Chambers & Grubbs Aftercare Guidebook

A GUIDEBOOK

Help After the Funeral Service

To Our Families:

The family and staff of Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Homes expresses our sincere appreciation to you for allowing us to be of service at this most difficult time

Our responsibility is to provide you with the highest level of service both during and after the funeral.

It is our hope that this guide will help you navigate through some of the tasks that must be faced in the days ahead

This guide will give you some structure and direction However, it is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal and financial advice.

Once again, thank you for the confidence and trust you have placed in us Please feel welcome to contact us anytime that we can be of assistance to you

Inside

Showing Thanks

PAGE 2

After the Funeral Checklist

PAGE 3

Death Certificates

PAGE 4

Organizations to Notify

PAGE 5

When Notifying the Bank

PAGE 6

Taxes, Insurance, & Other Benefits

PAGE 7

Medicaid

PAGE 8

Understanding Probate

PAGE 9

Veterans Benefits

PAGE 12

Social Security

PAGE 13

Grieving & Recovery

PAGE 14

HOW TO SHOW YOUR THANKS

AFTER THE SERVICE IS OVER, IT IS CUSTOMARY TO SEND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CARDS TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT IN YOUR TIME OF NEED.

Cards are normally sent shortly after the services as a thank you for flowers, remembrances, and other acts of kindness.

The acknowledgement cards should have a brief handwritten note and should be personally signed by you to show your appreciation. Everyone who sent flowers or other gifts or donated to one of your suggested charities should receive an acknowledgement card from you. Express your feelings openly during this time. A sincere personal note about their kindness is very meaningful.

You should be personal and specific with your cards. Mention the kinds of flowers sent or any kind words or deed that helped you through this time.

If flowers were sent from a group of friends or co-workers, you should send a note of thanks to each member of that group.

If you receive flowers or other condolences from an organization (where individual names are not mentioned) then you only need to send one note of thanks to that organization.

AFTER THE FUNERAL

THIS CHECKLIST CAN HELP ORGANIZE SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU WILL NEED TO ADDRESS IN THE COMING WEEKS

____ 1 Send acknowledgement cards to those who sent flowers and donations or showed a special kindness. Send a personal note thanking the clergy or celebrant for their help & service.

2 File life insurance claims. Please CALL us at the funeral home if you need assistance with this. Our office administrators are available to answer any questions you may have.

3 Make sure that your life insurance policies are up to date and do not have the deceased as your beneficiary.

____ 4 Order a cemetery monument, if applicable. If you already have a monument, make sure that the death date engraving has been ordered. We would be glad to assist you with this.

5 If the deceased was your spouse, you will likely be eligible for a $255 death benefit from social security If the deceased was not married or was widowed, there will be no social security death benefit.

6 If the deceased was a veteran, you may qualify for veteran’s benefits. We can assist you in applying for these.

7 If applicable, meet with the deceased’s attorney to discuss the necessary legal processes.

____ 8 If applicable, notify the deceased’s accountant or tax advisor.

9 Notify the deceased’s bank If you have joint accounts, you will need to remove the deceased’s name from the accounts

10 Notify the credit card companies. Remember, some credit cards and/or other loans may have credit life to pay off the balance. Do not pay off these accounts before inquiring about the existence of coverage.

11 Newspaper and mail. If no one resides at the home of the deceased, discontinue the newspaper and provide the USPS with a forwarding address.

12 Update your will If you lost your spouse, it is important that your own will is brought up to date New beneficiaries will need to be designated The professional services of an attorney should be utilized

13 Decide if you wish to cancel the decedent’s social media accounts. If you wish to do so, we can provide instructions on reporting a death to a social media site.

14 Complete your prearrangement decisions with Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Homes to give your family peace of mind.

DEATH CERTIFICATES

YOU WILL NEED SEVERAL CERTIFIED ORIGINAL DEATH CERTIFICATES. CERTIFIED ORIGINAL DEATH CERTIFICATES WILL USUALLY BE REQUIRED. PHOTOCOPIES ARE OFTEN NOT ACCEPTED DUE TO POSSIBLE FRAUD. IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, IT TYPICALLY TAKES FOUR TO SIX WEEKS TO GET THE NUMBER OF ORDERED DEATH CERTIFICATES BACK. THREE VERIFICATION COPIES COME WITH THE ORIGINAL DEATH CERTIFICATES. MORE CERTIFICATES CAN BE ORDERED UPON REQUEST. ADDITIONAL FEES WILL APPLY.

Life Insurance: You will need one for each company, regardless of the number of policies.

Veteran Benefits: One certificate will be required to file for veteran benefits (two fee-exempt certificates are provided by the VA for this purpose)

Banks: You will need one certificate for each bank. If the deceased had more than one account at a particular bank, one certificate should be sufficient.

Stocks: You need one for each company if the stock was individually or jointly owned. If a broker held the stock, you would need one for each brokerage company.

Bonds: Corporate bonds will require one death certificate for each company U S Savings Bonds will require just one

DMV/County Clerk: You will need one death certificate to transfer the title on any vehicles. The license branch will likely return the certificate after recording.

Employer: You may need one certificate to apply for final payroll and/or benefits.

IRA’s: Each financial institution that holds an IRA account will need a death certificate.

Pension Funds: One certificate will be needed for each pension fund

Health Insurance: May need a death certificate.

401K/403B/Retirement Plans: One certificate will be needed for each plan.

Income Tax: You will need one certificate for each county, state, & federal income tax filing.

Real Estate: Each county where property is owned will require a death certificate

Probate Attorney: If estate is to be probated, there will be several additional death certificates needed.

ORGANIZATIONS TO NOTIFY

YOU MAY NEED TO NOTIFY THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS:

Water Department Accountant/Financial Planner

____ Gas/Electric Company ____Attorney

Cable/Satellite/or App TV Companies Employer

Internet Provider Union Organization

Lawn Care Service Voter Registration

____ Phone Companies ____ Bank/Credit Union

Home Security Company Investment Managers

DMV/County Clerk Loan Companies

Auto Dealer (if auto was leased) Credit Companies

____ AAA or other auto clubs

____Group/Club Memberships

Parking Permit/Travel Pass Church

Transfer Extended Warranties Charities

Life Insurance Company Golf/Country Club Membership

Health Insurance Company Health Club Membership

____ Auto Insurance Company ____ Homeowner’s Association

Dentist Library Card

Eye Doctor Music or Movie Accounts

Pharmacy Newspaper Carrier

____ Veterinarian ____Magazine Subscriptions

Season Event Tickets (transfer) Tenants (if a landlord)

WHEN NOTIFYING THE BANK

IMPORTANT POINTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BANK

You will need a certified copy of the death certificate for the bank or other financial institution

Bank procedures will affect your access to the funds in the accounts. This will vary depending on the type of account. Bank lock boxes and their contents will not be accessible to you until an inventory is completed by the county auditor’s office.

Probate Court will usually provide authority for the removal of the will and funeral prearrangement documents from bank lock boxes.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO AT THE BANK

Change all jointly held accounts.

Correct all tax identification numbers on the accounts (remove the deceased’s social security number from all accounts).

Inquire about cancelling direct deposit retirement benefit and social security payments.

Reestablish title to the safe deposit box.

Reestablish all outstanding mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, etc.

Check the status of all savings and checking accounts, IRA’s, CD’s, trust funds, annuities, and money market accounts.

Inquire about the existence of any credit life insurance on any of the deceased’s loans, credit cards or other accounts

FINAL TAX FILING

IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT FILING TAXES AFTER THE LOSS OF A SPOUSE

For the year in which your spouse died, you are still eligible to file a joint tax return. What you inherit is not taxable to you as income and the estate may owe estate taxes (depending on size). It is highly recommended that you consult a CPA or tax accountant for help

LIFE INSURANCE

IF THE DECEASED HAD ANY LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES AT THE TIME OF THEIR DEATH AND ARE NOT BEING APPLIED FOR PAYMENT OR NOT BEING PROCESSED WITH THE FUNERAL HOME, YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY FOR THE DEATH BENEFIT. HERE ARE THE STEPS THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE:

Contact the insurance company and request a claim form

Complete the claim form and return it to the insurance company along with a certified death certificate

Make sure the insurance company has the beneficiary’s current address. Your Funeral Director or the Office Administrator help families file for their insurance claims every day. Let them know if they can be of assistance to you.

VETERANS BENEFITS

CONTACT THE LOCAL VA OFFICE TO REQUEST CLAIM FORMS. YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD THE FORMS FROM HTTPS://WWW.VA.GOV/BURIALS-MEMORIALS/ VETERAN DEATH BENEFITS CAN INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

Interment in a Veteran’s Cemetery

Veteran Burial Flag---A United States flag is provided to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the United States Armed Forces.

Military Funeral Honors---Upon the family’s request, eligible veterans can receive a military funeral honors ceremony that includes folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps.

Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC)---PMC is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans (by family request).

Headstones and Markers---The VA furnishes, upon request, a government headstone or marker for the grave of any decedent eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world. Note: If the death occurred before December 27, 2001, the VA may provide a headstone or marker only for unmarked graves.

Once you have ordered the headstone or grave marker, you can check the status of your order by calling 1-800-697-6947 to reach the Applicant Assistance line.

Important: you will need a certified copy of the DD214 to apply for benefits.

It may be difficult to get through as the National Cemetery Administration processes over 300,000 orders annually. They are open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Copies of Military Records---Military records are maintained by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). To obtain military records, you need to complete Standard Form 180-Request Pertaining to Military Records. You can download the form here: https://www.archives.gov/veterans. Chambers & Grubbs can assist you with this.

OTHER TYPES OF BENEFITS

Railroad Workers---The surviving spouse should contact the local Social Security office about the benefit of eligibility under the Railroad Retirement Act.

State Teacher’s Retirement---Contact your local school administration

Civil Service Benefits---Send written request and a death certificate to:

Attention: Death Claims

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Employee Service and Record Center Boyers, Pennsylvania 16017

Welfare

---You may qualify for assistance through one of the following:

AFDC-Aid to Families with Dependent Children

TANF-Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

SSI-Supplemental Security Income

You can check the internet for other programs that may apply by visiting http://www hhs gov/children/index shtml

SOCIAL SECURITY

IMPORTANT: CHAMBERS & GRUBBS PROVIDES THE FORMAL NOTIFICATION OF DEATH, BUT CALL SOCIAL SECURITY WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE DEATH. THE LONGER YOU DELAY, THE GREATER THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOSE BENEFITS.

National Social Security Information

Social Security Administration

Local Social Security Office

7 Youell Street

Office of Public Inquiries Florence, KY 41042

6401 Security Boulevard, Room 4-C-5 Annex Phone: 1-800-772-1213 Baltimore, MD 21235

Phone: 1-800-772-1213

Website: http://www.ssa.gov

Social Security death benefit

Social Security pays a one-time benefit of $255 to the spouse of the deceased. If the deceased was not married at the time of their death, there will usually be no death benefit. In some cases, the $255 will be paid to a dependent child.

Getting the most from your Social Security monthly benefit

If you are receiving Social Security benefits on your spouse’s work record, your payments will be changed to survivor’s benefits when you report the death to Social Security. If you are receiving Social Security from your own work history, you should inquire to see if you would receive more by switching to survivor’s benefits.

What to do with the final Social Security check

Any Social Security payment that is paid after the death date is not to be deposited or cashed. The Social Security Administration will require all such funds to be repaid and will take action to collect these funds. Any check paid after the death should be returned to the Social Security Administration.

MEDICAID

Neither Medicare nor a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy is likely to be of any help for a chronic disabling condition. The assistance program that is available to provide help to people after they have used their Medicare benefit and exhausted their private pay funds is Medicaid. Medicaid benefits often need to be accessed when a person enters a nursing home.

Each state will have different qualifications to be eligible for Medicaid. All will require that you have a very low level of countable assets (usually $2,000.00 in Kentucky). Savings and checking accounts, stocks, IRA’s and cash value insurance policies as well as many other countable assets can disqualify you for Medicaid assistance if their total value is over the amount set by your state.

Most states will allow you to have an insurance policy to use toward the cost of your prearranged funeral agreement if ownership of the policy is transferred to an independent trust (through the funeral home) and the funeral director has signed a statement of goods and services. State laws vary but most states have now adopted these type of funeral trusts so that you can safely and legally protect these funds from Medicaid. If you wish to guarantee the price of a funeral service, please ask us how to do so.

Important: the rules governing Medicaid are highly complex. We recommend that you consult an attorney specializing in elder law when you are considering Medicaid.

PROBATE IS THE COURT SUPERVISING THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS DIED TO SOMEONE WHO IS LIVING. NOT ALL ESTATES HAVE TO GO THROUGH PROBATE.PROPER PLANNING WITH THE HELP OF YOUR FAMILY LAWYER CAN HELP YOU AVOID OR MINIMIZE PROBATE. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL ANSWER SOME VERY BASIC PROBATE QUESTIONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROBATE, WE RECOMMEND CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY.

Q: Do all estates have to be probated?

A: No. Not all estates are required to go through probate, but some type of probate action will most likely be necessary under the following circumstances.

1.) If the decedent has assets titled in his/her name only at the time of death

2.) If the decedent had minor children

3.) If the decedent had a life insurance policy which named the estate as its beneficiary or had no living beneficiary.

When probate is necessary, the procedure for settling the estate depends largely on the value of the decedent’s solely owned property and probate laws of the state. There are usually three general procedures available for estate settlement. They are called small-estate, informal administration and formal administration.

Q: How long does probate take?

A: The probate process may take a year or longer to complete. Probate takes time because it contains a long waiting period for creditors to submit claims against the estate. Claims submitted during the waiting period must be paid or settled before the final distribution of assets.

Q: Is there any way I can leave money that my children could access before probate is settled?

A: An attorney can advise you of several ways to do this. One very common tool that will bypass probate is to make your adult children the beneficiary of your life insurance policies. This money can be paid to your children (or anyone else you may want to leave it to) and will bypass probate if a living beneficiary is named. Proceeds to beneficiaries under the age of 18 cannot be assigned to use for funeral expenses. Proceeds of insurance are usually not taxable and your children can use it in any way they see fit. We recommend that you have your funeral pre-planned and pre-funded through Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Homes so that your children will not have to use their insurance proceeds or other inheritance to pay a funeral bill that grows more expensive each year.

Q: What property is subject to probate?

A: The assets that are subject to probate are those that were titled in the decedent’s name alone at the time death. These assets require the executor to transfer their ownership. The types of assets usually excluded from probate are those owned jointly with the right of survivorship. Life insurance or retirement benefits with a named beneficiary are usually not considered part of the probated estate.

Q: Does having a will help when settling an estate?

A: Yes. If you have a will, the estate will be settled according to your directions. If you die without a will, the distribution of your property is governed by state law. If you do not currently have an upto-date will, we recommend you consult an attorney to create one.

Q: If a person dies without a will, how does the state determine who inherits the estate?

A: When a person dies without a will or when there are assets which are not accounted for in the will, the state determines who receives the property. In general, the state distributes the decedent’s property in the following order:

To the decedent’s spouse

To the decedent’s children

To the decedent’s grandchildren

To the decedent’s parents

To the decedent’s brothers and sisters

To the decedent’s nephews and nieces

To the decedent’s grandparents

To the decedent’s uncles and aunts

To the decedents first cousins

To the decedent’s more remote cousins

To the state if there are no living heirs

The amount of property inherited at each level of relation varies from state to state depending on its probate laws and on the number of the decedent’s living heirs.

Q: How do they determine who the executor of the estate is?

A: If there is a will, the executor is named in the will. If there is no will, any family member can volunteer to be the executor. If more than one person wants to be executor, the court will determine who it will be and will follow the state’s legal level of relation (see order from previous question).

Q: What are the executor’s duties?

A: It is the executor’s duty to make a thorough inventory of all estate assets, take title to these assets, pay creditor claims and other debts of the state, file the estate’s tax returns, and then distribute the estate’s assets according to the will or according to state intestacy laws. The executor has the authority to carry out most types of financial transactions the decedent would have performed if he or she were still alive. The executor is required to administer the estate for the benefit of all persons who may have an interest in it.

Q: Will some debts of the deceased have priority over others? Is there a legal order of payment?

A: In the settlement of claims, the priority of payment is usually as follows:

Funeral expenses of the decedent

Costs incurred in the settlement of the estate

Federal and state estate taxes

Any expenses from the decedent’s last illness

All other valid claims

Q: When does probate end?

A: After the executor has filed and paid any taxes due and has set aside funds for or paid all outstanding debts of the estate, he/she is ready to distribute the remaining assets. This process may take a year or more to complete because the executor must wait for the allowed period for creditors’ claims to expire and to receive the closing letter from the tax authorities. Then, depending on whether or not the decedent left a will, the executor may distribute the remainder of the estate as instructed by the will or by the state laws of intestacy. The executor is required to receive from each named beneficiary a signed release of claims against the estate. In signing the release, the beneficiary agrees to accept the proposed distribution as full payment for any claims he or she may have.