Before you have a Certified copy of the Death Certificate:

• Notify your employer (and your spouse’s employer). You will need time off of work to smooth the financial wrinkles, write thank you notes, not to mention time for you and your family to adjust.
• Find out what policies are in place to support your need for time and counseling assistance. Notify the Social Security Administration. They provide a one-time payment of $255 to the surviving spouse (other benefits may be available depending on your age, or the age of your children).
• If your spouse was receiving social security income monthly, payments after the month of death must be returned to SSA. You’ll need to work with them to determine what benefit can be paid to you or your family. The SSA does not need a Death Certificate to accept report of an individual’s death.
• If SSA monthly income payments are received via Direct Deposit, you’ll want to notify the bank to stop future incoming payments from being deposited. Later, you must still provide a Death Certificate to distribute funds from the bank account to beneficiaries.
• Do NOT advise other financial institutions of the loss of your loved one until you can furnish a Certified copy of the Death Certificate (might cause complications in accessing the account in the meantime).
• Advise friends and family of the loss (if unprepared, your holiday card mailing list may give you somewhere to start).
• Decide on final arrangements and if you want flowers sent (and to what address) or if you’d rather charitable donations be made (and to what charity, address, contact name) in the loved one’s name.
• Alert your local police department that you request extra police patrols the day of and after the memorial ceremony.
• Ask neighbors to help you be vigilant about suspicious activity in the neighborhood, or to house-sit if they are not attending the service.
• Advise friends, family and your spouse’s employer of the memorial ceremony schedule to honor your loved one.
• If funding is limited, or you need activity to help you work through your loss, can you create audio or written collateral for the ceremony?
• Have friends volunteered to mow lawns, pick up papers and mail (if you’re away)? It’s okay to say, “Yes, thank you!” for the help for a short time of need, and send a Thank You note later.
• Take a financial snapshot of investments on the date of death. A price snapshot can be reconstructed, but easier if captured at that time.
• Locate any Life Insurance policies and agent names for contact once you receive the Death Certificates.
• Locate Marriage Certificate, Social Security Card, Military Discharge papers if possible. 
• What bills are due now? What’s coming up in 30-60 days? Are there any large payments looming in 30-180 days?
• Are there items on Lay Away, or being repaired and located somewhere other than in your home?
• Are there funds being held to secure a future purchase (car, home, other) that should be retrieved?
• As a courtesy, cancel medical, dental, haircut, massage or manicure appointments your loved one had scheduled. Spend what you need at this time, but don’t spend needlessly—money does not buy solace.

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