What To Do When a Loved One Dies
First steps
Make the Calls
- Notify family, friends, employers, caretakers. You could send a mass email or group text, or if your loved one used social media, you could start there.
- Contact the cremation provider.
- Contact attorney or anyone listed as a power of attorney or executor of estate.
- Learn about existing end of life planning. If your loved one left no instructions, you could have a family meeting so that all feel included.
Arrange for Care
- Of minors
- Surviving spouse or partner who may need assistance
- Pets
Arrange for Security
- Check that the home, business, or related property of decedent is properly secured and managed
- Forward mail. You can do this at the post office or online.
- Cancel driver’s license and passport to prevent identity theft.
WITHIN TWO WEEKS:
Locate important documents such as insurance policies, pensions, deeds, titles, will, stocks, bonds, and bank information.
Notify any creditors, pay bills and close or cancel accounts. Send a copy of the death certificate to one of the three major credit bureaus.
Determine other home delivery items and process cancellations (such as cell phone, streaming services, cable, internet, newspapers, subscriptions, scheduled services, etc.)
Notify Social Security and Medicare.
Notify Veterans Administration.
Review any significant debts of decedent with an attorney to ensure these are properly managed.
Cancel disabled permit.
WITHIN TWO MONTHS:
Finish organizing personal & financial documents.
Begin to inventory and distribute personal belongings.
Change titles to assets (car, home, stocks, other property).
Cancel vehicle registration and license plate if in decedent’s name.
Meet with attorney/estate planner to arrange for allocation or transfer of assets per the decedent’s trust.
If your loved one did not have a trust and meets a specified financial threshold, probate may be required for distribution of assets and management of debt.
Delete or memorialize social media accounts.
Cancel email accounts.
Update voter registration.
AFTER A FEW MONTHS:
Begin the process for filing federal and state income taxes.
Follow up with anyone mentioned above or with legal professionals regarding probate.
Still have a question?
Need guidance during a difficult time? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
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