The estate of Eleanor R. Whitfield

Alameda County, California · 7 documents · 20 steps to go

This is a sample workspace with a fictional estate, so you can see how Afterward works before you need it. Nothing here is real.

A few things are time-sensitive

Order certified copies of the death certificate
Report the death to Social Security
Deliver the original will to the court
Make sure the death is reported to Social Security

The checklist

Everything your documents created, sorted into calm phases. Check things off as you go.

The first days

Breathe. A few things are time-sensitive; most of it can wait. We'll surface what truly can't.

Order certified copies of the death certificate
Order several certified copies early — banks, insurers, and the court each tend to want their own original. The office that issues them is where the death occurred.
Time-sensitiveYour state or county vital records office

Notify & secure

Tell the offices that need to know, and protect accounts and identity from fraud.

Report the death to Social Security
Social Security must be told as soon as possible so benefits stop. The funeral home often does this — confirm whether they have.
Time-sensitiveConfirm with the officeSocial Security Administration (SSA)
Flag the credit file against fraud
Notifying one of the three nationwide credit bureaus marks the file as deceased and helps prevent identity theft. It usually notifies the other two.
SoonThe three nationwide credit bureaus
Make sure the death is reported to Social Security
Benefits must stop. The funeral home often reports the death — confirm whether they have, using the person's Social Security number.
Time-sensitiveConfirm with the officeSocial Security Administration (SSA)
Return the payment for the month of death
Social Security does not pay benefits for the month a person dies. Any payment received for that month must be returned — do not spend it.
Time-sensitiveConfirm with the officeSocial Security Administration (SSA)

Claims & benefits

Benefits and policies the family may be owed — Social Security, the VA, life insurance, retirement accounts.

Ask about the one-time Social Security death payment
An eligible surviving spouse or child may receive a one-time payment. There is a limited window to apply.
SoonAround March 14, 2028Confirm with the officeSocial Security Administration (SSA)
From our rules library, as of June 8, 2026. Confirm this with the office — it can vary by state and year.
File any life-insurance claims
If there are life-insurance policies, file a claim with each insurer along with a certified death certificate.
SoonThe insurer named on the policy
Ask about survivor benefits
A surviving spouse or children may be owed monthly survivor benefits. Ask Social Security what the family qualifies for — we can't determine that for you.
SoonSocial Security Administration (SSA)
File the life-insurance claim
Contact the insurer named on the policy and file a claim with a certified death certificate. The benefit is paid to the named beneficiaries.
SoonThe insurer named on the policy
Claim any payable-on-death funds
If the account names a beneficiary (POD/TOD), that person can usually claim the funds directly without probate.
SoonThe bank or financial institution

Settle the estate

Probate, taxes, and the legal work of closing the estate. This is where a professional often helps.

Find out whether probate is needed
Whether the estate must go through the county probate court depends on what the person owned and how it was titled. Start by locating the will.
SoonYour county probate court
Know the federal estate tax deadline (large estates only)
A federal estate tax return is due a set number of months after death — but only for very large estates above the federal exemption. Most estates owe nothing and file nothing. Confirm with a tax professional.
When you're readyAround December 14, 2026Confirm with the officeInternal Revenue Service (IRS)
From our rules library, as of June 8, 2026. Confirm this with the office — it can vary by state and year.
Deliver the original will to the court
Most states require whoever holds the original will to deliver it to the county court soon after death. The exact window varies by state — many set a specific number of days.
Time-sensitiveConfirm with the officeYour county probate court
Petition the court to open probate
If probate is needed, the named executor petitions the county court to be formally appointed (Letters Testamentary).
SoonYour county probate court
Respond to the court by the deadline
If the notice asks for a response, it must be filed by the date stated. A probate attorney can do this for you.
Time-sensitiveAround May 13, 2026Your county probate court
Note the hearing date
If a hearing is scheduled, put the date somewhere safe. You or your attorney may need to attend.
SoonAround May 20, 2026Your county probate court
Understand what this notice is
Medicaid Estate Recovery lets a state recover what it paid for long-term care from the estate of someone who was 55 or older. It is generally a claim against the estate rather than against family members personally, but how it applies varies by state — the state's estate-recovery office and an elder-law attorney can explain your situation.
Time-sensitiveYour state's Medicaid Estate Recovery program
Respond by the deadline on the notice
There is usually a date by which you must respond or request more information. Missing it can limit your options. An elder-law attorney can respond for you.
Time-sensitiveAround May 2, 2026Your state's Medicaid Estate Recovery program
Ask about a hardship waiver and protections
Federal law requires every state to offer a way to waive recovery for undue hardship, and limits recovery while certain family members survive — for example a surviving spouse, a child under 21, or a child of any age who is blind or permanently and totally disabled. The exact rules vary by state. Ask the state's estate-recovery office, or an elder-law attorney, how these apply to your situation.
SoonConfirm with the officeYour state's Medicaid Estate Recovery program

Close out

The practical closures: accounts, utilities, subscriptions, and digital life.

Notify the bank
Tell the institution about the death with a certified death certificate. They will explain how the account is handled.
SoonThe bank or financial institution