Orange County · You are not behind · start small

Someone you care about died in California. Here’s what to do next.

Start with one safe step. You do not have to read everything or solve everything today.

No names, Social Security numbers, or account numbers. Use this quietly, save a backup if you need it, and clear progress on a shared device when you are done. View sources.

First 10 minutes

Make the next step smaller

Protect people and pets Move children, pets, and family away from anything unsafe.
Make the right call 911, hospice, hospital, coroner, or funeral home — depending on what happened.
Pause before paperwork Money, accounts, property, and belongings can usually wait.

Then start the checklist. It will adjust after you answer a few questions.

Source-backed local snapshot

Orange County first-week local resource starting points

These are crawlable starting points from the packaged Orange County guide. Call or open the official source before visiting because hours, fees, and procedures can change.

Death certificates / vital records

Orange County Health Care Agency — Office of Vital Records Phone: 714-834-2500200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100-B, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Open source

Probate court / court help

Orange County Superior Court — Probate/Mental Health, Costa Mesa Justice Complex Phone: 657-622-84523390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Open source

Coroner Medical Examiner

Orange County Sheriff's Department — Coroner Division Phone: 714-647-74001071 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92703 Open source

Death certificates / vital records

Orange County Clerk-Recorder — Vital Records Phone: 714-834-2500601 N. Ross St., Santa Ana, CA 92701 Open source

Last checked: 2026-06-24 · 6 source links packaged · Start the interactive checklist

Start here

Start with what you know

Skip anything you are not sure about. This is not a test. The checklist will start with the steps that usually matter first.

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This page starts with Orange County. Use the California guide if you are not sure, or choose another county below.

Using Orange County guide

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Or use the full list below if search is not convenient.

Looking for a county page? Open the California county directory.

Where did the passing occur?

Hospital Ask the nurse, social worker, or bereavement office who handles release and paperwork. At home under hospice care Call hospice first unless there is an immediate safety emergency. Nursing home / care facility Ask who pronounced the death, where belongings are held, and what paperwork is next. At home, unexpected or sudden Emergency dispatch and coroner/medical examiner involvement may apply. Public place, accident, or possible investigation Stay reachable, follow responder instructions, and do not move belongings unless directed.

Home situation

Not sure yet They rented They owned They lived in a facility

Anything urgent to protect?

Pets need care Child, elder, or dependent needs care They may have been a veteran I’m worried about funeral or cremation costs

Choose what you know, then press Start my checklist.

No account. Nothing to sign up for while your head is full.

First week only. Small steps for the calls, documents, and handoffs.

Words for hard calls. Use the scripts when you do not know what to say.

If you need one step right now

Start here, even on a slow phone

If hospice was involved, call hospice first. Ask what happens next and who will contact the funeral home.
If the death was sudden or unexpected at home, call 911 now. Do not move the person unless there is an immediate safety danger. Move kids and pets away, unlock the door if safe, gather ID or medications nearby, and wait for responders.
If they died in a hospital or facility, ask the nurse or social worker what the next handoff is.
Protect people, pets, medication, keys, wallet, phone, and the home. Do not start moving money or closing accounts today.
Start one folder. Put death certificates, funeral paperwork, IDs, bills, mail, passwords you lawfully have, and notes in one place.

The checklist above can sort the rest when you are ready.

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Use the first safe steps above for now. Then reopen this page in a normal browser window when you can.

When you are ready

You will only see a few first steps at the top.

Choose what you know above. The next screen starts small, then lets you open local resources, documents, family handoff, scripts, and print tools when you are ready.

Your checklist progress

Your checklist will appear here

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Money and document protection

Before you spend money or hand out originals

Two things create early confusion: funeral pricing and death certificates. Use these before you agree to services or give away certified copies.

After the first calls

Protect their identity, but do not rush money decisions

When the first handoffs are started, one authorized person can ask a credit bureau how to mark the credit file as deceased. This helps reduce identity-theft risk. Keep copies of anything sent and do not mail originals unless the bureau specifically requires them.

When to get help

When this gets bigger than first steps

This checklist can help you stay organized. For signing, transferring, paying, filing, selling, court, tax, property, or family-conflict decisions, pause and verify with the listed office or a qualified professional.

Real estate, mortgage, landlord, facility, vehicle, or business issues
Family disagreement, unclear will/trust papers, or questions about who has authority
Debt, taxes, benefits, court filings, probate, or large accounts

Do not do yet

Slow down on these

Can wait

Safe to leave for later

Things families often discover later

Questions you may not know to ask yet

These are the second-wave problems that often show up after the first calls: housing, mail, digital accounts, taxes, hidden benefits, vehicles, bills, and family handoffs. Open only what fits your situation.

No one should carry this alone

Family handoff

When siblings, a spouse, or relatives are all trying to help, give everyone one lane. This keeps one grieving person from becoming the entire command center.

Documents

Start one folder

Do not panic if you cannot find everything. Start one folder and check items off as you locate them.

Words to say

Phone scripts and letter starters

Use these when you do not know what to say. Edit them before sending or reading out loud. Start with the shortest sentence that protects time, money, belongings, or your energy.

Paperwork pack

Helpful worksheets for this situation

These are plain-language prep sheets, not official government forms. Use them to organize calls, documents, and family help before you deal with agencies.

After day 7

The next chapter

The first week handles the emergency. These are the larger lanes that usually come after.

What comes next

After the first week

When you reach the end

You did something hard.

You made the first week smaller. If the immediate calls are handled and people, pets, medicine, keys, the home, and documents are safe, it is okay to stop for today. Rest is part of the next step.

View the official sources behind this checklist

Most families can skip this. These links are here when you want to verify a rule, office, fee, or county resource.