Helpful Links: After a Death
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Government Links
U.S. Government list of agencies to notify after a death
Social Security:
When Someone Dies - Learn how to report a death to the SSA, what benefits might be available to survivors, and how to apply for those.
Survivor Benefits - Learn more about survivor benefits, including who is eligible, what they may be able to receive, and what recipients need to report as income.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
How to file a final tax return for someone who has passed away - The deceased’s final taxes are usually filed by the surviving spouse or relatives, or by their estate or financial representative. They will note that the person they are filing for has died, and that is the only notification needed by the IRS. You generally will not need to send the IRS a death certificate.
More Information and a Few Forms You May Need to Fill out:
How Do I File a Deceased Person's Tax Return?
Publication 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information
Publication 559, Survivors, Executors and Administrators
Form 1310, Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Managing Leftover Debts - Information on the rules and your rights when managing a deceased person’s debts, including how to work with debt collectors and report them to the FTC if necessary.
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Office of Survivors Assistance - This page has information on how to report a veteran’s death, guidance on burials and burial benefits, and how you can apply for veterans benefits and reporting a veteran’s death.
Ask VA - Sign up to ask the VA specific questions.
Burials and Burial Benefits - Check eligibility for benefits and for burial in a VA National Cemetery, and apply online.
United States Postal Service (USPS)
Hold Mail - Request a hold of the deceased’s mail
Mail Management - Your options for handling mail for the deceased, including adding the deceased to the Deceased Do Not Contact List (DDNC)
Returning Identification Documents
To protect a deceased person’s identity from fraud (which could also impact your ability to settle their estate and distribute inheritances and benefits, among other issues), you need to manage their identifying documents.
How to return a deceased person’s passport (U.S. Department of State) - You’ll need to return the physical passport along with a certified death certificate and a letter requesting the cancellation of the passport.
Returning a State-Issued Driver’s License or ID Card - Find your state from the dropdown at this link. Similar to returning a passport, you will need to return the physical card with a certified death certificate. In some states, you may also need to return the deceased’s license plates and handicapped placards.
Requesting Death Certificates
Where to Request Vital Records by State (CDC Website) - The funeral director usually manages this, but you can find more information for each state at this link. There are other agencies who provide this service, but be sure to confirm they’re legitimate before sharing personal information. REMINDER: Order more certificates than you think you’ll need. Many agencies and organizations will not accept photo copies.
Social Media and Digital Legacy Management
Just like physical IDs, it’s important to manage the deceased’s online identity. Memorializing or closing social and email accounts can help protect against fraud and theft. Major social and email platforms have procedures to help you.
Some things to consider about social media and digital management:
If the death is under investigation, follow official guidance on making public social announcements. You may compromise the investigation if you share any information or details.
Notify close family and personally before making the announcement on social, since that would be a terrible way to find out someone close to you has passed.
Make sure the deceased’s identity and property are secure before making public announcements to avoid fraud and theft (i.e., thieves often look for homes where the occupants died because they are unattended).
Before you close email accounts, be sure to update the email on accounts that used that email or you may not be able to access them.
Google Inactive Account Manager - Google allows users to set up a trusted account manager who will be able to manage and close email accounts and all Google products associated with them.
Facebook Memorialized Accounts - Users can pre-set their preference for what happens to their main Facebook account (memorialized and managed by a designated legacy contact, or permanent deletion), or survivors can request memorialization or permanent deletion after someone passes away. Once Facebook is aware of a death, they’ll automatically memorialize the account if permanent deletion is not previously selected.
Instagram Memorialized Profiles - Similar to Facebook (because they’re both Meta products), a legacy contact can manage a person’s profile after they pass away, and users can set their profiles to be deleted after their deaths.
TikTok Memorialization - TikTok also allows survivors to request memorialization of an account