Free tool · After a Death

Documents Needed When Someone Dies

Answer a few questions to get a checklist of the documents to gather after a death, in a suggested order, plus an estimate of how many certified death certificates to order. The certified death certificate is the document almost every bank, insurer and agency asks for first. The copy count is a planning estimate, not a rule, so ask each institution what it needs.

No sign-up
Private: nothing you enter leaves your device
Figures checked Sep 30, 2026

About the person who died

Answer what you can. Every answer is optional, and you can change it at any time.

Which of these apply?

They served in the US militaryAdds the DD-214 and the VA burial allowance.They were married when they diedThey left a will or trustLeave this unchecked if you're not sure. The list will include a step to look for one.The estate may go through probateAdds a copy for the court. Whether probate is needed depends on the state and on how assets are owned.The estate may be worth more than $15 millionAdds the federal estate tax return. The 2026 filing threshold is $15,000,000, counting lifetime taxable gifts.

What did they have?

Count the institutions, policies and properties you know about. Each one may want its own certified copy.

Banks and credit unions

Life insurance policies

Retirement plans and pensions

Brokerage accounts and annuities

Real estate properties

Vehicles, boats and RVs

Copies and cost

Spare copies

Extras for claims you don't expect, or a copy that gets lost.

Price per certified copy (optional)

Set by the state or county. Leave blank if you don't know.

Key dates (optional)

Enter them to see the dates some benefit deadlines fall on.

Date of death

Certified death certificates to plan for

A planning estimate: one certified copy for each place that will keep it, plus your spares. Some institutions accept a photocopy or return the certified copy, so ask each one before you order more.

Where the copies go
Spare copies	2
Total	2

Deadlines to know
Social Security lump-sum death payment ($255)Paid only to certain survivors. A late claim can be accepted for good cause.	2 years after the death

These dates are for planning. Each agency decides its own deadlines and exceptions, so confirm yours with the agency before relying on them.

The documents you need first

Most of what you need is already in the person's files. A few items have to be ordered or requested, so start with those.

Certified death certificates. Funeral homes can order them for you and may list the fee as a “cash advance” item on the bill. You can also request them from the vital records office in the state where the death occurred. The CDC lists the office for each state.
The will and any trust documents. Check the home, a safe deposit box and the attorney who drew it up.
Photo ID and Social Security number. Most claims ask for the number.
Funeral or cemetery pre-arrangement papers. Tell the funeral home about any prepaid plan before you arrange anything.
Military discharge papers (DD-214), for a veteran. Next of kin can request them from the National Archives if they can't be found at home.

The rest, such as account statements, insurance policies, deeds and vehicle titles, can wait a few days. Our after-death checklist covers the full order of tasks.

How many certified death certificates to order

No agency sets a standard number. Many institutions keep the certified copy you send, so a practical rule is to plan for one copy for each place that will need it, then add a few spares. Some accept a photocopy or return the certified copy, so ask before you order extras.

Who may ask for one	Planning count
Each bank or credit union	1
Each life insurance claim	1
Each retirement plan, pension or annuity	1
Each brokerage account	1
Each property (county recorder)	1
Each vehicle title transfer	1
VA burial allowance claim, if a veteran	1
Probate court, if the estate goes through probate	1

These counts are a cautious rule of thumb, not a requirement from any agency. Fees and ordering rules are set by each state, so check the price with the vital records office or the funeral home before you place the order.

Deadlines tied to these documents

A few federal claims have fixed time limits. The tool above works out the dates if you enter the date of death or burial.

Claim	Documents	Time limit
Social Security lump-sum death payment, $255	Proof of death and relationship	2 years after the death, with exceptions for good cause
VA burial allowance, death not service connected	Death certificate, DD214 or separation papers, receipts	2 years after burial. No limit if the death was service connected or happened in VA care, or for plot and transportation claims.
Federal estate tax return (Form 706)	Asset valuations, gift records	9 months after death, with an automatic 6-month extension if you file Form 4768

Form 706 is only required when the gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts is above the filing threshold for the year of death. The threshold is $15,000,000 for deaths in 2026. The $255 payment goes to certain survivors only, usually a spouse who lived with the person. Check your own situation with the agency or a professional. Our VA burial benefits calculator and probate cost estimator cover the VA and estate sides in more detail.

If you can't find a document

Check the home safe, filing cabinets, desk drawers and any safe deposit box.
Ask the person's attorney, accountant and financial advisor, and the employer's benefits office.
Go through recent mail and email. Statements point to accounts and policies you may not know about.
Look at the tax return. Interest, dividend and retirement income show which institutions hold money.

Treat each missing item as a prompt to try the next likely source. See the guides on notifying banks after a death, the estate inventory checklist and what an executor does.

Frequently asked questions

What documents are needed after someone dies?

Start with certified death certificates, then gather the will or trust, photo ID, Social Security number, life insurance policies, account and retirement statements, and property deeds and vehicle titles. For a veteran, add the DD-214 or other separation papers.

How many death certificates do I need?

There is no fixed number. Many institutions keep the certified copy you send, so plan for one per bank, insurer, retirement plan, property and vehicle you need to deal with, plus a few spares. Some accept a photocopy, so ask each one first.

Where do I get certified death certificates?

Funeral homes often order them for you and may list the fee as a cash advance item. You can also request them from the vital records office in the state where the death occurred. Death certificates are issued at the state level, and each state sets its own process.

How do I get a veteran's DD-214 after death?

Next of kin, such as a surviving spouse who hasn't remarried, a parent, child or sibling, can request it from the National Archives' National Personnel Records Center through eVetRecs or on form SF-180, with proof of death. Basic requests are generally free if the veteran separated less than 62 years ago.

Is there a deadline for the Social Security death payment?

The one-time lump-sum death payment is $255. An application must be filed within 2 years after the death, although a late claim can be accepted for good cause. It goes to certain survivors only, such as a surviving spouse who lived with the person.

Is there a deadline for the VA burial allowance?

If the veteran's death was not service connected, you must file within 2 years after burial. There is no time limit if the death was service connected or happened in VA care, or if you claim only the plot or transportation allowance.

Sources we checked

1.Where to write for vital records · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2.Complying with the Funeral Rule · Federal Trade Commission
3.20 CFR 404.390: Lump-sum death payment · Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
4.20 CFR 404.621: Time limit for filing a lump-sum death payment application · Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
5.Survivors benefits · Social Security Administration
6.Veterans burial allowance and transportation reimbursement · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
7.Military service records: next of kin requests · National Archives
8.Estate tax · Internal Revenue Service
9.Instructions for Form 706 · Internal Revenue Service

Please note: General information, not legal, financial or medical advice. Check the details with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important with the organization concerned. If you spot something out of date, tell us.

Guides that go with this tool

After a deathEmployer Death Notification: Steps and Templates for Families and HRHow to tell an employer about a death, what to ask about final pay and benefits, and what HR must do, including OSHA's 8-hour rule. Templates included. 7 min read CostsFuneral Insurance Claim: Documents and StepsThe documents you need to claim funeral insurance, how to file step by step, how to find a lost policy, and the mistakes that delay or block a claim. 5 min read CostsFuneral Insurance Claim Denied: What to Do and How to AppealFuneral insurance claim denied? Why insurers refuse, the documents to gather, how to ask for a review, and how to complain to your state regulator. 6 min read CostsHow to Claim Life Insurance: Steps and DocumentsHow to claim life insurance after someone dies: find the policy, file the claim form with a death certificate, what delays payment, and how the money is taxed. 6 min read

More free tools

Probate Cost EstimatorEstimate probate fees and how long settling an estate may take.Open tool

New

VA Burial Benefits CalculatorSee what the VA may pay toward a veteran's burial and funeral.Open tool

Free printable