Free printable
First Week To-Do Checklist: Free Printable
By Jason Su · Updated October 28, 2026
In the first week, only a handful of tasks genuinely cannot wait, and everything else can. This checklist puts the short list in order, with a place to write who handles each item and when it is done.
The order matters. Certifying the passing and ordering copies come first, because every bank, insurer, and agency that follows will ask for a copy. Securing the home and telling people come next; the rest can wait until you have slept.
The checklist
The short list, in order
| Task | Who handles it | Date done |
|---|---|---|
| Have the passing certified (doctor, hospice nurse, or medical examiner) | ||
| Call emergency services if the person passed at home without hospice care | ||
| Order certified copies — more than you think you need | ||
| Look for a will, a trust, or a letter of instruction | ||
| Lock the home and collect the keys | ||
| Forward or hold the mail | ||
| Remove valuables from vehicles | ||
| Arrange care for pets tonight | ||
| Confirm care for anyone the person was supporting | ||
| Locate the important documents | ||
| Tell the people who need to know now | ||
| Gather phone numbers and note who gave you what information |
Not yet — let it wait
- Closing accounts and subscriptions
- Moving money or paying debts from your own pocket
- Handing out belongings
- Deleting emails, messages, or voicemail
How to use it
- Start at the top. Certifying the passing and ordering copies come first, because every institution that follows will ask for a copy.
- Write a name and a date for each task. A name turns the list into a plan, and a date keeps the week from drifting.
- Keep the “not yet” section in view. Those tasks feel urgent but can wait until you have slept.
- Work down the list, not across it. One task at a time is enough; most of the pressure comes from other people rather than a real deadline.
Frequently asked
Do I have to do all of this myself?
No. Hospitals, hospices, and funeral directors deal with this every day and can tell you the local sequence. Give each task a name and a date, and ask them.
What if I cannot find a will or instructions?
Do not panic, and do not move anything yet. See where to keep a will and how to get a copy of someone’s will for the next steps.
Which tasks actually cannot wait?
The ones that affect safety or a hard legal deadline: certifying the passing, ordering copies, securing the home and pets, and telling the people who must know. Everything else can wait. See the first-week guide for the reasoning.
What should I definitely not do?
Do not spend money that arrives in the person’s name, move money between accounts, pay debts from your own pocket, or hand out belongings. None of these are yours to decide in the first week, and most are hard to undo.
Next step
Print this page and tape it somewhere visible for the week. Work the list top to bottom, write a name and a date on each row, and pair it with the People to Notify List and the Document Inventory so every call and every paper is recorded.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Which tasks are urgent and who may act differ by state and change over time — confirm details with the official sources we link and talk with a licensed professional about your situation.