What Documents Are Needed After a Death?

Published March 18, 2026

In the days after a death, the most important document to obtain is the death certificate — order 6–10 certified copies through your funeral home. Beyond that, you’ll need to locate the will, Social Security card, financial account information, life insurance policies, and property titles. Most of these don’t need to be gathered in the first 24 hours. In the first week, focus on the death certificate and one or two immediate notifications. Everything else follows.