Tool

The Decision Matrix

Every decision a family typically faces after a death, organized by category and by timeframe — no single family faces every cell below, and there's no need to rush ahead of where you actually are.

	First 24 Hours	First 72 Hours	First Two Weeks	First 90 Days
Immediate & Medical	Location-specific first steps Caring for the body Organ/tissue donation	—	—	—
Notifications	Who to call first	Employer, friends, family Veterans status	Social Security & agencies	—
Funeral & Disposition	Choose a funeral home Existing preneed plan	Making arrangements	—	—
Documents & Money	—	Getting death certificates Why they matter	Banks, cards, bills	Probate & estate admin Taxes, benefits, property
Digital & Long-Term	—	—	Digital accounts	—

Not sure where to start instead?

If a matrix feels like too much at once, try theSomeone Just Diedlife stage page instead — it asks one question about where the death occurred and gives you just the 2 most relevant guides for your specific situation.

What about after 90 days?

This matrix deliberately stops at the first 90 days, since that's where most of the urgent, unavoidable tasks end. But the first year often brings its own mix of remaining tasks and predictable emotional milestones — see our guide onthe first year after a deathfor what tends to come next.