5 Things to Do Right After a Loved One Passes Away (Before Calling a Lawyer)

Losing someone you love is devastating. In the midst of grief, you're suddenly faced with decisions and tasks that feel overwhelming. If you're reading this, you're probably wondering what you need to do right now: and what can wait.

Take a deep breath. You don't have to figure everything out today.

While legal matters like probate will need attention eventually, they're not your immediate priority. Right now, your focus should be on taking care of the most urgent practical matters and giving yourself space to grieve. Here are the five most important things to handle first, before you even think about calling a lawyer.

1. Get an Official Death Pronouncement and Arrange Care for the Body

This is your first and most time-sensitive priority. Before anything else can happen, a medical professional needs to officially pronounce your loved one's death.

If the death happened in a hospital, nursing home, or hospice: The medical staff will handle the death pronouncement for you. They'll also help coordinate with a funeral home or crematory if you're ready to make those arrangements.

If the death happened at home: You'll need to call 911 or your local emergency services. Don't panic: this is standard procedure. The paramedics or a coroner will make the official pronouncement. If your loved one was under hospice care, call the hospice first; they can guide you through the process.

Before arranging transportation of the body, check if your loved one had signed up to be an organ or tissue donor. This information is usually on their driver's license or in their medical records. Time is critical for donation, so mention this to medical professionals immediately.

A gentle reminder: You don't have to make funeral arrangements right this minute. Most funeral homes are available 24/7 and can transport the body while you take time to plan services that honor your loved one's wishes.

2. Notify Your Inner Circle (And Let Them Help You)

Making these calls is heartbreaking, but you don't have to do it alone.

Start with immediate family members, your loved one's closest friends, and their employer if they were still working. When possible, share the news by phone or in person rather than text: people deserve to hear this kind of news with care.

Here's something that often helps: ask the first few people you call to help notify others. Most people want to help during times like this, and sharing the task of making calls can be a relief. Create a simple list of names and numbers, and divvy it up among family members or close friends.

Don't forget about practical notifications:

• Your loved one's employer (to discuss final paychecks, benefits, and time off for you)
• Their landlord if they were renting
• Anyone scheduled to visit them in the coming days

You can handle broader notifications: like distant relatives, acquaintances, and service providers: over the next few days.

3. Look for Important Documents and Existing Plans

Your loved one may have already made arrangements that will guide your next steps. Don't stress if you can't find everything right away, but do look for:

Funeral and burial instructions: Check for:

• Prepaid funeral or burial contracts
• Written wishes about burial vs. cremation
• Religious or cultural preferences
• Military service records (veterans may qualify for special burial benefits)

Important legal documents:

• Will or trust documents
• Life insurance policies
• Social Security card and Medicare information
• Banking and investment account information

Look in common places: safe deposit boxes (though you may need a court order to open it), home safes, filing cabinets, with their attorney, or with family members. Sometimes people keep copies of important documents with their adult children or trusted friends.

If your loved one belonged to a religious organization, fraternal group, or was a veteran, contact them. These organizations often provide support services and may help with funeral arrangements or costs.

4. Secure and Protect Their Property and Identity

This might feel strange when you're grieving, but protecting your loved one's home, belongings, and identity is crucial. Unfortunately, criminals sometimes target homes after obituaries are published.

Secure their living space:

• Lock all doors and windows
• Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to check on the property regularly
• Remove any spare keys from obvious hiding spots
• If they lived alone, arrange for mail collection and basic maintenance (watering plants, removing perishable food)

Protect their identity:

• Notify the Social Security Administration by calling 1-800-772-1213
• Contact their banks to inform them of the death (you'll likely need death certificates for this, which come later)
• Monitor for unauthorized online fundraising campaigns using their name
• Consider placing them on the Deceased Do-Not-Contact List to prevent identity theft

Vehicle considerations: If your loved one had a car, make sure it's parked safely and legally. You'll handle title transfer and insurance later, but for now, just ensure it's secure.

5. Arrange Care for Dependents and Pets

If your loved one was caring for children, elderly parents, or pets, they need immediate attention.

For minor children: Contact other family members or guardians named in legal documents. If you're unsure about custody arrangements, prioritize the children's immediate safety and comfort while you sort out the legal details.

For pets: Animals are grieving too and need consistent care. If you can't take them immediately, ask family or friends to help. Check if your loved one had arrangements in place: some people include pet care instructions in their wills or estate planning documents.

For elderly parents or disabled dependents: If your loved one was a primary caregiver, you'll need to coordinate continued care services quickly. Contact their case manager, home health agency, or family members who can step in temporarily.

When Should You Call a Lawyer?

Here's the thing: you probably don't need a lawyer this week. Or even next week.

Legal matters like probate, will contests, and estate distribution can wait while you focus on grieving and handling immediate needs. Most attorneys who handle probate administration understand this and won't pressure you to make quick decisions about legal proceedings.

Consider calling a probate attorney when:

• You've had a few weeks to process your loss
• You've gathered the basic documents mentioned above
• You're ready to understand what the probate process looks like
• Family members disagree about funeral arrangements or estate plans
• You discover that your loved one owned significant assets or property
• The estate seems complicated (multiple properties, business ownership, etc.)

You should call sooner if:

• There's family conflict that needs immediate legal guidance
• You discover urgent financial issues (like mortgage payments due)
• Someone is pressuring you to make quick decisions about the estate
• You find multiple wills or conflicting legal documents

Take Time to Breathe

Remember, most decisions can wait. Don't let anyone pressure you into making major choices about the estate while you're in the early stages of grief. Reputable attorneys, funeral directors, and financial advisors will respect your need for time.

The legal system understands that people need time to grieve. In Ohio, you typically have months (or even years, depending on the situation) to handle probate matters. There's no rush to figure out complex estate issues this week.

What you're doing is enough. Taking care of these five immediate priorities means you're handling the most time-sensitive matters. Everything else: including the legal work: can be addressed when you're ready.

If you're in Ohio and eventually need guidance with estate planning or probate matters, we're here to help when you're ready. But for now, focus on taking care of yourself and your family. You don't have to navigate this alone, and you don't have to have all the answers today.

Grief is exhausting. Be gentle with yourself, accept help from others, and remember that handling these practical matters: difficult as they are: is an act of love for the person you've lost.