After a death, families typically have to contact a long list of institutions — banks, insurers, authorities, employers and subscription services — and knowing the first few steps in the right order saves the largest amount of time.
What do you need to do when someone dies?
When someone dies, there are immediate practical steps the family must take: contact a medical professional to certify the death, notify close relatives, arrange transportation of the body to a funeral home, and begin planning the funeral or memorial service. In the days and weeks that follow, you will also need to make sure the death is registered with the authorities, notify banks and insurance companies, and begin estate administration. Depending on the country, the death may be reported by the doctor or healthcare service, or you or the funeral director may need to report it, so ask the care team or funeral director what applies. This step-by-step guide covers the main things to do — from the first hours after a death through the weeks ahead — so you can handle each task with clarity and confidence during an incredibly difficult time.
What should you do in the first few hours after a death?
If the death was unexpected, or you are not sure the person has died, call the emergency number straight away (112 in Sweden, Finland and Denmark; 113 for medical emergencies in Norway). If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, the emergency operator can guide you through CPR until help arrives.
If the death was expected, allow yourself a moment. When someone dies as expected — for example under hospice or palliative care, with a care plan in place — there is no rush in the very first minutes. If your loved one passed at home, it's okay to sit with them and say goodbye in your own way before you make the first call.
Contact the appropriate authorities. After an expected death, call the care provider or attending physician. A medical professional will need to officially confirm the passing and, in most cases, issue a death certificate.
Notify close family and friends. Start with the people who are closest — those who would want to know right away. You don't have to make every call yourself. Ask someone you trust to help spread the word.
What needs to happen in the first few days?
Arrange care for dependents. If your loved one was a caregiver — for children, elderly parents, or pets — make immediate arrangements to ensure everyone is looked after.
Locate important documents. You'll need access to identification documents, insurance policies, bank account information, and any will or estate planning documents. If you don't know where these are, check home offices, filing cabinets, safes, or digital storage.
Contact a funeral home or memorial service provider. Whether you're planning a burial, cremation, or memorial service, reaching out to a funeral director early helps you understand your options and timeline. They can also assist with the death certificate process.
Notify the employer. If your loved one was employed, contact their workplace. This ensures any final pay, benefits, or life insurance through the employer can be processed.
What tasks need to be handled in the first few weeks?
Begin the estate administration process. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may need to file the will with a local court or authority, begin an inventory of assets and debts, and notify financial institutions. If there's a named executor in the will, they will take the lead on this.
Notify banks and financial institutions. Contact every bank, credit card company, and financial service provider where your loved one held accounts. They will guide you through the process of freezing, closing, or transferring accounts.
Cancel or transfer subscriptions and services. This includes utilities, phone plans, streaming services, gym memberships, and any recurring payments. Check bank statements and email accounts for recurring charges you might not be aware of.
Handle digital accounts. Social media profiles, email accounts, cloud storage, and other digital services will need to be either memorialized, closed, or transferred. Each platform has its own process — start with the ones used most frequently.
File insurance claims. If your loved one had life insurance, contact the insurer with the policy number and a copy of the death certificate. How long the claim takes varies by insurer, so ask what to expect.
How do you take care of yourself while grieving?
It's easy to lose yourself in the logistics. But grief is not something to push aside — it's something to move through, at your own pace.
Accept help. When people offer to bring food, run errands, or handle phone calls — let them. You don't have to do everything alone.
Give yourself permission to grieve. There is no right way to grieve, and no timeline. Some days will feel manageable; others won't. Both are normal.
Consider professional support. Grief counselors, support groups, and bereavement services can provide a safe space to process what you're going through. You don't have to wait until you're struggling to seek help — early support can make a meaningful difference.
Once the immediate steps are done, dividing the estate is the longer piece of work, and the rules differ by country. For Sweden, see estate administration in Sweden and division of estate; for Finland, Norway and Denmark, see our guides (in the local language) to kuolinpesä, skifte av dødsbo and arv i Danmark. If you are reading this to prepare rather than because someone has died, start with the complete end-of-life planning checklist.
How can Solace Care help?
Solace Care was built for exactly this moment. Our platform helps you organize all the practical tasks that follow a loss — from document management to notifications to financial overview — so you can focus on what matters most: being present with your grief and your loved ones.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
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