What to do When a Loved One Dies

BlogyNews June 10, 2022
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When you lose someone that’s very close to you it can be one of the most difficult things you have to face in your life. You can try to be prepared as much as possible, but saying goodbye is never easy. When a loved one dies, they leave behind a life that must be closed out and the job of handling personal and legal details such as Arizona probate, could fall to you. There’s also the funeral to plan, bank accounts to close, final bills to pay, and maybe even pets to rehome. 

What to do When a Loved One Dies

 

There are a lot of details to take care of, and it’s not something you should tackle alone. Try to get as much help as possible, not just from professionals such as lawyers or CPAs, but from your network of family and friends too. 

If you have an understanding of all the things that need to be done, it’ll help you marshall the right help. The following guide should be of value, should you ever find yourself in this type of emotional situation. 

What To Do Immediately After Someone Dies

There are some things you need to organize almost immediately following a loved one’s death, for example:

Get Legal Documentation of Death

If your loved one died in a hospital or nursing home where a doctor was present, this initial task will be handled by the staff. However, if they die at home, especially if it was unexpected, you’ll need to get a medical professional to declare them dead. To do this, call 911 soon after they have passed and arrange for them to be transported to an emergency room where they can be declared dead and moved to a funeral home.

 

Legal documentation of death is critical because you’ll need it to access bank and other financial accounts, start the probate process (if necessary), file a claim on life insurance, and tend to other personal affairs. You’ll need several copies of the death certificate, which you can get from a medical examiner or funeral home.    

When you lose someone that's very close to you it can be one of the most difficult things you have to face in your life. You can try to be prepared as much as possible, but saying goodbye is never easy. When a loved one dies, they leave behind a life that must be closed out and the job of handling personal and legal details such as Arizona probate, could fall to you. There’s also the funeral to plan, bank accounts to close, final bills to pay, and maybe even pets to rehome. There are a lot of details to take care of, and it’s not something you should tackle alone. Try to get as much help as possible, not just from professionals such as lawyers or CPAs, but from your network of family and friends too. If you have an understanding of all the things that need to be done, it’ll help you marshall the right help. The following guide should be of value, should you ever find yourself in this type of emotional situation. What To Do Immediately After Someone Dies There are some things you need to organize almost immediately following a loved one’s death, for example: Get Legal Documentation of Death If your loved one died in a hospital or nursing home where a doctor was present, this initial task will be handled by the staff. However, if they die at home, especially if it was unexpected, you’ll need to get a medical professional to declare them dead. To do this, call 911 soon after they have passed and arrange for them to be transported to an emergency room where they can be declared dead and moved to a funeral home. Legal documentation of death is critical because you’ll need it to access bank and other financial accounts, start the probate process (if necessary), file a claim on life insurance, and tend to other personal affairs. You’ll need several copies of the death certificate, which you can get from a medical examiner or funeral home. Tell Friends and Family You can do this in a number of different ways. The most obvious is to make individual phone calls to let people know their loved one has died. Alternatively, you could send out a group text or mass email. You can track down the names and contact information of people you need to inform by going through the deceased’s email and phone contacts. If they were a member of any social groups or belonged to a church you should let members know. Another option is to post about their death on social media, both on your account and the deceased person’s account, if you have access. Check Whether There Are Any Existing Funeral and Burial Plans If you haven’t already talked with your loved one about their wishes for the funeral, you need to make some checks. Look for a letter of instruction in their papers or call a family meeting so you can have the first conversations about what everyone thinks the funeral should look like. What To Do Within a Few Days of Death Make Funeral, Burial, or Cremation Arrangements Check for any paperwork relating to a prepaid funeral plan. If you can’t find anything, you’ll need to choose a funeral home and decide on specifics for the funeral. Things to consider include location of the service, whether to bury or cremate, and where the body or ashes will be interred. Secure The Property Lock up the deceased’s home and vehicle. Dispose of any food in the refrigerator, get the mail, and ask neighbors, a friend, or relative to water any plants. If there are any valuables in the property, such as cash or jewelry, lock them up. Provide Care for Pets If your loved one has any pets you’ll need to make short-term and long-term arrangements for them. You might want to board them in a kennel or send them to stay with a relative who likes animals until a new home can be found. Forward Mail Arrange a forwarding order with the post office and their mail can be sent to yourself or someone else who is helping you with your loved one’s affairs. Notify Your Family Member’s Employer If your loved one was working, inform their employer that they are deceased. Ask for information about benefits and any paychecks that may be due. Also inquire whether there is a company-wide life insurance policy. What To Do Two Weeks After Death Secure certified copies of death certificates Find the Will and executor Meet with a trusts and estates attorney Contact a CPA Take the Will to probate Make an inventory of all assets Track down assets Make a list of bills Cancel services no longer needed Decide what to do with their passport Notify the following of your loved one’s death: The Social Security Administration Life insurance companies Banks, financial institutions Financial advisers, stockbrokers Credit agencies Cancel driver’s license Close credit card accounts: Terminate insurance policies Delete or memorialize social media accounts Close email accounts Update voter registration Now you understand a little more about the different processes, it will help you deal with all the various aspects in a better way.

 

Tell Friends and Family

You can do this in a number of different ways. The most obvious is to make individual phone calls to let people know their loved one has died. Alternatively, you could send out a group text or mass email. 

You can track down the names and contact information of people you need to inform by going through the deceased’s email and phone contacts. 

If they were a member of any social groups or belonged to a church you should let members know. 

Another option is to post about their death on social media, both on your account and the deceased person’s account, if you have access. 

Check Whether There Are Any Existing Funeral and Burial Plans

If you haven’t already talked with your loved one about their wishes for the funeral, you need to make some checks. Look for a letter of instruction in their papers or call a family meeting so you can have the first conversations about what everyone thinks the funeral should look like. 

What To Do Within a Few Days of Death

Make Funeral, Burial, or Cremation Arrangements

Check for any paperwork relating to a prepaid funeral plan. If you can’t find anything, you’ll need to choose a funeral home and decide on specifics for the funeral. Things to consider include location of the service, whether to bury or cremate, and where the body or ashes will be interred.  

When you lose someone that's very close to you it can be one of the most difficult things you have to face in your life. You can try to be prepared as much as possible, but saying goodbye is never easy. When a loved one dies, they leave behind a life that must be closed out and the job of handling personal and legal details such as Arizona probate, could fall to you. There’s also the funeral to plan, bank accounts to close, final bills to pay, and maybe even pets to rehome. There are a lot of details to take care of, and it’s not something you should tackle alone. Try to get as much help as possible, not just from professionals such as lawyers or CPAs, but from your network of family and friends too. If you have an understanding of all the things that need to be done, it’ll help you marshall the right help. The following guide should be of value, should you ever find yourself in this type of emotional situation. What To Do Immediately After Someone Dies There are some things you need to organize almost immediately following a loved one’s death, for example: Get Legal Documentation of Death If your loved one died in a hospital or nursing home where a doctor was present, this initial task will be handled by the staff. However, if they die at home, especially if it was unexpected, you’ll need to get a medical professional to declare them dead. To do this, call 911 soon after they have passed and arrange for them to be transported to an emergency room where they can be declared dead and moved to a funeral home. Legal documentation of death is critical because you’ll need it to access bank and other financial accounts, start the probate process (if necessary), file a claim on life insurance, and tend to other personal affairs. You’ll need several copies of the death certificate, which you can get from a medical examiner or funeral home. Tell Friends and Family You can do this in a number of different ways. The most obvious is to make individual phone calls to let people know their loved one has died. Alternatively, you could send out a group text or mass email. You can track down the names and contact information of people you need to inform by going through the deceased’s email and phone contacts. If they were a member of any social groups or belonged to a church you should let members know. Another option is to post about their death on social media, both on your account and the deceased person’s account, if you have access. Check Whether There Are Any Existing Funeral and Burial Plans If you haven’t already talked with your loved one about their wishes for the funeral, you need to make some checks. Look for a letter of instruction in their papers or call a family meeting so you can have the first conversations about what everyone thinks the funeral should look like. What To Do Within a Few Days of Death Make Funeral, Burial, or Cremation Arrangements Check for any paperwork relating to a prepaid funeral plan. If you can’t find anything, you’ll need to choose a funeral home and decide on specifics for the funeral. Things to consider include location of the service, whether to bury or cremate, and where the body or ashes will be interred. Secure The Property Lock up the deceased’s home and vehicle. Dispose of any food in the refrigerator, get the mail, and ask neighbors, a friend, or relative to water any plants. If there are any valuables in the property, such as cash or jewelry, lock them up. Provide Care for Pets If your loved one has any pets you’ll need to make short-term and long-term arrangements for them. You might want to board them in a kennel or send them to stay with a relative who likes animals until a new home can be found. Forward Mail Arrange a forwarding order with the post office and their mail can be sent to yourself or someone else who is helping you with your loved one’s affairs. Notify Your Family Member’s Employer If your loved one was working, inform their employer that they are deceased. Ask for information about benefits and any paychecks that may be due. Also inquire whether there is a company-wide life insurance policy. What To Do Two Weeks After Death Secure certified copies of death certificates Find the Will and executor Meet with a trusts and estates attorney Contact a CPA Take the Will to probate Make an inventory of all assets Track down assets Make a list of bills Cancel services no longer needed Decide what to do with their passport Notify the following of your loved one’s death: The Social Security Administration Life insurance companies Banks, financial institutions Financial advisers, stockbrokers Credit agencies Cancel driver’s license Close credit card accounts: Terminate insurance policies Delete or memorialize social media accounts Close email accounts Update voter registration Now you understand a little more about the different processes, it will help you deal with all the various aspects in a better way.

Secure The Property

Lock up the deceased’s home and vehicle. Dispose of any food in the refrigerator, get the mail, and ask neighbors, a friend, or relative to water any plants. If there are any valuables in the property, such as cash or jewelry, lock them up. 

Provide Care for Pets

If your loved one has any pets you’ll need to make short-term and long-term arrangements for them. You might want to board them in a kennel or send them to stay with a relative who likes animals until a new home can be found. 

Forward Mail

Arrange a forwarding order with the post office and their mail can be sent to yourself or someone else who is helping you with your loved one’s affairs. 

Notify Your Family Member’s Employer

If your loved one was working, inform their employer that they are deceased. Ask for information about benefits and any paychecks that may be due. Also inquire whether there is a company-wide life insurance policy. 

What To Do Two Weeks After Death

  • Secure certified copies of death certificates
  • Find the Will and executor
  • Meet with a trusts and estates attorney
  • Contact a CPA
  • Take the Will to probate
  • Make an inventory of all assets
  • Track down assets
  • Make a list of bills
  • Cancel services no longer needed
  • Decide what to do with their passport
  • Notify the following of your loved one’s death:
    • The Social Security Administration
    • Life insurance companies
    • Banks, financial institutions
    • Financial advisers, stockbrokers
    • Credit agencies

 

  • Cancel driver’s license
  • Close credit card accounts:
  • Terminate insurance policies
  • Delete or memorialize social media accounts
  • Close email accounts
  • Update voter registration  

 

Now you understand a little more about the different processes, it will help you deal with all the various aspects in a better way. 

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