The death of a loved one is upsetting for the entire family. So, getting the emotional support of close friends and family is the first step even before you are ready to deal with the estate of the deceased. When you are ready though, these are the steps you must take to address these issues if the deceased did have a will.

Included below is a brief list of thing that you or your Personal Representative and Trustee should take care of immediately upon death. (Many of these actions may similarly be required in the event of incapacity). This is not intended as an exhaustive or detailed explanation of all actions which should be taken. Instead, it’s intended as a good guideline to get you going in the right direction to get all matters involving the deceased estate or finances handled properly. 

1. Contact by phone and notify the immediate family, close friends, business colleagues and employer.
2. Arrange for care for members of the immediate family, including appropriate child care, having people at the decedent’s house, etc.
3. Locate the decedent’s important papers. Gather as many of the decedent’s papers as possible, and continue to do so for the next few weeks.
4. Consider advising any surviving family member who is alone to telephone a friend who can share the next few hours. Shock and trauma due to the death of a relative can take unexpected forms and should be considered before handling these details alone.
5. Notify a funeral director and clergy, and make an appointment to discuss funeral arrangements. Request several copies of decedent’s death certificate, which you’ll need for his or her employer, life insurance companies, and/or decedent’s attorney for legal procedures.
6. Contact our office for a consultation or notify the attorney who will be handling the decedent’s affairs. Make an appointment immediately because a tax return may be due within nine (9) months of death.
7. Telephone decedent’s employee benefits office to begin processing benefits immediately with the following information: name, Social Security number, date of death (or incapacity); whether the death (or incapacity) was due to accident or illness; and your name and address.
8. If decedent was eligible for Medi-Cal, notify the local program office and provide the same information as the question above.
9. Notify life, accident or disability insurers of decedent’s death or disability. Give the same information again as step number seven, and ask what further information is needed to begin processing your claim. Ask which payment option decedent had elected, and select another option if you would so prefer. If there is no payment option, you will be paid in a lump sum.
10. Notify the decedent’s Social Security office of the death. Claims may be expedited if a surviving family member goes in person to the nearest office to investigate making a claim for survivor’s benefits. Look for the address under U.S. Government in the phone book.
11. If you need emergency cash before insurance claims are paid, a cash advance may be available from life insurance benefits to which you are entitled.
12. If decedent was ever in the military service, notify the Veterans’ Administration. Surviving relatives may be eligible for death or disability benefits.
13. Record in a small ledger all money you or the immediate family spends. These figures may be needed for tax returns.
14. Remember that a surviving family member may be in a highly emotional state. Therefore, they should avoid entering contracts for anything, and avoid spending or lending large sums of money. For our clients, consult the section of the Portfolio entitled “Other Documents” before proceeding further.
15. Most importantly: Do not change the title of any assets. This can create unnecessary problems for you. Please contact our office for a consultation before you start this process.