Hopefully, for many there are family members who can assist in making critical decisions. The first thing of importance is to notify those family members about the death. Enlist the help of someone who can make contact with the family and friends who need to be notified.
Directors of funeral homes are often also able to give some guidance about the steps to be taken immediately following a death.
The following are items that need to be addressed:
Notify Family Members of the Death
Obtain several original documentations of the death certificate. You often will need "original" documents for various agencies, although some agencies may accept a copy of the death certificate.
Locate the Will. If there is no Will, there will be a probate process which can be lengthy depending upon the circumstances. If you feel that you cannot handle the process, contact an attorney specializing in wills, trusts and probate matters who can advise you about the process in your state.
If your spouse was still employed, contact their employer's human resource department. They should assist you with answers to questions about pension plans,life insurance and medical coverage. If you were covered under the medical plan of your spouse you will need to obtain your own individual medical coverage.
Contact the Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213 for a meeting about survivor benefits and other advice.
Open all mail as soon as possible to respond to or pay bills that are coming due, such as telephone, mortgage, utilities, cable. At this critical time you do not want services cut off for non payment. Often talking to a representative of the various companies will elicit some advice and help.
Locate and Update your personal documents, particularly any trust documents that your spouse had established.
If spouse was paying child support, contact an attorney to handle matters regarding future child support arrangements.
Update all important documents such as mortgage, financial institutions, property tile, auto and home insurance to remove the name of your spouse. These agencies can offer guidance.
Keep records of all payments to joint credit card accounts and individual accounts that you make. Inquire of your financial institution whether you should open an account in your name if you only had a joint account with your spouse.
If your financial affairs were being handled by a professional financial advisor, contact them about the death.
Identify all debt obligations of your spouse and joint obligations. Do not respond to demands for payment of spousal obligations without consulting an attorney or your financial advisor.
Do not make any immediate major financial decisions/changes (for example, selling a house) until you have professional guidance.
There are other longer term issues that you will be undertaking, either on your own or with the help of a family member. If you feel overwhelmed or have no family member to assist, consult with a qualified attorney for guidance.
Attorneys who handle matters such as wills, trusts and probate can offer guidance through a difficult time.
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