Losing a loved one is hard, grieving a loved one while also handling all of their personal and legal details is even harder. When someone dies, the “business” of the life that they leave behind must be dealt with. This encompasses the organization of funerals, closure of bank accounts, rehoming of pets and settling of final bills.
Although no checklist can alleviate the pain, a comprehensive guide on the procedures to follow when some passes away can provide some assistance during this difficult time. Baker Newby’s guide will help navigate a challenging time in your life.
Immediately After the Death
Legal Pronouncement of Death
The official declaration of death is the initial step in obtaining a death certificate, a vital document. If someone dies while in a hospice or in the hospital where medical professionals are present, the staff will handle the process. Otherwise, contacting 911 is necessary, where paramedics will attempt to resuscitate unless there is a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order in place.
Arrange for Transportation of Body
If the deceased is in a hospice or the care of others, the staff will coordinate transportation. If an autopsy is required, the ambulance will transport the body to the hospital. If no autopsy is required, call the funeral home directly for transportation arrangements.
Notify Necessary Parties
Informing relevant parties about the death is a crucial yet daunting task. Begin by notifying the most important people first; from there, you can also ask those who you have contacted to notify others.
Contact information may need to be retrieved from the deceased’s phone, email and social media accounts.
In no particular order, here are some entities you may need to notify:
- Family Members
- Friends
- Employers
- Coworkers
- Frequent Acquaintances
- Professional Relationships
- Old friends who may not be in frequent contact anymore.
Once those have all been contacted, do not forget about the Social Security Office, Banks, Financial Advisors and Insurance Companies.
Make Arrangements for the Body
If the deceased did not leave explicit instructions, convening a family meeting to discuss and make collective decisions on funeral and burial arrangements is recommended.
Make Arrangements for Children and Pets
In cases where the deceased had dependents or pets, promptly find their Estate Plans to see if any provisions were set up for guardianship. If not, it is up to you to make arrangements immediately.
A Few Days to a Week Later
Secure Assets and Carry Out Other Related Tasks
Ensure the security of basic assets by locking homes and cars. Other household tasks such as taking out the trash, checking and forwarding the mail, and bringing in newspapers or deliveries must all be attended to.
Carry Out Wishes
Utilize the Will and Estate Planning documents to guide funeral and memorial arrangements. At this time, contact the appointed Executor named in the Will.
Make Funeral Plans
Funeral planning is exhausting but often a necessary step to fully honor the deceased, in whatever tradition they preferred. Seek assistance when needed – the responsibilities are not bestowed upon one sole person. Using the arrangements outlined in the Will, keep these in mind:
- Writing the obituary
- Determine funeral type
- Send out invites
- Coordinate other funeral arrangements such as burial, transportation etc.
- Coordinate other aspects such as food, flowers etc.
Settle the Estate
This step always takes the longest. The Executor reaches out to beneficiaries while miscellaneous tasks like bill payments, cancellation of subscriptions and closing accounts are addressed. Once all beneficiaries are notified, assets are distributed in accordance with the Will.
Take Time to Grieve
Once the “business” aspect is over, it will be at least a few months since you were initially made aware of the passing away of a loved one. You have been so busy dealing with everything that it is important to ensure that you have had enough time to grieve for yourself.
It is never too early to think about will and estate planning to make your wishes known; Baker Newby can help with all your Estate and Wealth Preservation needs.
Contact us today!