It’s probably been the worst week of your life, you’ve laid your loved one to rest. The world has suddenly changed. You really just want to be done but there are a few more things to do before you can start to move on.
BREATHE
First take care of yourself. Take a deep breath, it’s been a rough week. This is a stressfull time. Add the grief that follows the loss of a love one and its a dangerous combination. Remember that stress and grief are normal feelings for this time in your life. We all handle and go through stress and grief differently. If your struggling with either, seek help. Sometimes just talking to a friend can help. There are also lots of great counselors out there who can help.
Notify Friends, Family
As you’ll notice the key word here will be NOTIFY. Basically notify everyone. Start with notifying friends, family and relatives about your loved one’s passing. Granted these guys probably already know now that there has been a funeral but maybe in all the chaos someone was forgotten.
Children
Make arrangements for the care of children. If both parents are deceased or if the surviving parent is deemed unfit then the court must appoint a guardian. If one parent is deceased then the other parent becomes the primary custodian of the child. Contact an attorney regarding guardianship proceedings.
Pets
Have plans been made for your loved ones pets? Some people even make arrangement for their pets in a will. Was there a clause in the will for them?
Order Death Certificates
Usually the funeral home will assist you in ordering death certificates. Depending on the make up of the deceased’s estate you could need a dozen or so. Ask your funeral director if you haven’t received these yet. You can also contact the county clerk.
Contact their Employer
You would think that your employer probably noticed your love one has been missing for a few days but its still important to check in with them. Make an appointment with the human resources department. You will need to make arrangements to collect your loved one’s last check. Be sure to ask if there were any bonuses he or she may have been entitled to. Many employers also have death benefits or even survivor benefits they have offered has part of their compensation plan. And don’t forget personal effects, your loved one might have their favorite mementos on their desk. There might be something there you may really cherish.
Social Security
Usually the funeral home will contact the Social Security department about your loved ones passing but its always a good idea to verify this has been done. There may also be benefits available that are associated with Social Security. If your loved one was receiving social security then there is a one time death benefit and if there is a surviving spouse he or she may be eligible for survivor benefits.
One word of caution- if you are still receiving your loved ones social security checks, do NOT cash them. Report this to the social security administration immediately . If you collect these funds when you aren’t supposed to, it is considered fraud and it can be really messy. If you’re owed this money than it can be cleared up later and they will reimburse you.
Landlord
If your love one was renting or leasing you’ll need to contact their landlord. If you haven’t done so already you’ll need to make arrangements to get into their residence and secure and/or remove their personal belongings. Although in most situations a landlord can legally bind the estate to the remainder of the lease, most understand and will work with you on cancelling the lease. Don’t forget to ask for a return of the deposit. A landlord is required to return a deposit minus any charges for repairs and cleaning.
Mortgage Companies
If your loved one had a mortgage on any of their property, be sure to contact the mortgage company. Unless the mortgage had a death benefit associated with it, the mortgage will continue to be due and payable. If at all possible make arrangements to continue these payments. If payments aren’t made, then interest and late fees will continue to accrue and depending on how long the mortgage is left in default there may even be legal fees added to the amount due. Some mortgage companies may even offer a deferment of the payment while the estate is being settled. Also inquire about transferring the mortgage to the heirs’ names if it’s desired to keep the property. Transferring a mortgage can be a tedious process requiring credit applications and tons of paperwork so it’s best to get the process started as soon as possible.
Banks
Most banks will freeze accounts upon notification of a customer’s death. If the account had a beneficiary named on it or a POD (payable on death) clause then usually a death certificate is all that is need to close the account. If the account is solely in the deceased’s name and their is no beneficiaries listed then it will probably require probate to close these accounts. A shared account in most cases will continue to be open but its a good idea to still notify the bank about your loved one’s death. If there are any accounts that had the deceased as a beneficiary be sure to update those. While your at the bank inquire about a safe deposit box. Many people keep important papers in a safe deposit box usually located at the bank where they have other accounts. You will probably not be able to get into a safe deposit box without a court order but most states have a quick and easy process to get one.
Retirement or Investments
Be sure to contact your loved ones financial advisor or investment company for things such as IRA’s, stocks, mutual funds, 401k’s.
Contact the VA
If your loved one was a veteran, contact the Veterans Administration. The Veterans Administration has several different benefits they may apply to your situation. Again if your are receiving checks for your loved one don’t cash them. See above.
Life Insurance
If you loved one had life insurance contact the insurance agent or the insurance company directly. Most insurance agents can be a big help. If you are a beneficiary then a death certificate is usually all the insurance company will need. If your loved ones death with suspicious they may require more information but in general a death certificate will usually suffice.
Be sure to check with banks, credit unions, AAA, fraternal organizations and other associations your loved one was a member of. Many offer free or cheap insurance as a benefit to being a customer. I’ve personally seen offers from credit card companies offering free insurance.
Cancel Mail
At some point you are probably going to want to cancel your loved ones mail service. In some cases however it may be advantageous to leave it open. The mail can offer great clues to items you may have missed. Bank account statements, pay stubs, and life insurance notices may come in providing evidence of an account you missed. I once had a client who found statements from an oil company in her dad’s mail box. Turns out he had been receiving a very small royalty each month from a mineral interest that his dad had originally owned many years before. The checks were literally only a couple of dollars each month but the oil companies started fracking around the area and suddenly those few dollars became a few thousand. Thousands of dollars that would have been missed if not for the mail.
Locate a Will
Did your loved one have a will? If so who is the executor and the beneficiaries. In a lot of cases a full probate is not necessary. Contact a lawyer, they can help you determine if you need to probate the will. If their isn’t a will there is a legal process to determine who inherits your loved ones property. Again an attorney can point you in the right direction.
Cars
Collect whatever documentation you can find in regards to the deceased’s automobiles. Most titles can be transferred via an affidavit or through letters of administration. Ask your attorney for help with these.
