Knowledge base: Practical guide
The death of a loved one brings numerous practical matters, many of which have statutory deadlines. In the first days and weeks you need to handle official notifications, banking, insurance, contracts and any digital legacy.
This knowledge base compiles clear instructions for practical actions after death. The guides cover both immediate tasks and longer-term responsibilities, helping you see the full picture in a situation where managing everything can feel overwhelming.
Topics
Managing a digital legacy: closing social media accounts, finding passwords, saving photos, and creating a digital will.
A clear guide to estate banking matters: the deceased's account, paying bills, bank-specific instructions and required documents.
What to do when a person dies at home: instructions, contacting authorities, home hospice care and practical steps for family members.
Guide to notifying loved ones of a death: order of notification, what to say, by phone and in person, to the workplace and social media.
Guide to estate taxation: the deceased's final tax return, estate income tax, deadlines, deductions and practical guidance for the Tax Administration.
Guide to sorting a deceased person's belongings: emotional preparation, schedule, sorting system and professional services.
Guide to death in hospital: what the staff do, the rights of family members, viewing the deceased, collecting belongings and paperwork.
A practical guide to the first hours after a loved one's death. Who to contact, what documents you need, and how to take care of yourself.
A guide to organ donation and autopsy after death: consent, forensic investigation, and the rights of next of kin.
A guide to choosing a funeral home: what services funeral homes offer, how to compare prices, and what your rights are as a consumer.
A comprehensive guide to reporting a death to authorities and other parties: DVV, Kela, Tax Administration, banks, and insurance companies.
A guide to clearing the estate's home: when the clearance must be done, who decides about the belongings, and how to donate or sell items.
A comprehensive guide to making a will, forced heirship, the order of succession, and contesting a will in Finland.
A guide to the employer's obligations when an employee dies: final salary, holiday compensation, group life insurance, and pension matters.
A guide to handling insurance matters after a loved one's death: claiming life insurance, group life insurance, cancelling policies, and Kela benefits.
Frequently asked questions
What should you do first after a loved one dies?
Transport and death confirmation are handled by healthcare. The next-of-kin's first steps are contacting a funeral home and the parish, and arranging the estate inventory.
How is the deceased's bank account closed?
The account is frozen when the bank receives notification from DVV. Estate shareholders can pay running bills from the estate account with a power of attorney or joint agreement.
What happens to the deceased's social media accounts?
Most services have a process for memorialising or deleting an account. Facebook allows naming a legacy contact, and Google offers its Inactive Account Manager service.
From the blog
Funeral planning checklist: all the tasks from the moment of death through the funeral and beyond – a printable checklist.
Practical ways to preserve a loved one's memory: from photo albums to memory boxes, digital archives to memorial traditions.
A guide to choosing a burial site: cemetery grave, memorial grove, scattering ashes, family grave, and the significance of location. All options compared.
Planning a personalised funeral: themed funerals, music choices, dress code wishes, and creative memorial services.
Related pages
Need local information? See city pages: