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Standard Index GroupThe End of Life PlannerUnited States by Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney · Valoren is a publisher, not a law firm.

Free · general informationUnited States

Executor checklist

The steps that usually fall to whoever is settling an estate, in the order they tend to come, each in the words of the body that publishes it. The court steps are the state’s own; each state’s pages are linked below.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 12, 2026 – October 16, 2026

Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

Find out who is in charge of the estate

A personal representative of an estate is an executor, administrator, or anyone who is in charge of the decedent's property.

Generally, an executor (or executrix) is named in a decedent's will to administer the estate and distribute properties as the decedent has directed.

An administrator (or administratrix) is usually appointed by the court if no will exists, if no executor was named in the will, or if the named executor can't or won't serve.

Internal Revenue Service · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Order certified copies of the death certificate

Many organizations require a certified copy of the death certificate when someone dies.

Contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred to learn: How to order a certified copy of a death certificate online, by mail, or in-person (part of a longer sentence)

Only certain family members may be able to get a death certificate when someone dies. This includes a spouse, siblings, and children. But anyone can request them when they become public record.

You may only need a photocopy for other tasks, such as canceling a subscription. Check with the agency or organization handling each account.

USAGov · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Make sure Social Security has been told

Funeral homes generally tell us when someone dies. So, you don’t typically need to report a death to us. If a funeral home isn’t involved or doesn't report the death for some reason, you should call us (part of a longer sentence)

Social Security Administration · general information · checked October 12, 2026

Notify Social Security as soon as possible when someone getting benefits dies. In most cases, the funeral director will report the person's death to Social Security.

Social Security Administration · general information · checked October 12, 2026

Tell the credit bureaus, and ask for a deceased alert

Experian and the other credit reporting agencies (TransUnion and Equifax) are typically notified of a death by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the deceased person's creditors.

Experian · general information · checked October 12, 2026

Notifying any one of the three credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion -- allows the individual's credit report to be updated with a deceased notice, which may help prevent theft of their identity.

Equifax · general information · checked October 12, 2026

When you report the death of a loved one to one of the credit reporting agencies, the other two will be contacted on your behalf.

TransUnion · general information · checked October 12, 2026

Send credit bureaus a copy of the death certificate. Have them put a “deceased alert” on credit reports. Watch reports for unusual activity.

Internal Revenue Service · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Check which accounts name a beneficiary

A beneficiary is generally any person or entity the account owner chooses to receive the benefits of a retirement account or an IRA after they die. The owner must designate the beneficiary under procedures established by the plan.

Internal Revenue Service · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Your will does not affect the distribution of your life insurance proceeds unless the sum goes to your estate to be divided according to the will.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Find out whose debts they are

As a rule, a person’s debts do not go away when they die. Those debts are owed by and paid from the deceased person’s estate.

By law, family members usually don’t have to pay the debts of a deceased relative from their own money. If there isn’t enough money in the estate to cover the debt, it usually goes unpaid. But there are exceptions to this rule.

Federal Trade Commission · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Find out whether a final income tax return is due

In general, file and prepare the final individual income tax return of a deceased person the same way you would if the person were alive. Report all income up to the date of death and claim all eligible credits and deductions.

Internal Revenue Service · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Use Form 1310 to claim a refund on behalf of a deceased taxpayer.

Internal Revenue Service · general information · checked October 16, 2026

A final return for a decedent who was a calendar year taxpayer is generally due on April 15 following the year of death, regardless of when during that year death occurred.

Internal Revenue Service · general information · checked October 12, 2026

Search for money nobody knew about

There is no single place to look for all unclaimed money.

Search for unclaimed money from your state’s unclaimed property office. If you have lived in other states, check their unclaimed property offices, too.

USAGov · general information · checked October 16, 2026

FAQ

Common questions

Generally, an executor (or executrix) is named in a decedent's will to administer the estate and distribute properties as the decedent has directed.

An administrator (or administratrix) is usually appointed by the court if no will exists, if no executor was named in the will, or if the named executor can't or won't serve.

Internal Revenue Service · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Funeral homes generally tell us when someone dies. So, you don’t typically need to report a death to us. If a funeral home isn’t involved or doesn't report the death for some reason, you should call us (part of a longer sentence)

Social Security Administration · general information · checked October 12, 2026

Notify Social Security as soon as possible when someone getting benefits dies. In most cases, the funeral director will report the person's death to Social Security.

Social Security Administration · general information · checked October 12, 2026

Only certain family members may be able to get a death certificate when someone dies. This includes a spouse, siblings, and children. But anyone can request them when they become public record.

USAGov · general information · checked October 16, 2026

As a rule, a person’s debts do not go away when they die. Those debts are owed by and paid from the deceased person’s estate.

By law, family members usually don’t have to pay the debts of a deceased relative from their own money. If there isn’t enough money in the estate to cover the debt, it usually goes unpaid. But there are exceptions to this rule.

Federal Trade Commission · general information · checked October 16, 2026

A final return for a decedent who was a calendar year taxpayer is generally due on April 15 following the year of death, regardless of when during that year death occurred.

Internal Revenue Service · general information · checked October 12, 2026