What financial steps should I take after a death in the family?

Take it in stages — nothing urgent needs deciding in the first weeks. Start by gathering documents: the death certificate (order 10+ copies), the will, account statements, and insurance policies. Notify Social Security, the deceased's employer, banks, and creditors, and file life-insurance claims. If you're the surviving spouse, you generally have options for inherited retirement accounts and may roll an IRA into your own; non-spouse heirs usually must empty inherited IRAs within ten years. Avoid big, irreversible decisions like selling the home or paying off debts you may not owe until the estate is sorted. Watch for estate or probate steps, and don't let salespeople rush you. A grief-aware path can help — see wealthserene.com/for/widowhood.