What To Do When a Loved One Dies
Our Plan Attorney will need to execute a Trust Settlement for your family
Give us a call so that we can guide you through this painful process and provide some peace of mind in taking control of your loved one’s estate.
First Step: Request 20 Copies of Death Certificates & Retrieve a legal declaration of death
When a loved on dies at a nursing home or a hospital where a doctor was present, this is handled by the staff at once. However, if the death occurred at home, you would need a medical professional to pronounce the person dead.
Please call emergency personal at 911, immediately following the passing of your relative. The individual would be declared dead and be transferred to a funeral home.
Why is the legal declaration important?
The funeral and the legal affairs of your loved one will require this document in order to move forward with the next steps.
What’s Next
As the funeral home can only keep your loved one for a short amount of time. You will need to begin the process of making funeral, burial or cremation arrangements.
If your family member belonged to the military, please contact the Veterans Administration for burial benefits and funeral services.
Once, the arrangement has been chosen, begin to write the obituary for your loved one.
Remember, to get help from your relatives and family as this can be an extremely stressful and emotional process to go about by yourself.
Maintain the Estate
Secure your loved one’s property, vehicle, and personal effects to maintain a schedule to check on the estate.
Head to the post office to forward the mail to yourself or another family member so you can begin to assess the assets and liabilities of your loved one.
Approximately 2 Weeks Later
Retrieve at least 20 certified copies of death certificates. These are necessary in order to provide banks, insurance companies, agencies and the estate plan attorney.
Call us once you receive your death certificates so that we can start the Trust Settlement Process.