What to Do When a Loved One Dies

7 Min. Read

What to Do When a Loved One Dies

Losing someone you love is never easy, and in the midst of grief, handling their affairs might feel overwhelming. Every situation is different, but knowing the first steps to take can help you navigate this difficult time with more clarity.

If your loved one prepared an estate plan and had a will or trust, you may already have some direction. Beyond what’s outlined in those documents, this guide walks you through the immediate steps to take, arrangements to make in the days and weeks ahead, and some decisions you can prepare for in advance to ease the burden on your family.

Immediate Steps

Alert the Right People:

• • If your loved one passes away in a hospital or care facility, the staff will declare the death, which you’ll need for the death certificate.
  • If they pass away at home, call 911, and they will be taken to a hospital where medical staff will confirm the death.
  • If they were in hospice care, the hospice nurse can declare the death at home.

  Tell Others:

  • Once you’re ready, share the news with friends, family, your loved one’s attorney, and their employer. If it feels overwhelming, ask someone else to help.
  • Check their phone or email to make sure no one is missed.

  Care for the Home and Pets:

  • Keep an eye on their home to prevent theft and pick up the mail to avoid identity theft.
  • Take care of any dependents or pets, and keep track of any costs for the estate.

   

  Within the First Week

  Plan the Funeral:

  • Funerals usually take place within a week, but there’s no rush. Choose a date that works best for your family.
  • Check to see if your loved one left instructions in a will or other document about their funeral or burial wishes.

  Order Death Certificates:

  • You’ll need 5-10 copies of the death certificate for things like probate and transferring assets.
  • The funeral home can help you order them.

  Notify Financial Institutions:

  • Contact their bank or credit union with a death certificate. If there is a joint owner on accounts, the funds will pass to them. If not, the executor will handle closing the accounts.
  • Notify the major credit bureaus (Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®) to prevent identity theft.

  Contact Government Agencies:

• Let the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs know if your loved one was receiving benefits. Survivors’ benefits may be available but must be applied for within two years.

Within the First Month

Pay Bills and Handle Debts:

• Don’t ignore bills—call creditors and let them know you are handling your loved one’s affairs. Keep a log of all bills to stay organized.
• Check for any outstanding medical bills and contact health insurance providers to see if claims need to be filed.
• If managing your own bills, consider setting up automatic payments to make things easier.

Notify Others:

Find Important Documents:

• Locate your loved one’s will, deeds, insurance policies, bank accounts, Social Security information, tax returns, and any safe deposit box keys.
• If you are the executor, consult an attorney to understand probate and estate settlement requirements.

Cancel Subscriptions and Services:

• Review and cancel phone plans, streaming services, gym memberships, automatic deliveries, and any other recurring charges to prevent unnecessary costs.
• Check their email and online banking statements to catch any subscriptions you might have overlooked.

Manage Digital Accounts:

• Consider closing or memorializing their social media accounts. Facebook allows accounts to be turned into a memorial, while other platforms might have different procedures.
• Handle email accounts by either closing them or setting up an automatic reply with instructions.
• If your loved one had online financial or investment accounts, make sure they are secured and transferred appropriately.

What Other Decisions Can You Prepare For?

Getting your affairs in order also means deciding what you want to happen to your body after you die, like organ donation and funeral plans. Sharing your decisions helps your family during a tough time and makes sure your wishes are followed.

Organ Donation and Brain Donation

When someone dies, their healthy organs and tissues can sometimes be donated to help others. You can sign up to be an organ donor when you renew your driver’s license or state ID, or you can register online. Some people also choose to donate their brain to help with scientific research. In some cases, it’s possible to donate both organs for transplant and the brain for research.

Funeral Arrangements

You can plan what kind of funeral or memorial service you want and where it will take place. You can also decide if you want to be buried or cremated. If cremated, you can choose whether your ashes are kept by loved ones or scattered in a special place. If you have any religious or cultural traditions you want to be part of your service, be sure to include those.

You can make these plans with a funeral home or crematory ahead of time. In some cases, if you don’t want to be embalmed or cremated, your family can handle things like transporting and preparing your body. It’s important to write down your preferences and give copies to your family and lawyer so they know what to do.

We’re Here in the Tough Times

Planning for death isn’t something people enjoy thinking about, but having a plan in place can help make things easier for your family. Take the time to organize your estate plan, set up beneficiaries, and talk to your loved ones about your wishes.

If you need help getting started, Marine Credit Union can assist you with financial planning to ensure everything is ready when the time comes.