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
1
Protect people and pets Move children, pets, and family away from anything unsafe.
2
Make the right call 911, hospice, hospital, coroner, or funeral home — depending on what happened.
3
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
Santa Cruz County first-week local resource starting points
These are crawlable starting points from the packaged Santa Cruz County guide. Call or open the official source before visiting because hours, fees, and procedures can change.
Probate court / court help
Santa Cruz Superior Court — Probate DivisionPhone: 831-420-2200701 Ocean Street, Room 110, Santa Cruz, CA 95060Open source
Coroner Medical Examiner
Santa Cruz County Sheriff-CoronerPhone: 831-454-77905200 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062Open source
Recorder Vital Records
Santa Cruz County Recorder — Death CertificatesPhone: 831-454-2800701 Ocean Street, Room 230, Santa Cruz, CA 95060Open source
Skip anything you are not sure about. This is not a test. The checklist will start with the steps that usually matter first.
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.
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
Saved on this device/browser only. Built-in app browsers and cleared history can erase it — download a backup if this matters.
Progress backup
Save a backup after you have made progress
Browser storage can be fragile on phones and in-app browsers. After you have checked off a few tasks, save a tiny backup file or copy the backup text.
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.
Authority, home, and care
Protect people, pets, and belongings before big decisions
This does not decide legal authority. It helps you separate safe first-week help from signing, moving property, paying large bills, or distributing belongings.
Benefits lane
Benefits, employer, union, and insurance questions
These are usually not first-minute tasks. Use this section when the first calls are stable and you are ready to ask what may apply without giving away original documents.
Paper trail
Printable one-page emergency sheet
A clean summary for a funeral home, county office, landlord, bank, or family handoff. Keep sensitive numbers off the printed sheet unless you write them in by hand.
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.
Local resources
Riverside County resources
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.
Week 2 bridge
Digital accounts and subscriptions
Week 2, not today. Use this after the first calls are steady so phone, email, subscriptions, photos, and social accounts do not become a second wave of panic.
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.
