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Not sure where to start, what to do, what papers need to be filed and so on... please help me.

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Off you go to a Trust and Estate Lawyer. Gather all your papers together. This is about filings and about getting an EIN for taxes and about gathering an estate. You will know after an hour of time (which the estate pays for) whether you need them basically to handle all this, or if you can do it with their guidance. Know there isn't a timeline that is hard and fast, so don't worry that one.
There are many books. Start with the very simple book by father and son attorneys by the name of Grube called Please Don't Die But If You Do Die What Do I Do Next. You can get this on amazon or order where books are sold.
Good luck.
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Jeff, there are some issues to address first:

1.   The document by which you are "in charge" needs to be addressed first.

By "in charge" do you mean that you were named in a Will as Executor, or in a Trust as Successor Trustee?   Or did your father ask you to be responsible by some other means?

2.   If your father died w/o a Will, he died "intestate" and procedures and obligations are established state by state.   If he died with a Trust, your duties will be somewhat different and much more complex b/c of the Trust.

3.    Are their any other heirs?  Brothers? Sisters?  Other family?  Generally, what are the extent of his assets?  Home?  Other property?   Stocks, bonds or other financial products? 

4.    It would be very helpful if you address these issues first, as the responses you get would be more tailored to your specific situation.

E.g., if a Trust is involved, you need to get an EIN from the IRS and become acquainted with the labyrinth of obligations.  You would benefit from hiring a Trust attorney to guide you through this morass.   

If a Will is involved, there are a different set of papers to file.
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Jeff
i am sorry for your fathers passing. It sounds recent. Give yourself some time to grieve his passing if possible.
I see you are in the state of Ca. Each state has their own rules. I attached a link that outlines the steps.
Know that the POA is no longer in effect as it ends upon the death of the principal. You will need to appear before the court to be given the authority to disperse your fathers estate. Hopefully he left a valid will and you have it in your possession or perhaps his property is in a trust.
Usually the death certificate is available within a few weeks from date of death and is needed to go forward. This link is very informative.

https://www.courts.ca.gov/8865.htm?rdeLocaleAttr=en
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