Losing a loved one is a difficult and emotional experience. Here is a step-by-step checklist of what to do when someone dies:

What to do immediately after someone dies:

• Get a legal pronouncement of death. This is generally done by a doctor, though in some states it can be done by registered nurses, advance practice registered nurses, or physicians’ assistants, particularly if the individual is already in a hospital or medical care facility. If someone dies while in hospice care, contact the hospice care nurse. He or she can legally declare death and arrange for the body to be transported. If someone dies while not in medical or hospice care, call 911.
• Arrange for organ donation, if applicable.
• Notify close friends and family. Send out a group text or mass email, or make individual phone calls, to let people know your loved one has died. To track down all those who need to know, go through the deceased’s email and phone contacts. Inform neighbors, coworkers, and the members of any social groups or church the person belonged to. Ask the recipients to spread the word by notifying others connected to the deceased. Put a post about the death on social media on both your account and the deceased.
• Make arrangements for the care of dependents and pets.
• Secure major property. If your loved one lived on their own, make sure his or her home and any vehicles are locked up. If it will sit vacant for some time, consider notifying the landlord and/or the police, so they can help to keep an eye on it.

What to do in the days following the death:

• Register the death. This is usually done at a local registry office. You will need to provide a medical certificate of the cause of death, which the doctor will give you.
• Make the funeral arrangements. This includes choosing a funeral director, deciding on the type of funeral service, and selecting a burial or cremation.
• Notify necessary parties. This includes telling anyone who would need to know about the death for either financial or business purposes. Taking care of informing businesses and government agencies could be a job for the Executor of the Estate, if one was named. Be sure the following agencies or companies are notified: the Social Security Administration, the deceaseds employer, banks and other financial institutions, credit card companies, insurance companies, and utility companies.
• Obtain letters of “administration,” “representation,” or “testamentary.” These come from probate court...