The first few weeks bring dozens of practical tasks — certificates, accounts, benefits, and paperwork — while you're still grieving. Lumeway helps you know what to handle first and what can wait.
Obtain the death certificate (you'll need 10–15 certified copies). Contact a funeral home to begin arrangements. Locate the will if one exists.
Contact Social Security, the employer, banks, and life insurance companies to start claims. Consult an estate attorney if probate is needed.
Apply for survivor benefits. Transfer or retitle jointly owned assets. Review your own will and beneficiaries while everything is fresh.
File the final tax return. Close or transfer remaining accounts. Update property titles and deeds. Your Lumeway dashboard tracks every step.
Critical deadlines
If you were covered under the deceased's employer health plan, you have 60 days from loss of coverage to elect COBRA continuation. Missing this window means losing access entirely.
Benefits don't back-pay more than 6 months. Apply as soon as possible.
Federal estate tax return (Form 706) is due 9 months after date of death if the estate exceeds the exemption threshold.
If the deceased was your spouse, you may file as qualifying surviving spouse for up to 2 years after death if you have a dependent child. Consult a CPA.
Most states require the will to be filed with probate court within 30-90 days of death.
Outdated beneficiaries on retirement accounts and life insurance can cause serious problems. Do this soon.
Trusted resources
Apply for survivor benefits and find your local SSA office.
ssa.gov/survivors →Official guide to all federal survivor benefits including veterans and federal employees.
usa.gov/survivor-benefits →Community, resources, and peer support specifically for widowed individuals navigating life after loss.
modernwidowsclub.com →Find grief support groups near you. Meets weekly at thousands of locations worldwide.
griefshare.org →Federal screening tool to find all government benefit programs you may qualify for.
usa.gov/benefit-finder →Your estate & probate dashboard
Step-by-step guidance built for exactly this moment — so you don't have to figure it out alone.
Your personal dashboard
Track every step in one place
Checklists, in-depth guides, a resource directory, and a glossary of terms — all organized around your specific situation.
See all dashboard features →See it in action
Start with a free conversation — Lumeway walks you through your situation step by step. Then track everything in your personal dashboard: deadlines, documents, activity log, and state-specific resources.
Lumeway walks alongside you through every step — from the first phone calls to the longer-term decisions ahead.
Free to start. No credit card required.
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