When someone close dies: practical checklist
The practical side of the first days: documents, funeral service, notifying people, sharing tasks with others and what can safely wait.

[ ] Obtain the medical certificate of death
    This is the first document; nothing else can be arranged without it. The procedure varies — check what applies where you are.
[ ] Agree who will coordinate the arrangements
    It does not have to be the closest relative. Let it be whoever is currently steadier at holding tasks and talking to organisations.
[ ] Tell the closest relatives
    Make a list of who calls whom: split the calls between several people. Repeating the same words twenty times is harder than it sounds.
[ ] Ask for specific help
    \u201cBring food\u201d, \u201cmeet them at the station\u201d, \u201cstay with the children\u201d. People want to help but do not know how; a specific request removes the awkwardness for both sides.
[ ] Choose a funeral service and go through the costs
    Ask for a written list of services and prices, and do not accept packages without a breakdown. Have a second person present for this conversation.
[ ] Check for any wishes or arrangements made in advance
    Instructions left behind, prepaid services, wishes about the farewell. Ask the closest people: often only one person knows.
[ ] Gather the documents into one folder
    Certificates, identity documents, contracts, policies, receipts. Keep a folder both physical and on your phone: you will use these papers for weeks.
[ ] Get several originals and copies of the key documents
    Different organisations require an original or a certified copy. Getting several at once saves repeat visits.
[ ] Decide the date, place and form of the farewell
    Allow time for people who need to travel. The form is a family decision, and there is no single correct one.
[ ] Notify the wider circle and colleagues
    One short message with the date and place replaces dozens of separate conversations. Ask someone to take it on.
[ ] Tell your workplace and arrange the days off
    Most employers have a separate procedure for these circumstances. Do not delay it: it removes one more source of pressure.
[ ] Take care of the home and pets left behind
    Keys, access, animals, perishable food, appliances switched off. These are easy to forget in the first days.
[ ] Check how bank and utility accounts are handled
    Do not rush to close or transfer anything: each organisation has its own requirements and deadlines. Learn the procedure first, then act.
[ ] List subscriptions and contracts for later
    Phone, internet, streaming, insurance, deliveries. These can be cancelled calmly and gradually; none of it is urgent.
[ ] Decide who talks to the children and how
    Children need simple, honest words and their usual routine kept. If you are unsure, ask a professional rather than the internet.
[ ] Write down who said what and when
    Name, organisation, date, what was promised. Tiredness undermines memory, and the same questions keep coming back.
[ ] Put inheritance and belongings on a separate list
    These matters have deadlines, but almost none needs deciding this week. Decisions made now are the ones most often regretted.
[ ] Look after yourself: food, water, sleep, people nearby
    The organisational side needs attention, and attention is the first thing to go. If you can, take someone with you to meetings where decisions are made.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/loss-of-loved-one