After a Loss Family Organizer & Checklist (Digital Download)

When someone you love dies, there are suddenly a hundred things to do, and you're asked to do them while grieving.

This organizer holds the details for you. Type in one date, share it with the family, and see what's done, what's next and who is handling it. Go at whatever pace you need.

Light or dark, your choice

Daylight is the bright, clean main version. Midnight is a free, softer dark-mode copy with the same features, gentler on tired eyes in the evening. Use whichever you like.

What's inside

• After a Loss spreadsheet (.xlsx) for Google Sheets and Excel
• FREE: Midnight dark-mode version of the spreadsheet (same features)
• Printables (one .zip file): 13 undated pages in US Letter, A4 and Low-Ink
• Quick-Start Guide (PDF)

The dashboard

• Tasks done, overdue items, offices notified, accounts closed or transferred, funeral budget and thank-you notes sent
• Progress bars for each phase, from the first 48 hours to the first year
• The next 5 things to do, with due dates and who's doing them
• Who's doing what for each family member, plus 4 charts

Spreadsheet tabs

• Task Timeline: 60 plain-language tasks in 5 phases, with due dates from the date of passing
• My Tasks: each helper sees only their own open tasks (works well on a phone)
• Who to Notify: Social Security, Medicare, banks, insurance, employer, utilities, DMV, credit bureaus and more
• Accounts (what to close, transfer or memorialize), Documents and a death certificate log
• Funeral Budget, Sympathy & Thanks, Contacts and Settings

Share the load

• Open the file in Google Sheets and share it with siblings or helpers. Everyone edits the same live copy, so no one has to carry it all.

Safe by design

• There are no fields for account numbers, Social Security numbers or passwords. You track only the status and where the paperwork is kept.

How it works

1. Check out. Your download link appears right after checkout and in your order confirmation email, so you can download instantly.
2. Open the .xlsx in Excel, or upload it to Google Drive and choose Open with > Google Sheets.
3. Enter the date of passing and the names of your helpers. Sample rows show how it works and clear anytime.
4. Assign tasks and check things off. The dashboard updates by itself.

Compatibility

• Google Sheets (free with a Google account), on a computer and in the Google Sheets phone app
• Microsoft Excel 2016 or newer (Windows and Mac)
• No macros and no add-ons
• Not built for Apple Numbers
• Printables: any home printer or print shop, US Letter or A4. The Low-Ink version saves toner.

FAQ

Can several family members use it at once?
Yes. Share the Google Sheets copy and give each person Editor access.

Can I change the tasks?
Yes. Light-blue cells are for typing. Rename tasks, add your own, change the timing, or mark a task Not needed.

I'm outside the US. Will it still help?
Most tasks are universal, and you can rename the agencies to match yours. Please check local requirements.

Not legal advice, and not tax or financial advice. This is a general, US-centric checklist. Laws, deadlines and procedures vary by state and country, so please confirm with your funeral home, an attorney, a tax professional or the agency involved.

Pairs well with our If Something Happens to Me Legacy Planner, which helps a person record their wishes ahead of time.

We also make custom engraved memorial keepsakes in our Copley shop, for anyone who would like one.

Questions? Email sales@buckeyebrandingcompany.com. We're The Buckeye Branding Company, a small family-run shop in Copley, Ohio, and we answer our own email.

Digital download only. No physical item ships. For personal use only. Please don't share or resell the files.