The death of a loved one is almost always a traumatic occurrence; however, the added stress of being in charge of funeral arrangements and other personal affairs may make the situation feel downright overwhelming. In the event that this is your situation, the following is a checklist of items that need to be addressed after the death of a loved one in your life. Remember that the executor of a person’s assets is the only person who can manage some of these items, so if you do not have this obligation, it is typically a good idea to work closely with the person who does. Some of these things can only be handled by the executor of a person’s assets.
Obtain the required legal notification of the death
After their passing, this is something that needs to be taken care of as quickly as it is humanly possible. In most cases, a medical professional will handle this for you if the passing of a loved one occurred in a healthcare facility. Nevertheless, whether your loved one passed away in their own home or somewhere else, you will need to know who to call and inform about the death.
Make arrangements, if necessary, for the donation of organs
Check the driver’s license of a loved one, as well as any advance directives they may have left behind, to discover if they have expressed a desire to be an organ donor. In that case, the staff at the hospital needs to be informed immediately (or call a nearby hospital if your loved one died at home). Because time is of the essence when it comes to organ donation, this is one situation in which it is very necessary to move promptly.
Share the news with their loved ones and friends
This is not a task that is ever simple to complete. Every family is unique, and there is no one way to handle things properly or improperly. It is necessary for some families to discuss the news either in person or over the phone. For some people, sending an email or text message is acceptable. To relieve some of the burden you are carrying, see whether it is at all possible to delegate parts of the duty to other members of your family.
Decide on funeral plans
If you have settled on working with a funeral home, your next step should be to discuss your options with the funeral director working there. You could desire to have a memorial service or a celebration of life at a later time, even if you opted for an instant burial (burial without any ceremony), cremation, or donation to science as the final disposition of your loved one’s remains.
Place your order for copies of the certificate of death
It is possible that you will require as many as ten copies of the death certificate, or even more than that, depending on the number of accounts that your deceased loved one maintained and the number of locations that require notification. You may be able to get assistance placing the order from your funeral director, but you also have the option of doing it yourself at your city hall or local records office.
Commence the process of probate
You could be able to handle the estate on your own if it is relatively small, does not contain any peculiar assets, and there is a low likelihood that family members will oppose the distribution of the estate. If the process appears to be more onerous, however, you should seriously consider whether or not you should retain the services of a probate lawyer to assist you in navigating the deceased estate rules.
Spend some time reflecting on what has happened and come to terms with it
In the immediate aftermath of a death, you may find yourself preoccupied with other matters, which may serve to divert your attention from the loss itself. However, after that stage has ended, it is critical to ensure that you give yourself enough time to grieve and accept the loss of a loved one. Reach out to your loved ones and close friends, and if things continue to feel overwhelming, do not be hesitant to seek the advice of trained professionals.
Image Credits: Mayron Oliveira
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