A Simple “Next Steps” Timeline for the First Week After a Death (What To Do After a Death Timeline)

The first week after a death can feel like an emotional fog with a to-do list inside it. If you are searching for a what to do after a death timeline, you are likely trying to protect your family from missed paperwork, unclear deadlines, and decisions made too fast.

This narrative timeline focuses on what matters most in days one through seven, and it connects early funeral planning decisions to questions families often ask right away—like how much does cremation cost and what to do with ashes. You do not have to solve everything immediately; you only need a calm next step.

The first hours

Confirm the pronouncement and narrow the scope

In the earliest hours, aim for two things: a legal pronouncement of death and respectful care for your loved one. In a hospital or facility, staff typically guide the process. If death happens at home, the steps differ depending on whether it was expected (for example, hospice) or unexpected. Funeral.com’s guide for deaths at home walks through both scenarios clearly.

Everything after that can be paced. Many families find it calming to follow Funeral.com’s first 48 hours checklist, then circle back to bigger decisions once the initial shock starts to ease.

Day one to day two

Choose a provider and ask for a simple timeline

Choosing a funeral home or cremation provider early often reduces stress later. A provider can coordinate transportation, required authorizations, and death registration. Ask one grounding question: “What will the next week look like?” A clear timeline helps with travel, faith needs, and coordinating relatives who want to help from a distance.

It is also normal to use online resources while you gather your thoughts. The National Funeral Directors Association reports that nearly 30% of families now complete funeral arrangements online, while still seeking professional guidance when choices get complex.

Start the paperwork that unlocks everything later

Death certificates are one of the biggest practical needs in week one, because financial institutions and insurers often require certified copies. If you are unsure how many to order, Funeral.com’s guide on how many death certificates to request explains a realistic starting range and why families sometimes need more than expected.

If it is manageable, locate a few essentials without turning your home upside down:

• Government ID and Social Security number
• Insurance information and key account providers
• Any written wishes, prepaid plan, or military discharge papers (if applicable)

For Social Security, you may not need to make the first call. The Social Security Administration notes that funeral homes generally report a death. It is still wise to confirm it was done and ask about benefits. Funeral.com’s guide on Social Security after a death explains what families typically do next.

Days two to three

Decide on burial or cremation and shape the service plan

By midweek, families often need to decide on disposition—burial or cremation—and clarify the service plan. Cremation is now the majority choice in the U.S. The National Funeral Directors Association reports a projected U.S. cremation rate of 63.4% in 2025, and the Cremation Association of North America reports a 2024 U.S. cremation rate of 61.8%.

Within cremation, you can still choose the tone: a traditional service with cremation afterward, or direct cremation with a memorial later. Your provider can explain what must be decided now and what can wait.

How much does cremation cost

Costs vary by region and by what you include (viewing, ceremony, facility time, transportation, staff). For a national benchmark, the National Funeral Directors Association lists a 2023 median of $6,280 for a funeral with viewing and cremation. For a clearer breakdown of options and common line items, see Funeral.com’s updated cremation and funeral cost guide.

Days three to five

Plan for ashes before the ashes arrive

Many families are surprised to learn that ashes may be returned after a short processing period, and they may be returned in a temporary container if a permanent urn has not been selected yet. That is normal—and it gives you time to choose thoughtfully. If you are comparing cremation urns, begin with the plan: will the urn be displayed at home, placed in a niche, buried, or used for scattering later?

Funeral.com’s how to choose a cremation urn guide explains materials and placement, and the urn size calculator guide helps with capacity. When you are ready to browse, compare cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, and keepsake urns based on how you plan to keep, share, or place the remains.

Days four to six

Kept close: keepsakes, cremation jewelry, and pet urns

As the week goes on, many families move from “What do we need to do?” to “How do we keep them close?” One common approach is one primary urn plus keepsakes for relatives. The National Funeral Directors Association reports that among people who prefer cremation, 10.5% would like their remains split among relatives—one reason keepsake urns are now a common part of modern memorialization.

Cremation jewelry offers a similar kind of closeness in wearable form. If you are considering cremation necklaces or other pieces, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry 101 explains filling and sealing, and you can explore the cremation jewelry collection or the cremation necklaces collection when you are ready.

If your loss is a pet—or you are also caring for a grieving pet at home—memorial decisions can feel especially tender. If you are looking for pet urns or pet urns for ashes, Funeral.com’s pet urn guide helps with sizing and style, and the collections for pet cremation urns, pet figurine cremation urns, and pet keepsake cremation urns can help you compare memorial approaches.

Days five to seven

Keeping ashes at home and deciding what to do with ashes

For many families, keeping ashes at home is a “for now” decision that creates breathing room. The National Funeral Directors Association reports that among people who prefer cremation, 37.1% would prefer their remains kept in an urn at home, while 33.5% prefer scattering and 37.8% prefer burial or interment in a cemetery.

If the urn will live in a home with children, pets, or frequent visitors, a few safety habits can prevent painful accidents. Funeral.com’s guide to keeping ashes at home covers stable placement and spill prevention in everyday life.

Water burial and burial at sea

If your loved one wanted a ceremony on the water, define the plan. Some families use water burial to mean placing ashes in a biodegradable urn and committing it to the water, while others mean scattering. Funeral.com’s water burial vs. scattering guide and its water burial planning checklist explain how families approach the details.

For U.S. ocean waters, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that cremated remains may be buried at sea at least three nautical miles from land, and the EPA must be notified within 30 days after the burial.

However you proceed, treat what to do with ashes as a plan you can revisit. Week one is about handling the essentials; the memorial choices can unfold with more time and more care.

A gentle finish to week one

If you are exhausted by day seven, that is not failure—it is love under strain. The point of this timeline is to make the logistics calmer, so you can grieve without constant panic. If you are looking ahead, Funeral.com’s guide on how to preplan a funeral offers a compassionate starting point.