THE DEATH DISPATCH
OCTOBER 11, 2026 ยท MADE FOR THE LIVING
Who gets called when you die?
Last week, we built a funeral budget. This week, we're making the call list.
Your employer. Your bank. The life insurance company. The people you'd want to hear the news directly.
Your family may need to contact all of them while handling everything else that comes with a death. Give them names, numbers, and somewhere to start.
01 / PUT IT TO USE
Give your family a list they can use.
MORTL's Who to Notify tracker groups common contacts by priority. Check off what you've handled as you go.
Free. No account required. Your checkmarks stay in that browser.
If you're planning ahead, use it to spot the contact details your family would need. If someone has died, start with the group that fits the situation. Confirm any deadlines with the relevant organization.
02 / MAKE THE CALLS
Start with what's urgent.
After immediate care and arrangements are handled, work through the contacts that apply:
People and work. Close family, friends, and the employer. Ask about final pay, benefits, and life insurance through work.
Government and benefits. Confirm that the funeral home reported the death to Social Security. If it didn't, contact SSA. Ask about survivor benefits. SSA notifies Medicare; Medicaid needs a separate report to the state agency. Contact the VA if applicable.
Money and coverage. Banks, card issuers, lenders, life insurers, and pension or retirement plans. Ask who has authority to act before moving money or closing accounts.
Credit and household accounts. Follow the credit bureaus' deceased-consumer process. Then work through utilities, phone service, subscriptions, mail, and online accounts. Keep essential services and coverage in place while someone still needs them.
Move anything involving a dependent, an occupied home, active insurance, or a deadline up the list.
Read the full MORTL guide. Official guidance: USAGov, Social Security, and TransUnion.
03 / SAVE YOURSELF A SECOND CALL
Ask what paperwork they actually need.
Before ordering death certificates, ask each institution whether it needs a certified copy and what proof of authority it requires. Requirements vary.
Keep a note of who you spoke with, the date, the next step, and any confirmation number.
Here's a starting script:
"I'm calling to report a death. Who's authorized to act on this account, which documents do you need, and what happens next?"
04 / THE QUICK CHECK
Does being an authorized user make you responsible for the card balance?
Generally, no. Being an authorized user alone doesn't make you liable for the debt. Joint account holders, co-signers, and some spouses can have different obligations. The CFPB explains authorized-user responsibility.
Leave the names and numbers now.
Take ten minutes today. Write down your employer's benefits contact, banks, life insurer, and the people who should hear the news directly. Tell one trusted person where that list lives.
Want to organize your contacts, document locations, and wishes in one place? The Folder is $59 once, with family sharing for up to five trusted people.
Forward this to the person you'd trust with the calls.
Stephanie Werner
Founder & CEO, MORTL
You're going to die. Let's talk about it.
Sources and MORTL links checked on October 11, 2026. U.S. guidance. Confirm current requirements with each organization.