How much does a funeral cost?

It varies by geographic location and the type of service you choose.

Do I have to use the funeral home the hospital suggests?

No. You can choose any licensed funeral home in your state. The facility's list is convenience, not requirement.

How many death certificates will I need?

Most families need about 8–12 certified copies — one for each bank, insurer, employer, and government agency. Request them through the funeral home in the first weeks, or from your state's vital records office afterward.

What documents will I need to gather?

Birth certificate, marriage certificate, Social Security card, life-insurance policies, the will if there is one, DD-214 if a veteran, deeds and titles, and recent tax returns. Gather what's easy to find now; don't worry about completeness today.

Do I need a lawyer, or is probate required?

Often, no. Many small or simple estates qualify for a streamlined "small estate affidavit" and skip formal probate. You're more likely to need an attorney if there are multiple properties, a business, or family disagreement. Passings helps you see which applies and, if you need one, compare estate attorneys near you.

For families navigating loss

We'll walk you through this.

Losing someone changes everything at once. We've designed this to give you one clear thing to do at a time.

Show me what to do

If someone has just died

First — where did it happen?

That one answer determines the next call, and the short list of things that are actually time-sensitive in the next day or two. Tap the situation that fits. Everything below it is ordered the way it matters.

Tap a situation above to see what's actually time-sensitive next.

These steps are general guidance only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Every situation is different. Consult a licensed attorney, physician, or financial advisor for decisions specific to your circumstances.

Start here

Five first steps — no account needed.

If the loss was recent, these come first. Everything else — including anything on this page — can wait until these are underway.

Notify immediate familyStart with the people closest to them — spouse, children, parents, siblings. A phone call is best. You can ask one trusted person to help spread the word to extended family.
Contact a funeral home to begin arrangementsThe funeral home will guide you through next steps, including transportation. You don't need every decision made right away — just get the process started.
Order certified death certificatesAsk the funeral home to order at least 10–15 certified copies — insurance, banks, property transfers, and government agencies will each want one. Copies usually take a week or two to arrive.
Confirm the death is reported to Social SecurityThe funeral home usually reports it for you — you just need to confirm it was done. Social Security needs to stop benefit payments and process survivor benefits.
Ask the court for authority to act for the estateThis usually isn't a first-day task. When you're ready, the probate court can issue letters testamentary — or letters of administration if there's no will. Banks and institutions will usually ask for this before you can act for the estate.

When you're ready, Passings organizes everything that comes after — one clear step at a time.

Once those are done

The rest can wait — sometimes for weeks.

Most of what feels urgent in the first week is not. The list below is the relief part. Sleep first.

The memorial serviceYou can hold a service days, weeks, or months later. The body does not need to be present. A delayed memorial is normal and often kinder to far-away family.
Death certificatesYou'll need roughly 10 copies. The funeral director files them; allow 1–2 weeks. Order extras now — replacements are slow and a small fee.
Social SecurityThe funeral home reports the death to SSA. You usually don't need to call. Survivors' benefits can be applied for later.
Banks, employer, insuranceThese all wait until you have certified copies in hand. A week or two is normal.
The will, probate, the estateAlmost nothing here is urgent. Probate itself usually takes several months. Don't sign anything in the first two weeks.
Mail, accounts, the phoneWeeks. There's a USPS form for mail forwarding. Subscriptions can be canceled when you're ready.

Start your planSave your progress — free to start, no card needed.

When you're ready

A plan that adapts to what's already done.

The list above is a starting frame. Your situation has details we can't guess — your state, your faith, who in the family is handling what, what's already filed. A short setup turns the frame into your list, and remembers where you left off.

Build your plan

Adapts to your situation, state, and faith
Tracks what's done; you can share progress with a sibling or partner
Notes what to ask each funeral home before agreeing to anything
Free to start. No credit card. Email only when you're ready to save.

Join the waitlist See an example first

When an action needs a provider

Vetted providers, near you.

For funeral homes, direct cremation, lawyers, and the other arrangements that call for a licensed professional — a curated marketplace where you can compare before you commit.

Direct cremation

Funeral homes

Trauma cleanup

Cemeteries & burial

Body transportation

Estate & probate attorneys

Guided. Organized. Secure.

Here's what your plan looks like

An organized checklist. A secure vault. Everything your family needs, in one place.

tasks complete

40%

LegalFinancialMedical

Name a healthcare proxy
Locate your Social Security card
List your bank accounts
Write your obituary draft
Assign a digital executor

Document Vault

Last Will & Testament
Life Insurance Policy
Property Deed

AES-256 encrypted

Start building your plan — it's free

How Passings helps

Step 1: Tell us your situation

A few questions help us show only what's relevant to you.

Step 2: See what to do first

Your personalized checklist prioritizes the most urgent tasks.

Step 3: Work through it together

Invite family members to view, help, or take on tasks.

Step 4: Find the right providers

Compare local options privately — no one contacts you unless you ask.

Read the full guide: What to do when someone dies

What we'll help you handle

See all features

Phase-organized checklist

Tasks grouped by urgency — what to do now, this week, this month, and beyond.

Secure document vault

Store wills, policies, and vital records in a bank-level encrypted vault — private by design, accessible only to you.

Provider marketplace

Compare funeral homes, attorneys, counselors — get quotes on your terms.

Obituary & eulogy writer

Write a dignified obituary or eulogy with guided prompts and optional AI assistance — ready to share with family or read aloud.

Things people ask in the first week.

First — where did it happen?

Tap a situation above to see what's actually time-sensitive next.

Five first steps — no account needed.

If the loss was recent, these come first. Everything else — including anything on this page — can wait until these are underway.

Notify immediate familyStart with the people closest to them — spouse, children, parents, siblings. A phone call is best. You can ask one trusted person to help spread the word to extended family.

Contact a funeral home to begin arrangementsThe funeral home will guide you through next steps, including transportation. You don't need every decision made right away — just get the process started.

Order certified death certificatesAsk the funeral home to order at least 10–15 certified copies — insurance, banks, property transfers, and government agencies will each want one. Copies usually take a week or two to arrive.

Confirm the death is reported to Social SecurityThe funeral home usually reports it for you — you just need to confirm it was done. Social Security needs to stop benefit payments and process survivor benefits.

Ask the court for authority to act for the estateThis usually isn't a first-day task. When you're ready, the probate court can issue letters testamentary — or letters of administration if there's no will. Banks and institutions will usually ask for this before you can act for the estate.

When you're ready, Passings organizes everything that comes after — one clear step at a time.

The rest can wait — sometimes for weeks.

Most of what feels urgent in the first week is not. The list below is the relief part. Sleep first.

The memorial serviceYou can hold a service days, weeks, or months later. The body does not need to be present. A delayed memorial is normal and often kinder to far-away family.

Death certificatesYou'll need roughly 10 copies. The funeral director files them; allow 1–2 weeks. Order extras now — replacements are slow and a small fee.

Social SecurityThe funeral home reports the death to SSA. You usually don't need to call. Survivors' benefits can be applied for later.

Banks, employer, insuranceThese all wait until you have certified copies in hand. A week or two is normal.

The will, probate, the estateAlmost nothing here is urgent. Probate itself usually takes several months. Don't sign anything in the first two weeks.

Mail, accounts, the phoneWeeks. There's a USPS form for mail forwarding. Subscriptions can be canceled when you're ready.

Start your planSave your progress — free to start, no card needed.

A plan that adapts to what's already done.

Build your plan

Adapts to your situation, state, and faith
Tracks what's done; you can share progress with a sibling or partner
Notes what to ask each funeral home before agreeing to anything
Free to start. No credit card. Email only when you're ready to save.

Join the waitlist See an example first