Steps to Take After the Death of a Loved One
The loss of a loved one can be an emotional and overwhelming situation. If the deceased individual had a comprehensive estate plan in place, the process of wrapping up his or her affairs should be easier, however, there are still certain formalities that must be followed.
Notify family members and contact a funeral director. If contacting extended or estranged family members is difficult during this time, enlist the help of other family members or friends to assist you with this process. A funeral director will help with funeral and burial arrangements, publish an obituary, and order original death certificates. If the deceased was a veteran, contact the local Veterans Administration office, which may provide forms of assistance such as funeral preparations, a burial plot, an American flag for the funeral, among other items.
Locate necessary original legal documents and information, such as estate planning documents (i.e. Will and Trust documents). These documents will help you determine some of the actions you will need to take.
Contact a probate attorney to schedule an appointment to assist you with the steps necessary to efficiently administer the estate. In Missouri this meeting should ideally be held 30-60 days after death. If the deceased was a resident of Illinois, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible after death to ensure all applicable deadlines are met. The attorney should provide you with a list of documents you should bring and who should attend the meeting. An attorney can then help you take all necessary next steps, which generally include the identification and appraisal of assets and determining what legal steps may be necessary to ensure the orderly administration of the deceased’s estate.
Gather important information about life insurance policies, death and retirement benefits, titling of assets, and outstanding debts or contractual agreements. Your attorney will provide detailed advice and guidance as to a number of other steps that you will need to take, such as:
Contacting life insurance companies to inform them of the death and determine if and how benefits will be paid.
Obtaining date of death values on all assets and accounts.
Contacting the deceased’s employer to determine whether any benefits are available to family members or other designated beneficiaries. Even decedents who were retired may still have benefits or insurance that should be addressed upon death.
Cancelling magazine subscriptions, online streaming services and cable television, club and gym memberships, cell phone plans, car insurance, and other reoccurring expenses for services that are no longer needed.
Contacting creditors to notify them of the death of the credit account holder.
An attorney well versed in probate and trust administration matters will make the difficult process of winding up the affairs of a loved one easier by guiding you through the process step by step.