Here’s a list of what needs to be done immediately after a death occurs and in the weeks and months that follow.
A hospice nurse will come to the home and pronounce the death. The nurse might also call a mortuary or funeral home for you and arrange for pick up of the body.
If funeral arrangements have been made in advance of the death, all you’ll need to do is confirm the arrangements with the funeral director.
If no funeral arrangements were made in advance, you will need to begin planning a funeral or arrange for cremation services.
Locate and review any estate documents, including a will, trust, and power of attorney.
Some financial documents to look for include:
Bank statementsBearer bondsBrokerage statementsDeedsPrenuptial agreementStock certificatesTitle documents
Examples of assets include life insurance policies, bank accounts, investment accounts, real-estate ownership, retirement accounts, and business ownership.
Liabilities might include mortgages, owed taxes, credit card debt, and unpaid bills.
Find out whether surviving dependents are still eligible for health or insurance benefits and whether there is a life insurance policy through the company.
Don’t let lenders “guilt” you into paying more than the estate can afford; you aren’t personally liable for your loved one’s debts unless you’re married (for some debts) or are a co-signer on a loan.
