The Most Common Things People Forget After a Death (And How to Avoid Them)
When someone dies, there’s suddenly so much to do — and most of it happens while you’re still in shock, grieving, or trying to hold everything together for everyone else. It’s no wonder things get missed.
In my work helping families after a death, I’ve seen the same things come up again and again. Tasks that are easy to overlook, accounts that slip through the cracks, small details that cause confusion later.
This isn’t a checklist (though those are helpful too). It’s more of a gentle heads-up — a few of the most common things people forget after someone dies, and how to make them easier to manage.
1. Digital accounts and subscriptions
It’s easy to focus on the physical — bank accounts, property, belongings. But many people now leave behind dozens of digital accounts: email, social media, cloud storage, shopping sites, music and streaming services, subscription boxes, online banking, password managers…
Some of these will need closing. Others might be worth preserving (for example, a photo archive or messages). And many will keep charging monthly until someone stops them.
How to avoid it: Keep a list. Even jotting down a few known accounts can help. If you’re dealing with someone else’s estate, check their emails and bank statements for recurring charges. And if you’re planning ahead, consider including your digital life in your end-of-life planner.
2. Telling the right people — and not just once
Most people know to tell banks and government agencies. But there’s a surprising number of people and organisations who might need to know:
Insurance companies
Memberships and clubs
Local council or municipality
Landlord or tenants (if they rented out property)
Utility providers
HMRC / IRS / relevant tax authority
Professional contacts
It’s also easy to forget that some places will need reminding — especially if paperwork is still coming in the post.
How to avoid it: Use a simple notification list and check things off as you go. Our spreadsheet can help you track who’s been contacted, what documents they asked for, and what stage it’s at.
3. Logging and tracking expenses
There are usually out-of-pocket costs: funeral deposits, flowers, death certificates, postage, legal fees. If several family members are helping out, things can get muddled fast.
Later, when it comes to repaying those costs or submitting estate accounts, it’s much harder if you haven’t kept track.
How to avoid it: Keep a shared record of expenses, ideally with who paid for what and when. You don’t need fancy software — just somewhere to log it.
4. Access and passwords
Even if you have legal authority to manage someone’s estate, you may still run into login barriers — especially for online accounts, cloud services, or two-factor authentication.
How to avoid it: Look for password managers, recovery email accounts, or clues in saved browsers. If you’re planning ahead, leave clear instructions for someone you trust.
5. Important paperwork in odd places
Wills, life insurance policies, title deeds, prepaid funeral plans — these often get tucked away in places you wouldn’t expect: bottom drawers, rarely used files, random email attachments.
How to avoid it: If you're organising someone else’s estate, ask family members where things might be kept. Search carefully and keep notes. If you’re planning ahead, try to store documents in one place and let someone know how to access them.
6. Small assets with sentimental or practical value
It’s not always about the money. Things like family photos, a favourite watch, a wedding ring, or even digital files can cause confusion — or conflict — if no one knows what’s meant to happen to them.
How to avoid it: If you're the executor, ask early about anything sentimental that people might expect to receive. If you're planning ahead, leave guidance — even informal notes — about items that matter.
7. Giving yourself time
This one’s not about admin — it’s about expectations. Many people underestimate how emotionally draining it can be to manage things after a death. They try to do too much, too fast.
How to avoid it: Take breaks. Ask for help. Do things in stages. Most of it doesn’t have to be sorted straight away — and there’s no prize for doing it all alone.
A final thought
If you’ve just lost someone, you’re probably doing better than you think. It’s okay if things feel messy. It’s okay if you’ve missed a few things. Most of us do.
And if you’re trying to get things in order ahead of time — thank you. That’s an incredibly thoughtful thing to do.
Either way, if you’re looking for a simple, structured way to stay organised, there’s a spreadsheet that might help.
