After The Goodbye

After the Goodbye: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Practical Tasks After a Death

When someone you love dies, you’re handed a list: call Social Security, notify the banks, file the insurance claims. No one tells you how. You don’t know who to call, what to say, which papers to bring, or what happens if you get it wrong.

After the Goodbye walks you through each task in plain, calm language, one step at a time, so you can spend less energy on paperwork and more on your family.

Written by someone who has sat at the table with families. Michael Stevens has worked in and alongside funeral homes since 2012. He spent his first six years as a family service counselor, guiding families through the very tasks in this book.

What’s inside

• 21 short chapters you can read in any order. Each one covers what applies to you, what to gather, the steps to take, and the mistakes to avoid.
• Benefits families often miss: the Social Security $255 payment and monthly survivor benefits, veterans burial benefits, pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, and life insurance
• Closing and changing accounts: banks, credit cards and debts, credit bureaus and identity theft protection, health insurance, vehicles, the home, utilities, and digital accounts
• The estate: wills, trusts, probate, final tax returns, and headstones
• Looking ahead: updating your own plans and taking care of yourself through grief

Fillable tools to keep you organized

• A master checklist sorted by first week, first month, first three months, and first year
• A call log, account inventory, document locator, and death certificate tracker
• Bills, benefits, and estate expense trackers
• A notes space in every chapter
• 10 ready-to-use letter templates for banks, credit card companies, credit bureaus, insurers, employers, debt collectors, and more

Fillable and printable. Check the boxes and type right in the PDF with a free reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Preview, or Microsoft Edge, and save your progress as you go. Or print any page and fill it in by hand. It works best on a computer or tablet.

Instant download · 82-page PDF · Information current as of October 2026

This guide provides general information only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules vary by state, so consult a professional about your specific situation.