What to Do After Someone Dies
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Immediate Contacts |
To Do |
Notes |
Mortuary/Funeral Home |
You will need to call a mortuary and advise them of time of death, present location of deceased and your wishes regarding cemetery/cremation and services. |
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Cemetery/Resting Place |
Ask cemetery to coordinate with mortuary services. |
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Person Conducting Services |
Have person conducting services coordinate with mortuary and cemetery. |
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Newspaper Information/Obituary |
You may with to delegate this task to others or the mortuary. |
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Relatives and Close Friends |
Call to inform of death. |
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Employer/Business Associates |
Call to inform of death. |
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Person to Give Eulogy |
Coordinate with person conducting services. |
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Pall Bearers |
Coordinate with cemetery and with person conducting services. |
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Lawyer |
Lawyer should be able to help with executor, trustee and other estate matters. |
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Executor and/or Trustee of Estate |
He/she/they will need to begin assembling documents relating to the estate. |
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3-5 Day Contacts |
To Do |
Notes |
Obtain death certificates. |
Order 20 or so. One easy way to obtain certified copies quickly is to ask the mortuary to obtain them for you and add the cost to its bill.1 |
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Life Insurance Agent |
Report death to carrier and furnish with death certificates to obtain early claim payment. |
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Military Pension |
If deceased is a veteran, there may be death benefits available. |
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Other Veterans Organizations |
Check for additional benefits. |
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Trade or Credit Union |
Some unions provide automatic death benefits for members. |
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Fraternal Organizations |
Some fraternal organizations provide death benefits for members. |
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Social Security |
Notify local social security office by phone to speed up benefits. |
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Medi-Cal (California) |
If the decedent was receiving Medi-Cal payments, notify the State. |
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Medicare/Supplemental Insurance |
Contact to inform of death. |
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Medical Insurance |
Arrange for payment of final medical bills. |
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Continuing Health Insurance |
Some accident & health policies contain death benefits |
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1. You may also order certified copies of death certificates by writing to the vital statistics office or county health department in the county where the decedent passed away. When writing, you must enclose a check to cover the nominal fee, and give the name of the decedent, date of death and city of death. You"ll also have to submit a statement saying that you are the executor or a close family member. You can get the address and fee by calling the county health department or vital statistics office. A month or so after the date of death, you may also obtain copies from the County Recorder"s Office. (Certified copies of the Death Certificate are needed to collect insurance proceeds and death benefits, to transfer joint tenancy accounts (which may include brokerage accounts, retirement accounts and bank accounts), etc. )
5-10 Day Contacts |
To Do |
Notes |
Other Insurance Agents |
Notify agent or company to change name on policies and inquire about possible death benefits. Some auto and homeowners policies contain a death benefit. |
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Bank(s) and Savings & Loan(s) |
Name on accounts should be changed - new signature cards may be required. |
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Mortgage Companies |
Some mortgage companies have payoff clauses. |
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Property/Real Estate Manager |
If you own rental or other real property notify manager or real estate agent. |
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Pension Plan |
Phone for forms to be sent so you can obtain benefits, as appropriate. |
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IRA, Keogh, 401(k) Account(s) |
Call accountant to obtain information on funds. |
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Money Market Accounts and |
Name on accounts should be changed -- new signature cards may be required. |
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Stock Broker |
Notify brokerage firm of name change. |
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Accountant/CPA |
Alert CPA or accountant that possible tax planning changes may be necessary, etc.2 |
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Mortgages, Notes, Loans |
Comments or instructions to survivors can be important here. |
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Mortgages, Notes, Loans |
May be due on death. |
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Financial Planner/Investment Counselor |
The survivor"s financial situation usually changes -- revision of financial plan may be necessary. |
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County Recorder |
Title on real estate, business & other property may need to be changed. Ask attorney for advice as necessary. |
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2. Contact the decedent"s tax advisor or accountant, if decedent did not have one, select one. A final income tax return will have to be filed at some point. An estate tax return may or may not have to be filed. (Currently it only has to be filed if the gross value of the estate exceeds $1.5 million. Even if it has to be filed, there may not be any tax due.)
10-30 Day Contacts |
To Do – All can be notified of name change with next bills. |
Notes |
Post Office |
Notify of death, arrange to stop service, change name or address as necessary. |
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Department of Motor Vehicles |
Notify of death, change name or address as necessary. |
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Telephone Company |
Notify of death, arrange to stop service, change name or address as necessary. |
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Gas & Electric Company |
Notify of death, arrange to stop service, change name or address as necessary. |
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Water Company |
Notify of death, arrange to stop service, change name or address as necessary. |
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Waste Disposal Company |
Notify of death, arrange to stop service, change name or address as necessary. |
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Newspaper/Magazine Subscription |
Notify of death, arrange to stop service, change name or address as necessary. |
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Department Stores |
Notify of death. |
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Credit Cards |
Notify of death. |
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Clubs or Other Organizations |
Notify of death. |
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Cable TV or Other Subscription TV |
Notify of death, arrange to stop service, change name or address as necessary. |
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10-30 Days – other items to do |
To Do – If you are the trustee or executor |
Notes |
Estate documents |
Locate the original will and trust, if any, and make copies. |
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Account statements |
Obtain copies of the most recent available statements for all bank, brokerage and similar accounts. |
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Safe-Deposit boxes. |
Check for safe-deposit boxes. Note: the bank may put a hold on these. |
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Deeds to real estate |
Obtain copies of deeds to real property |
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Check title to property |
Determine if any accounts or real estate say they are held in joint tenancy, tenants in common, separate property, or community property. |
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Appraisals |
Obtain any recent appraisals or recent purchase agreements (within last five years) regarding all real property. |
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Pink slips for cars |
Locate pink slip(s) for the car(s). |
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List assets – including estimated value of each and estimated value of any liens/deeds of trust |
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List debts and obligations of decedent unpaid at date of death. |
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