2012年7月16日 星期一

There Are Many Decisions to Make Following a Death


If a loved one or family member should happen to pass there are decisions you need to make right away and some that you need to wait on. Death is a 5 letter word that brings fear to many of us. It death is inevitable. The best thing we can do is plan!

Here are some items that will require immediate attention:


One of the first things you will need to do is get at least 15-24 certified copies of the death certificate. It is amazing how many people will require it as proof. It is more expensive to get them at a later date. Funeral directors can be of help to you on this matter.
Is the death a result of an accident? If so an autopsy might be ordered. There could be a possible claim and the results of death need to be included.
Are they an organ donor? If so talk with the hospital and see if a donation is still possible. Some donations can be made several hours following death. Others need to be made a head of time.
Making calls to family and friends also needs to be done. This can be done using a telephone tree approach so you don't wind up taking all the burden.
Get a copy of the death certificate and be sure to get a hold of the DMV and cancel their Drivers License or ID Card. Identity Thieves can use this information to steal their identity even after they are gone.
Can you locate their will? What are their wishes pertaining to burial, cremation etc?
Make plans with the funeral home but be careful. This is a time of grief and not a good time to be negotiating spending money. Many funeral homes offer plans including services, transportation etc. These all come with a cost. Bring someone that is not emotionally tied to help you make some of these decisions.
Register the service if you are having one with the funeral homes web site. In years passed you needed to have a death certificate or doctors letter in order to get a discount from airlines. It is a lot easier now with the internet.
Are there pets that need attention? Many times they are left to fend for themselves. Make sure they are attended to.
Make a list of of the documents you will need to collect. Here are some you will need:
Death Certificate
Will
Social Security Number
Birth Certificate
Life Insurance Policies
Investment Accounts
Bank Accounts
Real Estate Deeds
Income Tax Returns
Marriage License (if there is a surviving spouse)
Pension Accounts
Veterans DD214 discharge papers
Citizenship Papers
Birth Certificate
Safe Deposit Box
If the will has an executor named they will need to hold a meeting. If no executor is named the court will appoint one. A meeting will need to be organized and interested parties should attend a reading of the will. If they can't make it to the meeting you should supply them with a copy of the will.
Set up a bank account in the estate's name. Family members should not pay out of pocket for anything because it can increase the value of the estate. This could also increase inheritance taxes etc.
Contact all creditors and be sure to close all accounts, especially credit cards.
If the person was working at the time be sure to contact the employee benefit department. There might be additional death benefits, accrued vacation time, final payroll etc.
If there is insured property at the time of death like a house or car, check with the insurance company to see if the policy covers the probate period.
These next items should wait a while:
The executor's job is to distribute property to the heirs. This process can take some time depending on the state because there has to be ample time for creditors to make claims. Once they know the assets and claims on the estate they can then disperse to the heirs. The executor should hold back some assets for additional costs of finalizing the estate etc.
An accounting listing any income to the estate after the date of death, expenses and estate distributions must be filed by the executor to the probate court. Once approved by the court the final distributions can be made.
If the value exceeds the estate tax exemption of the year of death then a federal estate tax return has to be filed. This needs to be filed within 9 months following the date of death. The advice from an experienced estate planning professional may be necessary for a final tax return to be filed. This can save lots of pain and suffering down the road!

Death is not easy, especially when unexpected. The best thing you can do is take your emotions out of the process. If you can't do that I would suggest you get help and not go through the process alone. It can be very stressful, cumbersome and you can easily be taken advantage of.




Robert B. Francis is the founder of Senior Care Concierge which was started after his trials and battles of having to help his father after some surgeries. Senior Care Concierge http://scconcierge.net is dedicated to empowering seniors and their families through information and education. Additional information can be gathered on their blog. The information covers a wide range of topics and we encourage you to visit!





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