The most important things an executor does in the first 30 days are simple but time-sensitive: secure the home and assets, order certified death certificates, locate the will, and notify the people and institutions that need to know. You don't need to settle the entire estate this month — probate can take many more — but the decisions you make in these first four weeks set the pace for everything that follows.

If you've just been named executor (or you're the person stepping up before the court has formally appointed anyone), this is the checklist to work from. We've broken the first 30 days into four weeks so you always know the next right thing to do, instead of staring at a list of fifty tasks that all feel urgent at once.

A quick reassurance before you start: almost nothing here has a true 24-hour deadline. Grief and paperwork don't mix well, and rushing leads to mistakes. Take the steps in order, keep a simple log of what you've done, and let some things wait until you have a death certificate in hand.

Week 1: Secure, gather, and get the death certificate

The first week is about protection and paperwork — not decisions.

Secure the home and property. If the person lived alone, make sure the home is locked, the mail is being collected, and any pets, vehicles, or valuables are safe. Don't distribute or sell anything yet, even items that were "promised" to someone. As executor, those assets aren't yours to give away until the estate is settled — and giving them away early is one of the most common ways executors get into trouble with heirs and creditors.

Order certified death certificates. The funeral home or your county vital records office can order these. Get more than you think you'll need — most families need 10 to 15 certified copies, because nearly every bank, insurer, and government agency wants an original (not a photocopy). Ordering a big batch up front is far cheaper and faster than requesting them one at a time later.

Find the will and any estate-planning documents. Look for a will, trust, or letter of instruction. Check the home safe, a filing cabinet, the deceased's attorney, and the safe deposit box. The will names the executor and tells you who inherits what. If there's no will, the estate is "intestate" and state law decides the heirs — see what happens when someone dies without a will.

Start a contact and document file. Create one place — a folder, a binder, or a notes app — where you keep the death certificate, the will, account statements, and a running log of every call you make. You'll thank yourself in month three.

Week 2: Notify the essential parties

With death certificates in hand, week two is about telling the right people and institutions.

Notify Social Security and any pension or benefits providers. The funeral home often reports the death to the Social Security Administration, but confirm it was done. Stopping benefit payments promptly prevents overpayments you'd otherwise have to pay back. If the deceased was receiving a pension, notify that plan too.

Notify financial institutions, but don't close anything yet. Call the banks, brokerages, and credit card companies to report the death and flag the accounts. You're informing them, not closing accounts — that comes later, once you have legal authority. For a full rundown of everyone who needs to hear from you, see who to notify when someone dies.

Protect against identity theft. Notify the three credit bureaus so the deceased's credit file is flagged "deceased — do not issue credit." Sadly, the recently deceased are a frequent target for fraud, and an unflagged credit file is an open door.

Forward the mail. Set up mail forwarding to your address so bills, statements, and account notices don't pile up unseen. The mail is also one of your best tools for discovering accounts you didn't know existed — see handling mail after someone dies.

Week 3: Take inventory — assets and liabilities

Week three is where you start to see the shape of the estate. The key mindset: catalog both sides of the ledger. New executors instinctively chase the assets, but the debts determine whether the estate is solvent and how (and whether) heirs get paid.

Build an asset list. Bank and brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, real estate, vehicles, business interests, and personal property. Use the mail, prior tax returns, and account statements to find everything — including accounts the family forgot about. Missing assets is a real risk: see 9 hidden assets families miss after a death.

Build a liability list. Mortgages, car loans, credit cards, medical bills, taxes, and any other debts. You generally do not pay these out of your own pocket, and family members usually don't inherit a loved one's debts — debts are paid from estate assets, in a legally defined order. For the reassuring details, read can debts be inherited?

Determine how each asset transfers. Some assets skip probate entirely — accounts with a payable-on-death or transfer-on-death beneficiary, jointly owned property, and life insurance with a named beneficiary pass directly to that person. What's left in the deceased's name alone is generally what goes through probate. This distinction tells you how big a probate process you're actually facing.

Week 4: Open probate and set up estate finances

By the fourth week you understand the estate well enough to formalize your authority and centralize its money.

File for probate and get your authority. To act on the estate's behalf — closing accounts, selling property, paying debts — most institutions require court-issued letters testamentary (with a will) or letters of administration (without one). Filing the will with the probate court and getting appointed is what turns "named executor" into "legally empowered executor." If the estate is small, your state may offer a simplified small-estate path.

Get an EIN for the estate. The estate is its own taxpayer once the person dies, so it needs its own Employer Identification Number from the IRS — you'll need it to open the estate's bank account. It's free and takes minutes: how to get an EIN for an estate.

Open an estate bank account. Once you have letters and an EIN, open a dedicated estate account and route the estate's money through it — never through your personal account or the deceased's old account. Every dollar in and out flows through this one account, which is exactly what the court and the heirs will want to see when you account for the estate later. This is the financial backbone of a clean settlement.

By the end of week four you won't be done — but you'll be organized, legally empowered, protected against the most common early mistakes, and ready for the longer middle phase of paying debts and distributing what remains.

Frequently asked questions

What does an executor have to do first?

Secure the deceased's home and property, order certified death certificates (most families need 10–15), and locate the will. Everything else — notifying institutions, taking inventory, opening probate — flows from those first steps.

How long does an executor have to settle an estate?

There's no single deadline; most estates take several months to over a year depending on the state, the size of the estate, and whether anyone contests the will. The first 30 days are about getting organized, not finishing.

Do I need a lawyer to be an executor?

Not always. Many estates — especially small or straightforward ones — can be handled without an attorney, and some states offer simplified small-estate procedures. Complex estates, contested wills, or significant debts are where professional help pays off.

What's the difference between letters testamentary and letters of administration?

Letters testamentary are issued when there's a valid will naming an executor. Letters of administration are issued when there's no will (or no named executor available), and the court appoints an administrator instead. Both give you legal authority to act for the estate.

Can I be held personally liable as executor?

You can be held liable for mistakes like distributing assets before debts are paid, mixing estate money with your own, or failing to act in the heirs' interest. Keeping estate funds in a separate estate account and a clear log of your actions is the best protection.

Sunset can help you through the first 30 days — and beyond

You don't have to assemble this checklist alone. Sunset guides families through the entire estate settlement process end to end: finding every asset and liability, preparing the probate paperwork for your state and county, opening an FDIC-insured estate account, and transferring everything to the right people. We've helped 10,000+ families, it's free to families, and it works in all 50 states and every county.

If you've just been named executor, start with Sunset and let us turn this checklist into a guided, step-by-step plan.

This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice.