First, if you are in this situation, please accept my condolences. It is one of the most difficult events in life that any of us has to deal with. Yet it is almost inevitable that we have to deal with the death of a loved one during our lifetimes. At a time when you are emotional and perhaps not wanting to face anything, unfortunately, some steps must be taken. The following is a basic checklist of dos and don’ts to help you deal with what is immediate and down the road.
And know that if you do not already have an estate planning attorney, I’d be honored to help you navigate this difficult time. Please feel free to call me.
What You Should Do During the First 24-72 Hours:
- Notify close family and friends. You can ask someone you trust to help with this.
- Locate your loved one’s important estate planning documents.
- Contact your clergy and local funeral home to discuss services (your loved one may have already made arrangements in their estate planning documents, so check those first)
- Secure the home, pets, and valuables.
What You Should Do Within the First Week:
- Obtain a legal pronouncement of death (this is often handled by a hospital or hospice)
- Order the death certificate and obtain 5-10 copies.
- Make sure you’ve located all key documents in addition to the will and trust, such as marriage certificate, insurance policies, online asset information, and financial account information.
- Pause or forward mail as appropriate.
What You Shouldn’t Do:
- Do not procrastinate any of the above.
- Do not change the title to any assets or close out or roll over any financial accounts without consulting an attorney.
- Do not make any major business decisions or make large purchases.
- Do not get into any arguments or disagreements with other family members about property, your loved one, or estate matters.
Down the Road: Within the first month or so, you’ll need to:
- Contact the Social Security Administration
· You may be eligible for survivor benefits.
- Notify insurance companies
· Life, health, auto, home
- Contact banks and financial institutions.
· Freeze or transfer accounts.
- Cancel or update:
· Subscriptions
· Utilities
· Credit cards
Overall, you may find it helpful to keep a journal of your activities, such as who you have contacted and what you’ve accomplished. Watch for scams; unfortunately, they do target widows/widowers knowing they can be vulnerable. And don’t be afraid to ask trusted friends for help. They will welcome the opportunity to support you.
It will be tough going. As an experienced estate planning attorney, I’ve helped countless clients; you are not alone. Let me know if I can help. Call 513-399-7526 or visit my website at www.davidlefton.com.