Efterlevandeguiden A collaboration between Forsäkringskassan, Pensionsmyndigheten and Skatteverket

Getting started when someone close to you dies

When someone close to you dies, there is a great deal to take care of. It can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do everything at once. Here is an overview of the first practical things that need to be done – and what can wait until later.

Start with the most important things first

Here is an overview of the first practical steps that need to be taken.

Notify others of the death

It may sound obvious, but it is important that you inform the immediate family, heirs, neighbours and other friends and relatives about the death as soon as possible.

Prepare the funeral

A funeral service can take various forms depending on the customs and traditions that are important to the deceased and their family. Some prefer not to have funeral service at all. In Sweden, a burial or cremation must take place within one month.

Transport after a death

After death, the deceased will need to be transported several times.

Take leave if you need to

When a loved one dies, you may need to take time off from work to make all of the necessary arrangements.

Cancel subscriptions and agreements

While many companies receive information that their customer has died, after a while you will notice that this is not always the case. You will then need to contact the company yourself.

Managing an estate

When someone dies, the person who has lost their spouse, parent or partner must deal with the funeral, finances, post, estate inventory, will and much more.