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Guides and checklists

Guides and checklists

Checklists you can print and share.

Four practical checklists for the moments that come with long to-do lists. Tick items on screen or print them for the whole family.

First week after a death Read the full guide

Jump to a checklist

The first week after a deathFor families in the first days

A caregiver’s first 30 daysFor new family caregivers
Before and during leaveFor employees taking leave

Legacy readinessFor anyone planning ahead

Checklist

The first week after a death

You do not need to do all of this alone, or all at once. Share the list and cross things off as you go.

In the first hours

If the death was unexpected, or at home without hospice care, call 911.
If the person was in hospice, call the hospice team. They will guide the next steps.
If the person wanted to be an organ or tissue donor, tell the medical staff right away.
Tell close family, and ask one or two friends to help share the news.
Arrange care for any children, dependents or pets.

In the first days

Look for a will, a prepaid funeral plan or written wishes.
Choose a funeral home or cremation provider, and ask for the itemized price list.
Decide on burial, cremation or another option, and what kind of service to hold.
Order certified copies of the death certificate, usually through the funeral home. Ask how many you may need.
Secure the home, car and valuables, and collect the mail.
Tell the person’s employer, if they were working.

By the end of the week

Make sure Social Security has been told. The funeral home often does this. If not, call 1-800-772-1213.
Contact each life insurance company and ask how to start a claim.
If the person was a veteran, ask about VA burial benefits.
Keep a log of every call: the date, the company and who you spoke with.
Keep every receipt for funeral and estate costs.
Wait to close bank accounts until you know who has legal authority to act.
Eat something, sleep when you can and accept offers of help.

Rules differ by state. This checklist is general information, not legal advice. For the full picture, read what to do when someone dies.

Checklist

A caregiver’s first 30 days

Becoming a caregiver often happens overnight. This list helps you get organized one week at a time.

Week 1: Understand the situation

Write down the diagnosis, medications, doses and doctors in one place.
Ask the care team what to expect and which signs mean you should call.
Ask for a HIPAA authorization form so doctors can speak with you.
Find out what insurance covers: Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, VA or long-term care insurance.

Week 2: Gather your circle

List everyone who can help, even in small ways.
Hold a short family call to share the facts and divide tasks.
Pick one person to keep the shared calendar and notes.
Ask the person you care for what matters most to them.

Week 3: Make home and paperwork safer

Check the home for trip hazards, poor lighting and bathroom safety.
Find the key documents: ID, insurance cards, power of attorney and health care directive.
If there is no power of attorney or directive, talk about creating them while the person can still decide.
Set up medication reminders or a weekly pill organizer.

Week 4: Get help and look after yourself

Look up local services: in-home care, meals, rides and adult day programs. The Eldercare Locator can help at 1-800-677-1116.
Ask your employer about leave options, such as FMLA, and flexible schedules.
Put at least one break a week on the calendar that is just for you.
Tell someone how you are really doing.

General information, not medical or legal advice. In the US, if you are in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.

Checklist

Before and during leave

A little preparation makes time away calmer and the return easier.

Before your leave

Read your employer’s leave policy and ask HR which kinds of leave apply to you.
Ask whether you qualify for FMLA or a state leave program, and what forms are needed.
Find out how pay works: paid time off, short-term disability, state paid leave or unpaid time.
Confirm how your health insurance and other benefits continue.
Agree on your start date and expected return date, in writing if you can.
Hand off work with a short note: open tasks, contacts and where files live.
Set an out-of-office message and decide how, or whether, you want to be contacted.

During your leave

Keep copies of every form you submit and every approval you receive.
Note deadlines for medical certifications or extensions.
Tell HR promptly if your type of leave or your dates change.
Rest. Leave is for healing, caring, grieving or bonding, not for catching up on email.

Before you return

Check in with HR a week or two before your return date.
Ask about a gradual return, adjusted hours or other accommodations if you need them.
Plan a first-week conversation with your manager about priorities.
Arrange childcare, care coverage or transportation for your first weeks back.
Decide what, if anything, you want to share with coworkers.

Leave rules depend on your employer and where you work. This checklist is general information, not legal advice.

Checklist

Legacy readiness

The kindest gift is often an organized folder. Work through this list a little at a time.

Key documents

A will, signed and witnessed according to your state’s rules.
A durable power of attorney for finances.
A health care directive, with a named health care agent.
A HIPAA authorization for the people who may need to speak with your doctors.
Guardianship wishes for minor children, if you have them.

Accounts and property

A list of bank, retirement and investment accounts.
Life insurance policies and their beneficiaries.
Beneficiary designations reviewed on every account that allows them.
Property, vehicles and other valuables, and where the titles are kept.
Debts and regular bills, including loans and credit cards.

Digital life

A list of important online accounts and what should happen to each.
A password manager, or another secure way for someone to reach what they will need.
Wishes for social media accounts and photos.

Wishes and words

Funeral, burial or cremation wishes.
Who should be called first, and who can help.
Letters to the people you love.
Where all of this is kept, shared with at least one trusted person.

Review once a year and after big changes such as a marriage, divorce, birth, death or move. General information, not legal advice.

General information, not advice

These checklists are a starting point. Rules differ by state, employer and situation, and none of this is legal, financial or medical advice. In the US, if you are in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.

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