When someone dies, grief and logistics collide. Families are expected to make important decisions while exhausted, emotional, and often unprepared. This 72-hour post-death checklist is designed to reduce panic, prevent costly mistakes, and help you focus on what truly matters, without rushing decisions that can wait.
This guide follows a clear, step-by-step timeline so you know what must be done now, what can wait, and what should not be done yet.
First Few Hours (0–6 Hours): Stabilize and Pause
1. Confirm the death and contact authorities (if needed)
- If death occurs at home: call emergency services or hospice
- If in a hospital or care facility: staff will handle pronouncement
- Do not move the body unless instructed
2. Contact immediate family or trusted support
- One or two people only, avoid mass notifications
- Designate a point person to handle calls and messages
3. Take a breath before making decisions
- You are not required to decide funeral details immediately
- Sales pressure often starts early, resist it
What NOT to do yet
- Do not distribute property
- Do not notify banks immediately
- Do not post publicly on social media
Hours 6–24: Secure and Organize
4. Secure the home and property
- Lock doors and windows
- Safeguard valuables, medications, firearms
- Care for pets
- Forward mail if appropriate
5. Locate critical documents (do not file yet)
Create a temporary folder for:
- Will or trust
- Prepaid funeral or burial instructions
- Marriage certificate
- Military discharge papers
- Insurance policies
- List of accounts and passwords (if available)
If documents are missing, do not panic. Many can be obtained later.
Day 1–2 (24–48 Hours): Notifications and Certificates
6. Contact a funeral home or cremation provider
- Ask for pricing upfront
- You can transfer services if needed
- Follow the deceased’s written wishes if they exist
How Many Death Certificates Do You Need?
Most families need more certified copies than they expect, typically 5 to 10. Each certified copy costs money, so it helps to know upfront who will actually need one:
- Banks and financial institutions, one per account in most cases
- Life insurance companies
- The Social Security Administration
- The probate court, if probate is required
- The DMV, to transfer or sell a vehicle
- Any pension or retirement account administrator
In Florida, certified copies are ordered through the funeral home at the time of death, or afterward through the county’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. It’s almost always cheaper and faster to order a few extra at the start than to reorder later.
7. Notify employers and benefit providers
- Ask about final paychecks
- Inquire about life insurance or survivor benefits
- Request HR contact details for follow-up
Day 2–3 (48–72 Hours): Financial and Digital Triage
8. Handle immediate financial tasks only
Do not close accounts yet.
Appropriate actions:
- Notify banks if automatic withdrawals could cause overdrafts
- Continue mortgage, rent, utilities temporarily
- Track all expenses paid on behalf of the estate
9. Address digital and online presence
- Preserve email and cloud accounts (do not delete)
- Notify social media platforms of the death
- Memorialize accounts if desired (Facebook, Instagram)
- Secure devices (phones, laptops, tablets)
Digital access often disappears quickly, preservation matters.
What Can Wait (and Should)
These tasks do not belong in the first 72 hours:
- Filing probate paperwork
- Selling property
- Distributing belongings
- Paying unsecured debts
- Filing taxes
- Making irreversible financial decisions
Urgency is often manufactured. Most legal deadlines are measured in weeks or months, not days.
Florida-Specific Considerations
A few things matter specifically in Florida, and they’re worth understanding early, even though none of them require action in the first 72 hours:
- Almost every Florida estate needs probate, even a simple one, unless the assets were already structured to avoid it through a trust, a Lady Bird Deed, or beneficiary designations.
- Homestead property has unique protections under Florida law that affect who inherits the home and how, separate from the rest of the estate.
- Joint ownership doesn’t automatically avoid probate the way many families assume, depending on exactly how the property was titled.
- An executor who acts too early, distributing property or making financial decisions before being formally appointed by the court, can create personal liability, even with good intentions.
None of this needs to be sorted out in the first three days. It’s here so you know what’s coming, not so you feel behind.
Downloadable 72-Hour Checklist (Suggested Format)
Immediate (0–6 hours)
- ☐ Confirm death
- ☐ Contact key family
- ☐ Pause major decisions
Secure (6–24 hours)
- ☐ Lock property
- ☐ Care for pets
- ☐ Gather documents
Notify (24–48 hours)
- ☐ Funeral provider
- ☐ Order death certificates
- ☐ Employer/benefits
Preserve (48–72 hours)
- ☐ Secure finances
- ☐ Preserve digital accounts
- ☐ Track expenses
(This structure works well as a printable or PDF resource.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many death certificates do we really need?
Usually 5–10. It’s easier to order extra upfront.
Do bills stop immediately after death?
No. Some must be managed temporarily to avoid damage to the estate.
Should we notify Social Security right away?
The funeral home often does this, but confirm.
Can we access bank accounts immediately?
Not unless you are a joint owner or authorized agent.
What’s the first thing I should do when someone dies?
Confirm the death with medical staff or emergency services, then contact one or two close family members. Nothing else needs to happen in the first hour, funeral arrangements, notifications, and paperwork can all wait a little.
Get Help After a Death in Florida
The first 72 hours after a death are about stability, not speed. Acting carefully now prevents legal, financial, and emotional damage later. If you are unsure what to do or afraid of making a mistake, speak with a Florida estate planning or probate attorney before taking irreversible steps. Once the first 72 hours are behind you, the next question is usually what actually happens with the estate itself: the house, the accounts, the will, and probate. Our guide on what happens after someone dies in Florida picks up exactly where this checklist ends.
