A Checklist Of What To Do When A Loved One Dies

A Checklist Of What To Do When A Loved One Dies

The emotional and physical stress of losing a loved one can be overwhelming, as well as the responsibilities you will have that follows. To help with the many tasks that will need to be completed both immediately and down the road, a checklist may help as a guide to keep this process as organized and easy on the survivor as possible. 

Immediate Tasks: 

  • Contact family members and friends for comfort and assistance in planning for your loved one’s funeral or memorial service.
  • Arrange for organ donation. Determine what the deceased’s wishes were by looking on his or her driver’s license and advanced health care directives. If he or she was an organ donor, contact the medical facility that pronounced the death to help guide you through the process. 
  • Contact a funeral home or memorial location. Meet with the director to arrange the ceremony, burial site, wake gathering, and any religious traditions. Check if the deceased had a prepaid plot or burial insurance. If the deceased was a veteran, contact Veterans Affairs to determine if you are eligible for financial assistance with the funeral costs or other benefits. 
  • Prepare an obituary. Avoid specifying any personal information, such as an address or date of birth to help avoid identity theft. 
  • Arrange for someone to be at the residence of the deceased during the funeral. Unfortunately, thieves will target obituaries to break into homes and vehicles on the date of the funeral. 
  • Contact the deceased’s employer. 
  • Secure the property of your loved one.
  • Arrange for pets to be cared for if necessary.

After the Funeral Tasks: 

The weeks and months that follow losing a loved one can result in emotional versus financially sound decision making. It may be best to postpone the big decisions, such as selling your home, but there still are many important tasks to be completed.

  • Request at least 12 certified death certificates. You will need them in order to facilitate asset changes as well as insurance claims.
  • Notify any life insurance companies that the deceased had policies with to begin the claims process.
  • Contact the human resources department of the deceased’s employer to request information for any benefits such as a pension plan and credit union accounts.
  • Meet with an attorney to review the will and begin the estate settlement process. 
  • Change the beneficiary of any life insurance policy that has the deceased as a beneficiary. 
  • Contact the financial institution of any investment held in the deceased’s name to determine who the beneficiaries are and make the changes necessary to redeem the funds if needed, or transfer the ownership.
  • Notify the local Social Security office, or call 800-772-1213, to stop the deceased’s benefits and to discuss your eligibility for increased personal benefits. The Social Security Office will inform Medicare of the death. If the deceased was enrolled in Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D), Medicare Advantage plan, or had a Medigap policy, contact these plans to cancel the insurance.
  • Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel his or her driver’s license. This will reduce the chance of identity theft.
  • Terminate other insurance policies such as automobile and homeowners if necessary.
  • Cancel any credit cards in the deceased’s name.
  • Cancel prescriptions being filled.
  • Cancel email accounts.
  • Cancel memberships in organizations and subscriptions.
  • Contact the deceased’s tax preparer to update the filing changes.
  • Notify the election board.
  • If your loved one was the financial and health care decision maker on you your behalf, contact your attorney to make the necessary changes.
  • Determine the contents of any safe deposit box.
  • If the deceased was over the age 70 ½, be sure to distribute any required minimum distributions for the year of death.

Essential Documents Needed: 

Locate essential documentation: financial statements, Social Security card, birth certificate, marriage certificate, insurance policies, deed and titles to property,  bank passbooks, stock certificates, military claim number & documents, tax forms, loan documents, and birth certificates for any children.

Create a new plan:

Create a new personal budget and consider completing a retirement projection with a professional to assess your financial situation and develop a strategy to reach your retirement goals. 
 

Carol Chaudet

(Updated 6-21-17)