Cognitive labor, disproportionately undertaken by women, is central to household functioning and is likely a critical aspect of managing the fallout of family member incarceration. We use 279 interviews with mothers and romantic partners of incarcerated men to describe the scope and process of cognitive labor stemming from family member incarceration. First, we show that the tasks stemming from family member incarceration involve the four stages of cognitive labor (anticipating needs, identifying options, making decisions, and monitoring results). Second, the uncertainty of the criminal legal system means family members spend extensive time in the first two stages. Third, constraints of the decision-making stage both stall and redirect cognitive labor. Fourth, family members undertake cognitive labor regardless of their relative’s incarceration history. These findings show that the cognitive labor process unfolds distinctly and is more burdensome for disadvantaged groups, who are disproportionately routed through institutions that reorient family life to demand intensive cognitive labor.