If you've recently lost a parent, first: I'm sorry. The grief is real, and the administrative demands that follow can feel overwhelming. Knowing what to do first — and what can wait — helps.
This is a practical guide for the first 30 days after a loved one passes in Texas. It is not a substitute for legal advice, and every estate is different, but it will give you a clear starting point.
In the first 24–72 hours
Get the death certificate process started. You will need more copies than you think — typically 8 to 12 certified copies. Banks, financial institutions, the Social Security Administration, life insurance companies, and government agencies each require their own original certified copy. In Texas, death certificates are filed with the local county registrar. The funeral home typically handles filing, but ask them how many certified copies they will order on your behalf.
Secure the home and property. If your parent lived alone, make sure the home is locked and secured. Change the locks if others had keys and there is any concern about unauthorized access. Collect any pets or perishables.
Locate key documents. Look for a will, a trust document, a list of accounts and passwords, life insurance policies, deeds, vehicle titles, and any pre-arranged funeral instructions. Common locations: a home safe, a filing cabinet, a bank safe deposit box, or with the person's attorney.
Within the first week
Notify Social Security. If your parent received Social Security benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 to report the death promptly. Any payments received after the month of death must be returned. If a spouse survives, they may be entitled to survivor benefits — ask about this during the same call.
Contact life insurance companies. Each policy will have its own claim process. You will need a certified death certificate for each claim. Benefits are typically paid within 30 days of a completed claim.
Notify financial institutions. Call banks, brokerage accounts, and credit unions. Ask about their process for transferring or closing accounts. For joint accounts, the surviving account holder typically needs only to present a death certificate. For accounts held solely in your parent's name, the process depends on whether there is a named beneficiary or whether probate is required.
Pause recurring bills and subscriptions. Cancel or redirect automatic payments for utilities, streaming services, gym memberships, and any other subscriptions. This prevents ongoing charges against an estate account.
Does the estate need to go through probate in Texas?
Not always — and this surprises many families. In Texas, probate is required when the deceased owned assets solely in their own name with no beneficiary designation. However:
- Assets with named beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death bank accounts) pass directly to the beneficiary without probate.
- Property held in a trust passes according to the trust document, outside of probate.
- Jointly held property with right of survivorship transfers automatically to the surviving owner.
If probate is required, Texas has a relatively straightforward probate process compared to many states. An independent administration (the most common type) generally allows the executor to manage and distribute the estate without ongoing court supervision after the initial hearing.
Finding and working with the will
If you've located a will, the named executor has the legal authority to manage the estate — but only after the will is admitted to probate by a Texas court. Until then, no one has legal authority to transfer or sell estate property.
Texas has a four-year deadline to file a will for probate. However, waiting rarely helps and often creates problems. Start the process early.
If no will was found, the estate will be distributed under Texas intestacy law (see our article on what happens without a will). A court will appoint an administrator to manage the estate.
What you do not need to rush
In the fog of grief, it's easy to feel like every decision is urgent. Most aren't. You do not need to:
- Immediately sell property or empty the home
- Distribute personal belongings before an agreement is reached among heirs
- Make any irreversible financial decisions within the first few weeks
The one thing worth doing quickly is consulting with an estate attorney in Texas, particularly if the estate includes real property, a business, minor children, or any complexity at all. A short initial consultation can clarify whether you need full legal representation or whether the estate is simple enough to navigate largely on your own.
A note on family dynamics
Grief surfaces old tensions. Disagreements over personal property, the family home, or perceived fairness in the will are common and painful. An estate attorney does not just navigate legal paperwork — they provide a neutral framework that protects everyone involved, including your relationship with siblings and other family members.