Handling Your Loved One’s Affairs After They Die

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most challenging experiences. In addition to coping with grief, handling your loved one’s affairs after they die involves important tasks that need to be completed to ensure their wishes are honored and their affairs are properly managed. This checklist is designed to guide you step-by-step through the process.
Within 24 Hours of Your Loved One Passing:
1. Arrange for Cremation or Funeral Services
- Ensure funeral or cremation arrangements are made promptly.
- The funeral home will typically handle ordering death certificates from the appropriate state department.
2. Safeguard the Deceased’s Information and Property
- Determine if any of the deceased’s assets need immediate protection, such as valuable belongings, motor vehicles, or a vacant home or rental property.
- Identify who has keys to vehicles and properties.
- If the obituary includes the deceased’s address or the home’s location is publicly known, consider hiring security or an off-duty police officer to monitor the property during the funeral.
- Avoid listing the exact date of birth in the obituary to reduce the risk of identity theft.
Within The First Two Weeks of Bereavement:
3. Locate Final Instructions and Legal Documents
- Search for a Letter of Instruction or other documents outlining the deceased’s final wishes.
- Find the original Will, Declaration of Trust, and/or Trust Agreement and review its contents.
4. Gather Important Records
- Locate essential records, including account statements, titles, deeds, and life insurance policies.
5. Meet with an Estate Attorney
- Schedule a meeting with an estate attorney to discuss estate property, taxes, and any questions you may have.
6. Redirect Mail
- Contact the U.S. Postal Service to forward the deceased’s mail to the Personal Representative or Trustee.
7. Prevent Identity Theft
- Send copies of the death certificate to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to prevent identity theft.
- Notify the state motor vehicle department to cancel the deceased’s driver’s license and block duplicate requests.
8. Order Death Certificates
- Obtain multiple death certificates, at least one per account or major asset. Aim for at least seven copies. The funeral home should do this for you.
9. Notify Insurance and Creditors
- Notify life insurance and annuity companies and request claim forms.
- Check for mortgage life insurance policies and inform the mortgage holder and insurance company.
- Identify any past-due bills and arrange payment from the deceased’s funds.
- Contact creditors demanding immediate payment to notify them of the death and discuss arrangements.
10. Cancel Credit Accounts
- Notify credit card companies and cancel all cards where the deceased was the sole signer.
- Close any charge accounts.
11. Gather Medical Bills
- Collect final bills from hospitals, doctors, labs, and nursing homes.
12. Begin Comprehensive Estate Inventory
- Create an inventory of the deceased’s estate, listing all assets and debts.
Within One Month of Your Loved One Passing:
13. Notify Social Security and Pension Providers
- If the funeral home hasn’t already done so, notify Social Security and other organizations paying pensions, retirement, or annuity benefits.
- Be aware that direct deposits made after death may be reversed.
14. Organize Financial Documents
- Gather documents for jointly owned assets, including:
- Bank and money market accounts
- Mutual funds
- Brokerage accounts
- Certificates of Deposit
- Bonds and stock certificates
- Promissory notes
- Titles for motor vehicles, trailers, and mobile homes
- Homeowners or renters insurance policies (Keep these active until assets are sold or transferred.)
- Deeds to real property
- Appraisals for valuable personal property
15. Review Safe Deposit Box Contents
- Complete an inventory of the contents of any safe deposit box.
16. Check Account Balances
- Obtain the account balances of mortgages, loans, and bank accounts as of the date of death.
17. Work with a Tax Professional
- Contact the decedent’s CPA or tax preparer to notify them of the death and assist in completing a final income tax return if required.
Two to Six Months After Your Loved One Has Passed:
18. Transfer Ownership of Jointly Held Assets
- Update vehicle titles to reflect surviving joint tenants.
- Contact stockbrokers to update records for jointly held stocks or bonds.
- Keep the deceased’s name on financial accounts for at least 90 days to handle final payments or outstanding checks.
19. Continue Monitoring for Identity Theft
- After receiving Letters of Office from the Probate Court, request free credit reports from the major credit bureaus via www.annualcreditreport.com to ensure no unauthorized activity has occurred.
- Report any suspicious charges to the police, credit card companies, banks, and credit bureaus.
20. Don’t forget to take care of yourself
- Seek Professional Help: Don’t hesitate to consult with estate attorneys, financial advisors, and tax professionals to navigate complex legal and financial matters.
- Communicate with Family: Open communication with family members can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. Share important information and documents with those involved.
- Stay Organized: Keep detailed records of all actions taken, documents gathered, and communications made. This will help streamline the process and ensure nothing is overlooked.
- Take Care of Yourself: Grieving is a personal and ongoing process. Make sure to take care of your emotional and physical well-being during this time.
Final Thoughts
Navigating the responsibilities that come with the passing of a loved one can be overwhelming. By following these steps, you can ensure that your loved one’s wishes are honored, their assets are protected, and their affairs are managed efficiently providing peace of mind for yourself and your family, knowing that everything is being handled with care and diligence. Also see What to Do When a Loved One Passes Away
If you need further assistance or have any questions, we are here to help.
Contact us at contact@jlonglaw.com or 312-344-3644 if you have any questions regarding this process.

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