1. Stabilize the first week

• Get several certified copies of the death certificate. Many institutions may ask for one.

• Locate core documents and store them in one working folder: wills, trusts, insurance policies, recent tax returns, account statements, Social Security information, passwords if available, and any pension or employee-benefit paperwork.

• Pause major financial decisions when possible. Large investment changes, home sales, or gifting decisions can usually wait until the picture is clearer.

• Make a short list of immediate cash needs for the next 30 to 60 days, including mortgage or rent, utilities, healthcare, and household expenses.

2. Notify important institutions first

• Contact the funeral home, employer, and Social Security Administration as needed so the basic reporting process is underway.

• Notify life insurance carriers, pension administrators, and benefits departments if your spouse was still employed or recently retired.

• Contact banks, brokerage firms, retirement plan custodians, and mortgage servicers to understand what paperwork they require before any account changes happen.

• Ask each institution what happens next, not just what form to fill out. The sequence matters, and many institutions have resources that can help you process and plan.

3. Protect access, ownership, and records

• Review which accounts were joint, which were individual, and which named beneficiaries directly.

• Make a list of automatic deposits and automatic payments so income interruptions or missed bills do not create secondary problems.

• Update online security where appropriate. That may include email access, password resets, device access, and fraud monitoring.

• Keep notes of every call, including date, institution, representative name, and step taken.

4. Review benefits and income changes

• Identify which income sources may continue, change, or stop. This may include salary, pension payments, annuities, Social Security, rental income, or business income.

• Review employer benefits, survivor benefits, and any healthcare continuation options if coverage was tied to your spouse's employment.

• Check whether required minimum distribution rules, beneficiary options, or account-titling decisions could affect timing and taxes.

• Build a simple near-term cash-flow view so you know what money is expected, what is uncertain, and what decisions are not urgent yet.

5. Address taxes before moving accounts

• Do not assume inherited or transferred assets can be handled the same way across all account types. Brokerage accounts, IRAs, employer plans, and insurance proceeds may each follow different rules.

• Ask what tax forms you may receive this year and next year. The year of death can create filing and timing questions that are easier to manage early.

• Coordinate with a CPA or tax professional before liquidating major holdings, retitling assets, or combining accounts.

• Keep a record of date-of-death values when needed. They may matter later for basis or reporting.

6. Rebuild the planning picture over the next few months

• Review beneficiaries on your own accounts once the immediate paperwork is more settled.

• Update estate documents, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and trusted-contact records when you are ready.

• Revisit your own retirement timeline, spending plan, and investment risk now that your household structure has changed.

• Decide who should be part of your support team going forward, which may include a financial advisor, attorney, CPA, and one trusted family contact.