Steps to Take After the Passing of a Loved One

When a loved one passes, it can often seem like the world has fallen off its axis. You no longer know which way is up or down, and while coping with grief, you’re forced to address pieces of their life that must be closed out.

The process of taking care of final affairs after the death of a parent, spouse, friend or other loved one who you provided care for can seem overwhelming.

We understand, which is why we’ve created a checklist outlining step by step what to do after someone passes, so you can spend more time focusing on healing.

In the weeks following the death, you’ll want to begin closing out accounts and buttoning up any unfinished affairs. Tackle the tasks that are most meaningful for you and be comfortable delegating the rest to others.

STEPS TO TAKE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS:

• Procure certified copies of the death certificate when it becomes available. You’ll need at least 10-15 copies to provide to entities such as banks and government agencies.

• Find the will (if there is one) and figure out who the executor is. This will be the person in charge of settling the estate in the days going forward, and they’ll need to be involved in all estate decisions hereafter.

• As part of the financial steps after the death of a loved one, contact necessary agencies such as a CPA (certified public accountant) and estates attorney. These aren’t necessarily required, but they do smooth the process and make the legal side of things more manageable. • Take the will to probate so it can be executed appropriately. • Cancel any services that your loved one may have had, such as magazine subscriptions, regular house deliveries, Netflix,

Hulu, etc. You’ll also need to close out any credit card accounts and cancel their driver’s license so it can no longer be used. Make sure to also cancel any insurance services, such as home or car insurance. • Close out any remaining online accounts, such as social media pages (these can be memorialized if you’d like) and email inboxes. Probate A court-supervised proceeding designed to officially prove a will’s validity There’s more of this article in our free Caregiver Toolkit. To discover more critical steps, visit srgtexas.com/getcaregivertoolkit