment firms, insurance companies, and creditors. Each will have their own process.
• Keep detailed records of everything you handle on behalf of the estate. You may need to account for it later.
• Pay final bills from the estate, not your own money, if at all possible.

The grief part

Grief and financial administration at the same time is an almost-impossible task. Ask for help. A trusted friend, sibling, or hired professional (estate attorney, financial advisor) can absorb a huge amount of the logistical burden. You are not failing if you need to delegate this. You are doing it exactly right.