Death determines so much in life. Nearly 3.4 million Americans died in 2020.

This statistic may make one person’s death seem inconsequential, but every person’s passing is a significant loss. You deserve time to mourn after the death of a loved one. Yet you need to do right by your loved one and take care of different tasks.

How can you inform friends and family members of your loved one’s death? How can you start planning a funeral? What should you do with your grief?

Answer these questions and you can determine the right course of action after your loved one’s passing. Here is your quick guide.

Tell Your Friends and Family

You should tell as many people as possible about your loved one’s death. Immediate family members and close friends should find out through phone calls or face-to-face conversations. More distant relatives can learn through a private message or an obituary in the newspaper.

You do not have to tell everyone by yourself. A few different people can be responsible for telling others, and each person can contact the people they know best.

Cancel Your Loved One’s Accounts

You should contact a funeral home to handle your loved one’s body, and then you should contact your local government. You need to get a death certificate in order to close bank accounts and get insurance compensation.

You should also contact the Social Security Administration, especially if your loved one needed Social Security benefits. You can delete your loved one’s social media accounts, but you can also turn them into memorials. Contact social media platforms so you can start the process.

Help With Planning a Funeral

When you are ready to start planning a memorial, you should look at your loved one’s will. Follow any instructions they leave, including ones related to the deposition of their remains.

You have many options for funerals and memorialization. If you think a funeral would be too somber, you can run a celebration of life or memorial service. Take a look at SuperNova statues and other memorial markers to evaluate your different choices for gravestones.

Start Handling Grief

When a loved one dies, you may feel many different emotions. Grief can manifest as sadness, anger, and remorse. At the same time, you may find yourself feeling happy or energized, sometimes for no apparent reason.

Spend time taking care of yourself and attending to your needs. Some people find it necessary to take a break from work, while others like using work as a way to channel their emotions. Figure out which approach would work best for you and carry through with it.

If you are struggling with your grief, talk to a grief counselor or psychiatrist. You can also read a book about how to handle grief.

Handle the Death of a Loved One

The death of a loved one can be extremely difficult, but there are things you need to do. You should give close family members and friends a call to let them know what happened.

Once you get a death certificate, you need to close down your loved one’s accounts to prevent identity fraud. You can use their will to start planning a funeral.

Yet you should take care of yourself. Find opportunities to express your emotions and talk to a mental health professional.

Handling grief is a journey. Read more guides to grief by following our coverage.