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What To Do When Someone Dies

IMMEDIATELY

  • Obtain a legal pronouncement of death

  • If the deceased is an organ donor, arrange for donation almost immediately at death so the organs may be harvested as promptly as possible; if the deceased made arrangements to donate their body to a medical school, etc. – an anatomical gift statement may guide you to a specific institution; if no pre-arrangements have been made, next of kin may make the donation but the decision needs to be made right away

  • Contact funeral home, determine costs, arrange for transport of the deceased from the morgue (do some research on this – check with people who have had an experience with a funeral home if at all possible)

  • Notify close family and friends

  • Apply for death certificates (funeral home will assist with this)

  • Handle care of dependents and pets

WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER DEATH

  • If employed, phone the deceased’s employer – request information about benefits, final pay, company-paid life insurance 

  • If the deceased was in the military or belonged to a fraternal or religious group, contact the organization as they may have burial benefits or conduct funeral services

  • Secure the deceased’s personal property including home, vehicle, valuables (such as jewelry, silverware, artwork),  mail delivery, discard perishable food items, water plants

  • Determine whether the deceased had wishes regarding their funeral or memorial service

  • Keep track of all donations, flowers, cards received – purchase sympathy acknowledgement cards

  • Submit an obituary to the deceased’s local papers – include a charitable organization for donations if preferred over flowers

  • Notify the deceased’s attorney about the death

AFTER THE FUNERAL

  • If there is a safe deposit box personal representative should remove and inventory the contents

  • Meet with the attorney to review any necessary steps to administer the estate – bring the following to the meeting, if available:

  • Death certificate

  • Vehicle title(s)

  • Real property deed(s)

  • Copies of account statements including those from banks, brokerage houses, and insurance agencies

  • Notify financial advisors, stockbrokers, etc.

  • Stop deceased’s health insurance 

  • Cancel Medicare, if necessary

  • Notify local Social Security Office

  • Notify life insurance companies, obtain claim forms

  • Terminate other insurance policies

  • Notify mortgage companies and banks (after consultation with attorney for the estate)

  • Close credit card accounts

  • Make a list of important bills and confirm that executor will continue to pay

  • Cancel email and web site accounts

  • Cancel memberships in organizations

  • Cancel driver’s license

  • Notify election board

  • File individual tax return

  • Send out sympathy thank-you notes