While this isn’t a cheerful topic, it is a necessary one. Sooner or later, someone you know will pass on. The purpose of this blog post is to give you a checklist for what to do in the minutes, days, and weeks following death. In Washington State, it usually takes about a year to “wind down” someone’s life — but you should have assistance of a probate attorney after the first week or two. If death is anticipated, it is helpful to think about these steps before someone passes, so that you can be ready.
Immediate actions:
Get a legal pronouncement of death.
If no doctor is present (for example, if someone passes at home), then you’ll need to contact someone to do this. Some hospice nurses are able to declare death. Otherwise, you’ll need to contact 9-1-1. If you have a Physician’s Order on Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST, formerly called a Do Not Resuscitate order), have that on hand when emergency responders arrive. If there is no such order, they may start CPR until someone who can pronounce death arrives, or they may transport the deceased to a hospital for pronouncement.Arrange for transportation of the body. If no autopsy is needed, the body can be picked up by the mortuary, crematorium, or body composting company. If you are concerned about cost, funeral homes are legally obligated to tell you the cost of burial over the phone.
Notify:
The person’s doctor or the county coroner.
The person’s close family and friends (this is a great task to give to people who offer to help).
The person’s employer, if he or she is working. Ask about any employer-sponsored life insurance, as well as benefits and any pay due.
Make arrangements for the person’s dependents and pets. Hopefully the deceased has an estate plan that includes appointment of temporary guardians for any dependents, and has discussed this with those individuals.
Within a few days after death:
Arrange for funeral or memorial and burial, cremation, or composting. Search the person’s belonging to see if there was a prepaid burial plan.
Ask a friend or family member to go with you to the mortuary. Even if the deceased will be cremated, it is not unusual for close family and friends to want to “say goodbye” to the body first. This is not an unusual request, and it is helpful to have someone with you when you see the body.
Prepare an obituary.
If the person was in the military or belonged to a fraternal or religious group, contact the organization. It may have burial benefits or conduct funeral services.
Ask a friend or relative to keep an eye on the person’s home, answer the phone, collect mail, throw food out, and water plants.
Within 10 days of death:
Obtain death certificates (usually from the funeral home). Get multiple copies — at least 10. You will need these for financial institutions, government agencies, and insurers.
Take the will to the appropriate county office to have it accepted for probate.
If necessary, the personal representative should open a bank account for the deceased’s estate.
Contact:
A probate attorney, to learn how to transfer assets and assist with probate issues.
Police, to have them periodically check the deceased’s house if vacant.
Accountant or tax preparer, to find out whether an estate-tax return or final income-tax return should be filed.
The person’s investment adviser, for information on holdings.
Bank, to find accounts and safe deposit box.
Life insurance agent, to get claim forms.
Social Security (800-772-1213; socialsecurity.gov) and other agencies from which the deceased received benefits, such as Veterans Affairs (800-827-1000; va.gov), to stop payments and ask about applicable survivor benefits.
Agency providing pension services, to stop monthly check and get claim forms.
Utility companies, to change or stop service, and postal service, to stop or forward mail
There are more things to do in the months following, but if you obtain a probate attorney within those first two weeks, he or she will help you manage the process of winding down the life of the person who has passed — including providing notice to creditors, closing bank and credit card accounts, closing Facebook and email accounts, and more.
