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Secure Dependents, Home & Vehicles (Day 1)
Immediate Actions
If the deceased lived alone or their affairs were left unattended, act quickly to protect the home, vehicles, and anyone who depended on them. This task focuses on immediate stabilization during the first 24–48 hours to prevent safety risks, property damage, or loss. Longer-term care planning and legal arrangements will be addressed separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Process
What immediate safety steps should I take at the deceased's home?
Lock all doors and windows, set any alarm systems, and secure the garage. Turn off appliances left running (stove, oven, space heaters). Check for perishable food and dispose of anything that will spoil. Adjust the thermostat to prevent frozen pipes or excessive heat. If the home will be unoccupied, set lights on timers and hold or forward the mail through USPS (usps.com, free for up to 30 days).
Legal
Should I change the locks on the deceased's home?
Consider changing locks if you are unsure who has copies of the keys—housekeepers, neighbors, former partners, or caregivers may have had access. The executor or administrator of the estate has the legal authority to change locks. Until probate is opened, the person with the strongest legal claim (typically the surviving spouse or the person named executor in the will) can take reasonable steps to secure the property.
Who has legal authority to enter the deceased's home?
The surviving spouse generally has immediate access to a shared residence. For a solely-owned home, the person named executor in the will has the strongest claim, even before probate formally appoints them. Until the executor is officially appointed, immediate family members can take reasonable steps to secure the property. Landlords cannot enter or change locks without following their state's legal process, even if the sole tenant has died.
Costs
What should I do about the deceased's vehicles?
Move vehicles to a secure location (garage or driveway). Do not let the insurance lapse—contact the insurer to keep coverage active during estate settlement, which may reduce the premium to comprehensive-only (storage) coverage for $20-$50/month. Do not transfer the title until probate authorizes it. If the vehicle was leased, contact the leasing company within a few days—most leases have early termination provisions for death.