Executor checklist (printable PDF): what to gather and track after a death

Executor checklist: what to gather and track

Checked against official SSA, IRS, USAGov and FTC pages on 2026-10-07. Rules change; the agency's or court's current instructions win.

Whether you're the executor named in a will or the family member who stepped in, the paperwork falls into the same few groups. Here's the outline, free. The kit turns each line into a printable form.

Group	What to gather or track	Free official source
Key facts	Full name, dates, last address, Social Security number (last 4 only on the forms; keep the full number private), veteran or federal retiree status. USAGov: "You'll need the person's Social Security number and certified copies of their death certificate for most agencies and programs."	USAGov
Documents	Will or trust papers, deeds, titles, policies, statements, tax returns, benefit letters.	Your state's court page explains what happens with a will.
Death certificates	"Contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred." Track who needs a certified copy; "You may only need a photocopy for other tasks, such as canceling a subscription."	USAGov
Social Security	"Funeral homes generally tell us when someone dies. So, you don't typically need to report a death to us."	SSA
Notices	Motor vehicles office, passport, election office, VA, OPM or DFAS if they apply, state social services; then banks, credit card companies, credit bureaus, utilities and subscriptions.	USAGov
Accounts, bills, receipts	A list of accounts and property, recurring charges, and a log of every expense with receipts.	Planning aid (no agency publishes this list)
Federal taxes	Estate EIN, Form 56, final Form 1040, and Form 1041 if it applies.	IRS Publication 559
Court side	What your state's court self-help page says, and your questions for the clerk or an attorney.	State court pages

Group

What to gather or track

Free official source

Key facts

Full name, dates, last address, Social Security number (last 4 only on the forms; keep the full number private), veteran or federal retiree status. USAGov: "You'll need the person's Social Security number and certified copies of their death certificate for most agencies and programs."

USAGov

Documents

Will or trust papers, deeds, titles, policies, statements, tax returns, benefit letters.

Your state's court page explains what happens with a will.

Death certificates

"Contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred." Track who needs a certified copy; "You may only need a photocopy for other tasks, such as canceling a subscription."

USAGov

Social Security

"Funeral homes generally tell us when someone dies. So, you don't typically need to report a death to us."

SSA

Notices

Motor vehicles office, passport, election office, VA, OPM or DFAS if they apply, state social services; then banks, credit card companies, credit bureaus, utilities and subscriptions.

USAGov

Accounts, bills, receipts

A list of accounts and property, recurring charges, and a log of every expense with receipts.

Planning aid (no agency publishes this list)

Federal taxes

Estate EIN, Form 56, final Form 1040, and Form 1041 if it applies.

IRS Publication 559

Court side

What your state's court self-help page says, and your questions for the clerk or an attorney.

State court pages

What the printable kit adds

A 16-page PDF with the official quotes and links in one order, and an editable Word file with 11 forms, including a plain notification letter for companies. It's organizing only: no legal or tax advice, and no state probate instructions.

Not legal or tax advice. Free official help comes first: the Social Security Administration, the IRS, USAGov and your state's courts publish free guidance, and IRS forms and an estate EIN are free. This kit is a convenience, not a requirement; you don't need it to settle an estate.

Instant download. 14-day no-questions refund. Edition 1.0, dated 2026-10-07. For use in any state; state court rules you look up on your state's own page.