The 2 AM Phone Call Kit

You do not have to do everything right now. If it is the middle of the night, most of this can wait until morning. The only things that truly cannot wait are listed below.

This only applies if your loved one passed away at home and emergency services have not yet been contacted. If they were in a hospital, hospice, or nursing facility, the staff will handle this step.

You do not need to call everyone tonight. Just reach the one person who can help you think clearly and be with you. Let them help you notify the rest of the family when you are ready.

Close family members deserve to hear this directly from a person, not from a screen. Wait until the immediate family has been personally notified before posting anything publicly.

If your loved one passed at home, the coroner or medical examiner may need the scene undisturbed. Wait for emergency services to arrive and give you guidance before moving or rearranging anything.

Check the location noted in the Heir Information Packet. It may be in a safe, a desk drawer, or with important papers. The USB drive contains account details, important contacts, and instructions your loved one prepared for you.

Find their phone and plug it in to charge right away. Do not let the battery run out or the phone lock permanently. You may need it for the security codes some accounts text to the phone, contact numbers, or account access in the coming days.

The attorney's name and phone number should be in the Heir Information Packet or saved on the Left In Peace USB drive. They will guide you on the will, trust, and any legal steps that need to happen early. If you are unsure who the attorney is, check the USB drive first.

If your loved one had life insurance, the agent or company name should be on the USB drive. You do not need to file the claim yet, but notifying them early starts the process. Ask them what paperwork they will need.

If your loved one was still employed, notify their employer. HR can tell you about any final paychecks, benefits, life insurance through work, or retirement accounts. Ask if there is a company life insurance policy you may not know about.

Lock all doors and windows. Adjust the thermostat so pipes do not freeze or the house does not overheat. Check for pets that need food, water, or care. If there are perishable items, ask someone to handle them. Sadly, break-ins during funerals do happen, so keep the home looking lived in.

Start picking up the mail daily. Bills, bank statements, insurance notices, and legal correspondence will arrive. Set everything aside in one place. Do not throw anything away for now because even junk mail can reveal unknown accounts or subscriptions.

You will need certified copies of the official certificate — the funeral home will call it the death certificate, and they can usually order these for you. You will need more copies than you think. Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and financial institutions will each want their own original certified copy. Ten is a safe starting number; some families need 15 or more.

The insurance company name and policy number should be on the Left In Peace USB drive. Call the company and ask them to send you the claim forms. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate to include with your claim.

Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. They need to be notified of the passing. If your loved one was receiving benefits, those payments will need to stop. The funeral home may have already reported this, but confirm to be sure. If you are a surviving spouse, ask about survivor benefits.

The list of banks and accounts should be on the Left In Peace USB drive. Call each institution and let them know. They will tell you what paperwork is needed. Do not close accounts yet; just notify them so they can flag the account and prevent unauthorized access.

If your loved one used a CPA or tax preparer, let them know. A final tax return will need to be filed for the year. The tax preparer can advise on deadlines and what documents to gather. Their name may be on the USB drive or in recent mail.

The Left In Peace USB drive may have a list of subscriptions and recurring payments. Work through them one at a time. Some can be canceled, some may need to be transferred to a surviving spouse, and some should stay active until the attorney says otherwise.

Look through the collected mail for bills that are due soon: mortgage or rent, utilities, car payments, insurance premiums. Keeping these current prevents late fees, service shutoffs, or lapses in coverage. Ask the attorney if these can be paid from the estate.

If bills were set to auto-pay from a bank account or credit card that has been frozen or flagged, those payments may start bouncing. Review upcoming auto-payments and make arrangements so nothing critical lapses.

If no one will be living in the home, set up mail forwarding at your local post office or online at USPS.com. This ensures important documents do not pile up in an empty mailbox where they could be stolen.

There is no deadline for this. Take your time. Go room by room when you are ready, not when someone else thinks you should be ready. Bring a trusted friend or family member when the time feels right.

Do not rush into selling a home, car, or other property. Grief is not a good state of mind for major financial decisions. The attorney can advise you on timing, especially if the property is part of the estate or probate process.

Wait until emotions have settled before dividing personal items among family members. Rushing this process can create conflicts that last for years. If the will specifies who gets what, follow it. If it does not, give everyone time.

Some accounts can and should stay open during probate. The attorney will tell you which ones can be closed and when. Closing accounts too early can create complications with the estate settlement.