BEFORE AND AFTER DEATH CHECKLIST

Before & After Death Practical Checklist

After losing a loved-one, many are caught up in trying to figure out what to do next, thus not having the opportunity to process their loss or have time to truly grieve. By following this practical checklist, you will allow yourself the opportunity to manage the things that need to be addressed, while having the time to process the loss and grieve appropriately.

What Should I Be Doing Now?

Put Together End-of-Life or Estate Binder
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Assignment of Health Care Representative/Medical Power of Attorney
- Living Will
- Last Will & Testament
- Trust Documents
- Guardianship for Minor Children or Dependents
- Deed to House
- Title to Vehicles or Loan Information
- Home, Auto & Life Insurance Information (Insurance Agent(s) Contact Information)
- Bank and/or Investment Account Information (Include Pensions & Safety Depost Box)
- Online Account Username & Password Information (Include Social Media)
- Personal ID (Drivers License, Marriage/Divorce Certificate, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate & Passport)
- Military Information (Include Military ID, VA Benefit Card, Discharge Information, etc)
- List of Debts & Liabilities (Include Credit Cards, Mortgages, Car Loans, etc)
- List of Utilities (Include Contact Information)
- List of Subscriptions and Memberships
- Tax Returns (From Last 2-3 Years)
- Funeral Arrangements/Pre-Paid Funeral Arrangements (Include Any Special Wishes for Funeral & Burial)

Let Executor, Spouse, or Trusted Family Member Know Exactly Where the Estate Binder is Located

Choose Funeral Home/Pre-Arrange Funeral
- Determine Where You Want to be Buried or How/Where to Place Cremated Remains

Determine Plans for Pet Care (Include Veterinarian Information)

Decide if You Want to be an Organ Donor?

What To Do When Your Loved One Passes (Immediately Following Death)

If Loved One Passes at Home, Get a Legal Pronouncement of Death
- If Your Loved One Passes Under Hospice Care, in a Hospital, Assisted Living/Memory Care or Skilled Care, the Staff Will Provide The Official Declaration of Death.

Notify Family and Close Friends (Employer, if Applicable)

Call Priest, Minister or Rabbi as Appropriate

If Loved One Lives in Their Own Home and No One Else Remains in the Home, Secure the Residence.
- Arrange for Pet Care, if Necessary
- Remove Food in Refrigerator That May Spoil Before You Can Return to Premises

Consult With End of Life Binder to Learn if Any Existing Funeral or Burial Plans & Specific Wishes
- If There Are Not Prearranged Funeral and/or Burial Plans, You Will Need to Choose a Funeral Home and Decide Specifics Regarding Service, Cremation/Burial, etc.
  - If Loved One Was in the Military or Belonged to a Fraternal or Religious Group, Learn if They May Receive Burial Benefits or Funeral Services, ie. Military Salute, Paid Headstone, etc.
  - Choose Pallbearers, Determine Who Will Deliver Eulogies or be a Part of Service, Arrange Post Funeral Gathering, etc.
  - If Loved One’s Funeral Will be in Another State, You Will Need to Contact the Out-of-State Funeral Home and They Will Communicate With Local Funeral Home for Transport, etc.

Prepare/Write the Obituary, if Not Already Included in End-of-Life Binder

What To Do When Your Loved One Passes (Within Two - Three Weeks)

Refer to End-of-Life Binder, Again, to Make Yourself Aware of What Information is Included

Secure Certified Copies of Death Certificates
- Request Ten (10) or More Copies
- The Funeral Home You’re Working With Can Get Copies on Your Behalf or You Can Order From the Vital Statistics Office in the State in Which Your Loved One Died

Review the Last Will & Testament and Determine Who Will be the Executor
- Executor Will Need to Be Involved in Most Steps Moving Forward. If There Isn’t a Will, the Probate Court Judge Will Name an Administrator in Place of an Executor.

Meet With a Trusts and Estates Attorney
- If Estate is Worth More than $50,000, a Lawyer Can Help Navigate the Process and Distribute Assets.

Contact a CPA
- If Your Loved One Had an Accountant, Contact Them. If Not, Hire One. The Estate May Have to File a Tax Return and a Final Tax Return.

Take the Will to Probate
- Probate is the Legal Process of Executing the Will. This Can be Done at the County or City Probate Court Office. Probate Court Makes Sure That the Person’s Debts and Liabilties are Paid and That the Remaining Assets are Transferred to the Beneficiaries.

Make an Inventory of all Assets (Include Bank Accounts, House, Car(s), Brokerage Accounts, Personal Property, Furniture, Jewelry, etc.)

Make a List of Bills/Liabilities

What To Do When Your Loved One Passes (Within Three - Four Weeks)

Contact Utility Companies and Arrange Transfer of Account Details, if Necessary (Electricity, Water, Gas and Water)

Cancel No-Longer-Needed Digital Services (Include Cellphone, Streaming Services, Cable and Internet)

Notify the Following of Your Loved One’s Death
- The Social Security Administration (SSA)
  - Call 800.772.1213 or visit local SSA Office
- Veterans Affairs, if Applicable
- Life Insurance Companies
- Long-Term Care Insurance Companies
- Banks/Financial Institutions
- Financial Advisors/Stockbrokers
- Pension Providers
- Credit Agencies
  - To Prevent Identity Theft, Send Copies of the Death Certificate to One of the Three Major Credit Bureaus: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion
    - You Only Need to Tell One and They Will Tell the Others

Close Credit Card Accounts
- Note Any Balance(s) Due

Terminate Insurance Policies

What To Do When Your Loved One Passes (Within Four - Six Weeks)

Cancel Driver’s License
- This Removes Your Loved One’s Name From the Department of Motor Vehicles Records and Prevents Identity Theft.
- Keep a Copy of the Driver’s License in Your Records. You May Need it to Close or Access Accounts.

Decide What to do With the Passport
- To Reduce Risk of Identity Theft, You Can Cancel the Passport by Mailing it to the Federal Government Along With a Copy of the Death Certificate. You Can Request to Have it Returned to Keep as a Momento or Request to Have it Destroyed.

Delete or Memorialize Social Media Accounts

Close Email Accounts & Cloud Storage

Update Voter Registration

Cancel Subscriptions, Memberships, Auto-Shipments, etc.