How to Secure a Home After Someone Dies

In the first days after a death, everyone’s attention is on the person who died and on the people who loved them. The house is usually the last thing on anyone’s mind. A few quiet precautions taken early protect the home, the belongings, and the family from a second blow at a hard time.

Why does a home need securing after a death?

Because the circumstances are unusual: a home that may be empty or visited less often, a family distracted and often away at services, people coming and going, and in some cases a death that has become public knowledge. Police departments in several states have warned about so-called “obituary burglaries,” in which thieves use a published service time to work out when a family will be away. The U.S. Postal Service also notes that when mail builds up after a death, it can attract unwanted attention.

Most homes are never targeted, and this isn’t a reason for alarm. The precautions are inexpensive and take little time, which is why they’re worth doing.

What should I do in the first day or two?

• Lock everything. Doors, windows, and the garage, and confirm any alarm or smart lock is working
• Account for keys and codes. Find out who has them - relatives, neighbors, home health aides, cleaners, contractors - and collect them. Change garage and alarm codes, and consider rekeying the locks if you can’t account for every key, especially if the person lived alone or had regular helpers
• Skip the usual hiding place. If a spare key lives under a mat or planter, move it
• Gather the portable valuables. Cash, jewelry, checkbooks, spare cards, passports, and small electronics are best in one secured place, out of sight
• Make the house look lived-in. A few lights on timers and a tidy front step help if it will be empty overnight
• Ask a trusted neighbor to keep watch, and give them a phone number to call

Securing a home is different from clearing it out. Lock it up and protect what’s there, but hold off on removing, giving away, or discarding belongings until the person with legal authority, usually the executor, has weighed in. See our guide on executor responsibilities. Taking quick photos of the rooms and any valuables before anything moves protects everyone from disputes later.

Should someone stay at the house during the funeral?

If you can, yes. It’s the single most repeated piece of advice from police. A Wisconsin sheriff’s department, citing a statewide crime alert about an increase in burglaries targeting the homes of people named in obituaries, recommended placing someone in the home while the funeral or visitation is underway. Police in Connecticut asked families to alert neighbors and have them call police about anything suspicious, and local reporting noted that some funeral homes now advise families to arrange a house-sitter.

If no one can stay, you can ask neighbors to watch, and you can call your local police department’s non-emergency line to say you’ll be away. A Texas police department suggested exactly that so patrol officers can check on the house. Some departments will do a drive-by; it costs nothing to ask.

What about the obituary and other public notices?

Obituaries and funeral notices are read by more people than a family intends. Police have suggested being cautious about listing a service date and time, and the Iowa Attorney General notes that identity thieves read obituaries for personal details they can use. In practice, families often want a public notice so people can attend, so it’s about judgment rather than a rule:

• Leave the home address out of public notices
• Share exact service times by private invitation, through the funeral home, or in a closed group where that’s practical
• Leave out details that double as common security answers, such as a full birth date, mother’s maiden name, or street address

A published time and place for the service is still reasonable, especially if someone is staying at the house. See our guide on writing an obituary.

What should I do about valuables, cash, and important papers?

Gather them in one place under the control of one person, ideally the executor, and make a simple list. Important papers worth securing include the will, insurance policies, recent tax returns, account and debt records, and identification documents. The Iowa Attorney General lists these specifically, and also notes that identity theft is sometimes committed by someone close to the family, which is a reason to limit access to a few trusted people. Access to a safe deposit box typically requires proof of legal authority, so ask the bank.

Sentimental belongings are a separate matter, and the place where families most often come into conflict. See our guides on who gets Mom’s jewelry and what to do with a lifetime of belongings.

What should I do with medications and firearms?

Medications. Leftover prescriptions, especially strong pain medicines and other controlled substances, are a safety risk in a home with visitors, children, or pets, and can be a target for theft. The FDA says the best option is a drug take-back program: the DEA sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, many communities run their own programs, and some pharmacies have drop-off boxes or mail-back options. Take-back sites often don’t accept needles or other sharps.

If no take-back option is available, the FDA keeps a short “flush list” of particularly dangerous medicines that should be flushed, and says nearly everything else can go in the household trash after mixing it with something unappealing like dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds, sealing it in a bag or container, and scratching out personal information on the label. One caution: if the death is being reviewed by a medical examiner or coroner, don’t discard anything until you’re told it’s no longer needed. See our guide on what to do when someone dies at home unexpectedly.

Firearms. Keep them unloaded, locked, and out of sight, and don’t transfer or sell them until you understand the state and federal rules that apply. See our guide on what happens to guns when the owner dies.

Do I need to tell the homeowners insurance company?

Yes, and sooner than most people expect. A homeowners policy typically doesn’t end the moment the owner dies, but the situation has changed: a different person is responsible for the property, and the house may now be empty. Many standard policies include a vacancy provision that can limit or exclude certain coverage once a home has been unoccupied for a set period, often 30 to 60 days, according to insurer guidance. Terms vary by company and policy.

Call the insurer, explain the death and the plan for the home, and ask what’s needed to keep coverage in place and whether a vacant- or unoccupied-home policy is needed. Some guidance suggests notifying within about 30 days, so don’t wait. Keep the utilities on and have someone check the inside regularly, so a small problem like a leak doesn’t turn into a large one. The executor is generally responsible for protecting estate property while the estate is open.

What about pets, perishables, and the daily details?

• Pets need a caregiver right away. See our guide on what happens to your pets when you die
• Perishable food should be cleared out and the trash emptied
• Heat, air conditioning, and water may need attention in extreme weather
• Mail and packages shouldn’t be left to pile up. See our guide on protecting a deceased person’s mail and identity

How long do these precautions need to continue?

Until the home is occupied, sold, or transferred. If it will sit empty, check it at varying times through the week, and revisit the insurance question if it stays empty for more than a month or two. See our guide on when to sell a deceased parent’s house for the longer-term decisions.

If you’re reading this to prepare for your own family, one of the kindest things you can do is note who has keys and codes and where your valuables and documents are. Add that to your Final Day Plan.

This is general educational information, not legal, insurance, or security advice. Police recommendations and insurance terms vary by location and policy - your local police department, your insurer, and an estate attorney can address your specific situation.