WHEN SOMEONE DIES

Eventually, we will all experience the death of a family member or friend. And if we are the person responsible for their affairs, it can be overwhelming. Family members and friends need to be notified about the death, bills need to be paid and services suspended while the funeral home is addressing the burial requests of the person who died. And, all of these practicalities are compounded by one’s grief.

The majority of Americans die without a will or a trust, that is, they die “intestate.” When this occurs, state law dictates who will inherit the estate assets after death. When someone dies, their assets become part of their estate or trust.

The minority of Americans die with a will or a trust which will state who the beneficiaries of the estate are and how the estate or trust is to be distributed.

If someone dies and you are the person responsible to handle their final affairs, some of the first steps that you need to take are outlined below. You will need to: 

• Determine if the person left advance instructions about their burial arrangements; 

• Select a funeral home and work with them to determine the burial or cremation options and costs;

• Notify family members and friends about the person’s death; 

• Determine if the person was a U.S. veteran and if the Department of Veteran’s Affairs offers any burial benefits; 

• Ask the funeral home for at least 10 copies of the decedent’s death certificate of which at least 3 should be certified copies; 

• Visit the residence of the person who died (the decedent) to gather bank statements, utility bills, rent or mortgage statements, employment, and other financial records and to lock up the property; 

• Organize these records to determine the value of the decedent’s assets; 

• Determine where the decedent’s car is located, find the keys and ensure that the car is securely stored; 

• Notify the banks, financial investment, utility companies, landlord, property manager, or mortgage holder, credit card companies and the employer about the person’s death. Banks will require a certified copy of the death certificate.

Some resources to help you address these responsibilities are provided to the right of this article. Also see: What to Do When A Loved One Dies