What to do with a loved one's house after they pass

Before anyone starts sorting, make the house safe and keep it that way. These are practical steps, not legal requirements:

• Collect every key you can find and note who else has one (neighbors, caregivers, cleaners).
• Walk each room once with your phone and take photos or video. You are documenting, not decluttering.
• Keep power, water and heat or air conditioning on so pipes, mold and spoiled food do not become the next problem.
• Empty the refrigerator of perishables and take out the trash.
• Call the homeowners insurance company and ask whether a vacant house changes the coverage.

Paperwork is easy to lose in a fast cleanout and hard to replace. Look in desks, filing cabinets, closets, safes, freezers and under mattresses before any bags go to the curb. Set aside:

• The original will and any trust papers
• Deeds, mortgage statements and property tax bills
• Vehicle titles
• Bank, brokerage and retirement account statements
• Life insurance policies and pension paperwork
• Recent tax returns
• Social Security card or number, Medicare card, passport and driver's license
• Military discharge papers, if they served
• Unopened mail and recent bills, which show which accounts exist

If you find the original will, do not throw it out or keep it in a drawer. Some states set a deadline for turning it in. In Florida, for example, whoever has the will must deposit it with the clerk of the court within 10 days after learning of the death (Florida Statutes s. 732.901). Other states have their own rules; see our probate basics by state.

The FTC explains that the executor is the person named in a will to carry out its terms, and that if there is no will, a court may appoint an administrator or personal representative. That person is responsible for settling the estate, including its debts.

In practice, that means big or permanent decisions, like selling furniture, giving away valuables, or clearing the whole house, are best made by or with the approval of that person. If nobody has been named yet, it is worth asking a probate attorney before anything of value leaves the house.

Certified copies of the death certificate come from the vital records office in the state where the death happened. USA.gov says you will need certified copies to notify Social Security and other agencies, close or transfer bank and credit card accounts, and claim life insurance or a pension. A photocopy may be enough for smaller tasks, like canceling a subscription.

Social Security: the funeral director usually reports the death if you give them the Social Security number. If not, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit a local office; reports are not accepted online or by email. Benefits paid for the month of death must be returned, so tell the bank if payments arrive by direct deposit.

Everyone else: USA.gov lists banks, credit card companies, credit bureaus, utilities and memberships. It also suggests returning the passport for cancellation, canceling the driver's license, and canceling voter registration.

Mail. USPS lets someone who shared the address manage the mail there. To forward all mail elsewhere, the appointed executor or administrator must file in person at a Post Office with proof of appointment; a death certificate alone is not enough. Keep reading the mail for a few months, because statements reveal accounts and bills you did not know about.

Debts. The FTC says family members usually do not have to pay a deceased relative's debts from their own money. Debts are owed by and paid from the estate. Exceptions include cosigned debts, some spouses in community property states, and an executor who does not follow state probate laws.

Taxes. The IRS says the final income tax return is prepared the same way as for a living person, reporting income up to the date of death. Keep the recent tax returns and statements you set aside in step 2 for whoever prepares it.

Keep these out of any donation pile or dumpster until the executor has seen them:

• Everything on the document list in step 2
• Photos, letters, recipes, medals and other keepsakes family may want
• Jewelry, coins, cash and anything that looks valuable
• Firearms, which the executor should handle with legal advice
• Computers, phones and tablets, which may hold account access and photos

Some things should not go in the regular trash at all:

• Medicines. The FDA says a drug take-back location or mail-back envelope is best. If there is none, flush only drugs on the FDA flush list; mix the rest with cat litter or used coffee grounds, seal in a plastic bag, throw it away, and scratch personal information off the labels.
• Paint, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides. The EPA calls these household hazardous waste. Do not pour them down drains or on the ground, keep them in their original containers, do not mix them, and check with your local solid waste agency about collection programs.

Want all of this on one sheet? Use the printable estate cleanout checklist.

A crew makes the most sense once these are true:

• The executor or administrator has agreed to the cleanout.
• The documents and valuables above are out of the house.
• Family members have taken what they want.
• You have decided whether anything will be sold or donated first. Our estate cleanout vs estate sale vs donation guide walks through that choice.

When you get quotes, ask how the crew prices the job, whether they drop usable items at charities and give receipts, how they handle paint and chemicals, and whether they leave the house broom clean. More questions are in how to choose an estate cleanout company. To start with crews their neighbors already rate highly, see the Top Rated 2026 list, picked only from public Google ratings.