After losing someone you love, it can be hard to know who needs to be told. There are family members and friends who will want to know, along with organizations that will need to be notified in the days and weeks ahead.
You do not have to contact everyone at once. Start with the people closest to your loved one and the matters that need attention first. Here are some of the most common questions about who to notify when someone dies.
Who Should I Tell That My Mom or Dad Has Died?
Start with immediate family and the people who were closest to your loved one. This might include close friends, extended family, neighbors, members of a church or faith community, or others who were an important part of their life. Think about who should hear the news personally rather than through social media or from someone else.
You also don’t have to make every call yourself. Ask a sibling, relative, or close friend to help notify others. Dividing the calls among a few people can make a difficult task a little easier.
How Do I Tell Friends and Family?
There is no perfect way to tell someone that a loved one has died. A phone call or in-person conversation may feel right for those closest to the person. A text, email, or group message can work for extended family, friends, neighbors, or larger groups.
The message itself can be simple. Share that your loved one has passed away and any additional details you wish to share. If funeral or memorial arrangements haven’t been made yet, let people know that details will be shared when they are available.
You don’t have to explain everything or answer every question right away.
Is It Okay to Share the News on Social Media?
Yes. Social media can be a practical way to let a larger group of people know, but consider telling close family members and friends personally before posting the news publicly.
You might share a photograph, a few words about your loved one, and service information if it is available. Some families wait until the obituary is published and share a link to it instead.
Whether you post at all is up to you and your loved ones.
Who Needs to Be Officially Notified When Someone Dies?
The list will be different for every person, but it may include:
- Social Security
- A current employer
- Former employers connected to pensions or other benefits
- Pension or retirement plan administrators
- Life insurance companies
- Banks and financial institutions
- Credit card companies
- Mortgage companies or landlords
- Utility providers
- Health and other insurance providers
- The Department of Veterans Affairs, if applicable
- Membership organizations or professional associations
You don’t need to work through this entire list immediately. Keep track of who has been contacted and add to the list as you find accounts or paperwork that need attention.
How Do I Notify Social Security?
Funeral homes generally report a death to the Social Security Administration. Confirm with the funeral home that the notification will be made before trying to report it yourself.
You may still need to contact Social Security if you have questions about benefits. A surviving spouse, child, or other eligible family member may qualify for survivor benefits, and Social Security can explain what applies to your family.
Do I Need to Contact Their Employer?
Yes, if your loved one was employed at the time of their death.
The employer can provide information about final pay, unused vacation or other compensation, health insurance, retirement accounts, life insurance, and other workplace benefits. Human Resources or the person responsible for employee benefits is usually a good place to start. Some benefits or account changes may require a certified copy of the death certificate.
Do I Need to Contact a Former Employer?
Sometimes. A former employer may still be important if your loved one received a pension, had a retirement account through the company, carried retiree health coverage, or had another benefit tied to that workplace.
Financial records, tax documents, benefit statements, and recent mail may help you identify benefits connected to a former employer. If you’re unsure, the company’s Human Resources or benefits department can tell you whether anything needs to be addressed.
Who Else Might Need to Know?
As you go through your loved one’s records, you may find other accounts or organizations that need to be contacted.
Bank and credit card statements, mail, email, tax records, and recurring bills can help you identify:
- Insurance policies
- Utilities
- Memberships
- Subscriptions
- Loans
- Professional services
- Other recurring accounts
If your loved one worked with an attorney, accountant, financial advisor, executor, or trustee, you may also need to contact them. Some of these notifications can happen weeks after the death. They do not all belong on the first day’s to-do list.
What Information Will I Need When Notifying Organizations?
It depends on the organization, but you may be asked for:
- Your loved one’s full legal name
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Account or policy numbers
- Your relationship to the person
- A certified copy of the death certificate
Not every organization will need a death certificate. When one is required, ask whether they need a certified copy before sending one.
How Many Death Certificates Will I Need?
There isn’t one number that’s right for every family. The number of certified copies you need depends on your loved one’s accounts, property, insurance policies, benefits, and other affairs.
Banks, insurance companies, retirement plans, and other organizations may request certified copies. Before ordering a large number, find out which organizations actually require one.
Your funeral director can also help you think through how many copies you may need.
What If I Forget cto Notify Someone?
You probably won’t identify every person or account immediately, and that’s okay. Start with close family and friends and the matters that need attention first. As you sort through mail, financial records, email, and other paperwork, you’ll likely find additional accounts and contacts.
There is a lot to manage after losing someone you love. Remember, it doesn’t all have to be handled at once.
Here When You Need Us
Losing a loved one comes with questions you may never have had to answer before. You don’t have to know how every part of the process works or what needs to happen next.
At Coastal Funeral Center, our team is here to answer your questions, provide guidance, and help you understand what to expect along the way. If you need assistance following the loss of a loved one, we’re here when you need us.
Additional articles that may be of interest:
- Creative and Personal Farewells: Nontraditional Funeral Ideas
- Grief and Love: 5 Ways to Remember a Loved One
- Celebration of Life: Navigating Funeral Options
About Coastal Funeral Center
At Coastal Funeral Center, we are committed to being dedicated guardians of family and community, while holding on to the legacy we established as a family-owned funeral home. Originally A.M Gamby Funeral Home, Coastal Funeral Center became part of the Green Hills Memorial Park in 2018 to better serve the community of the South Bay and Palos Verdes Peninsula. During this transition, we expanded our services as an all-inclusive facility and built on the successes of Green Hills Memorial Park. We’re proud of our legacy of personal service and our deep roots in the community, which we’ve been part of for more than 80 years. We provide customized funeral service options that meet your financial needs and honor your loved one like the beautiful individual they were. To learn more, visit https://coastalfuneralcenter.com.
