Wangh Wealth Legacy Group

The 150+ Estate Settlement Checklist

Everything a surviving spouse, executor, or trustee is typically asked to gather, notify, file, and settle.

81 items across 8 phases.

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First 72 hours

Obtain the legal pronouncement of death
Contact immediate family and closest friends
Locate any funeral, burial, or cremation instructions
Contact the funeral home or cremation provider
Arrange care for dependents and pets
Secure the home, vehicles, and valuables
Collect keys, wallets, phones, and passwords
Notify the employer and any business partners
Request 10–12 certified copies of the death certificate
Identify the person named as executor or successor trustee

First two weeks

Locate the original will, trust, and any codicils
Locate life insurance policies and annuity contracts
Locate deeds, titles, and vehicle registrations
Locate the most recent tax returns
Inventory bank, brokerage, and retirement accounts
Identify safe deposit boxes and locate the keys
Notify Social Security Administration
Notify pension and retirement plan administrators
Notify the Veterans Administration if applicable
Notify all insurance carriers (life, health, auto, home, disability)
Notify mortgage servicers and landlords
Notify credit card issuers and lenders
Notify the state motor vehicle department
Forward mail and review incoming statements
Cancel subscriptions, memberships, and auto-payments

Legal and probate

Determine whether probate is required in the state of residence
File the will with the probate court
Petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration
Obtain an EIN for the estate
Open an estate checking account
Publish notice to creditors as required by state law
Prepare and file the estate inventory
Track and document all estate expenses
Review and validate creditor claims
Settle valid debts in the state's required priority order
Retain estate counsel and a CPA if needed
Prepare the final accounting for the court
Petition for final distribution and estate closing

Insurance and benefits claims

File each life insurance claim with a certified death certificate
Confirm beneficiary designations on every policy
Claim any accidental death or rider benefits
Claim group life coverage through the employer
Claim final paycheck, PTO, bonus, and commissions
Claim Social Security survivor and lump-sum benefits
Claim pension survivor benefits
Claim veterans burial and survivor benefits
Claim mortgage protection or credit life coverage
Review health insurance and COBRA continuation options

Accounts, property, and titles

Retitle jointly held bank and brokerage accounts
Roll over or retitle IRAs and employer retirement plans
Confirm required minimum distribution obligations
Retitle real estate and record the new deed
Retitle vehicles, boats, trailers, and recreational vehicles
Transfer utility, phone, and internet accounts
Update homeowners and auto insurance policies
Locate and secure digital assets and password vaults
Close or memorialize social media and email accounts
Appraise real property, collectibles, and business interests
Address safe deposit box contents with the bank

Business interests

Locate the buy-sell agreement and operating agreement
Notify partners, key employees, and the business banker
Determine who has authority to sign and pay
Confirm key person and business overhead coverage
Value the ownership interest for estate purposes
Address payroll, vendor, and lease obligations
Transfer or wind down licenses and permits

Taxes

File the decedent's final personal income tax return
File estate income tax returns (Form 1041) as required
Determine federal estate tax filing requirements
Determine state estate or inheritance tax requirements
Establish the date-of-death cost basis for all assets
Document charitable bequests for deductions
Coordinate with the CPA on trust tax filings

Family and final steps

Distribute personal property per the will or trust
Document distributions with signed receipts
Update the surviving spouse's own will, trust, and beneficiaries
Update powers of attorney and healthcare directives
Review guardianship designations for minor children
Rebuild the household budget on the new income
Reposition survivor benefit proceeds with a fiduciary review
Store the final estate file and closing documents safely

Educational information only. Estate settlement requirements vary by state and by estate. This checklist is not legal, tax, or accounting advice — confirm your specific obligations with a licensed attorney or CPA.