When a loved one passes away, it may be difficult to think in terms of action items. The initial shock and the following emotions can make it difficult to prioritize and deal with necessary tasks. While grieving the loss of a loved one, try your best to remember that some things need to be taken care of immediately, while others can be taken care of in the days or weeks to come.
Immediate Steps
Have a Medical Professional Make a Pronouncement of Death
It’s important to have a qualified medical professional make a death pronouncement. Whether the loved one passed away at home or in a hospital, a qualified professional must declare the loved one as deceased as well as provide other information about the death. This is often part of the death certificate.
While a pronouncement of death is provided by a medical professional, the certificate of death is a document from a government agency that acts as the official proof of death. In some states, they are the same document. If not, depending on the circumstance and the state, the mortician or funeral director often files the death certificate using information from the death pronouncement.
Notify Friends and Relatives
Let friends and family members know about the loved one’s passing. If you find this task too difficult, a close relative or a valued friend may be able to notify others on your behalf.
Don’t forget to notify the deceased’s employer. If the loved one was serving as an active duty service member, contact their duty station or command. Also, be sure to contact the casualty assistance office of their branch of service.
Care for Dependents and Pets
Other immediate considerations involve continuing care for the deceased’s minor children, reliant dependents, and pets. Is the deceased leaving behind any minor children? Was the deceased a primary caretaker of a parent, spouse, or other person who now needs to be cared for by someone else? Who will look after the deceased’s pets during this time? The answers to these questions may be found in a will or other estate planning documents left behind by the deceased. If not, family or friends may need to step in.
Next Steps
Locate the Will and Other Estate Planning Documents
Hopefully, the deceased left behind a last will and testament. This document serves as a roadmap for how certain other actions will be handled. A will usually designates an executor to handle the estate. A letter of final wishes, also known as a letter of instruction, would also be beneficial to locate. This document may outline the funerary wishes of the deceased as well as detail items like what to do with personal social media accounts, where certain valuable assets are located, and other important contacts to notify. Does the deceased have an attorney? They may be among the first individuals to contact for help in locating these documents.
Navy Mutual offers a free personal log to record information on will location, valuable assets, and more.
Make Funerary Arrangements
Planning a funeral can be one of the more challenging tasks for grieving family and friends. Funeral homes can be helpful here and it’s a good idea to research funeral homes for location, pricing, and other logistical concerns.
Some people plan and pay for their funerals ahead of time, so it’s a good idea to search for any estate planning documents the deceased may have.
Obtain Certified Copies of the Death Certificate
If you are the immediate family member of the loved one, it’s very important to get multiple certified copies of the death certificate. This can be done by contacting the office of vital records in the state in which the death occurred. Copies of the death certificate are required by many agencies to cease benefits and subscriptions, notify life insurance companies, shut down social media accounts, close bank accounts and credit cards, and more.
Note that in some states, the funeral home may be able to obtain death certificate copies on your behalf.
Make Notifications
You will need to notify various entities of the deceased’s death. Many will require a copy of the death certificate, so be sure to have plenty on hand. Some of the most common entities are:
- IRS
- Social Security Administration
- Banks and other financial institutions
- Creditors
- Landlords
- Utility companies
- Subscription service companies
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Veterans Benefits Administration
- Life insurers
- DMV
- Department of State
If the deceased was a veteran, check with the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that any disability payments are properly handled to avoid overpayments that will have to be refunded. Veteran retirees may have other entities or organizations that need to be notified.
Be sure to cancel all unused subscriptions and services and turn off household utilities if the home is vacant. Social media accounts, email accounts, and other digital accounts can be closed or archived based on the loved one’s wishes.
Claim Life Insurance Death Benefits
Does the deceased have life insurance? After obtaining a death certificate, be sure to send a copy to the insurer of the deceased’s life insurance policy, if any. This will be imperative to obtain funds for funerary arrangements and family or beneficiary financial support.
Is the deceased the insured on an active Navy Mutual policy? You can report the death of the insured of a Navy Mutual policy online or by calling 800-628-6011.
Execute the Estate
The estate is the total value of the deceased’s assets less any liabilities. Assets include the deceased’s car, house and any other real estate they may own, bank accounts, retirement funds and investments, life insurance, furniture, and their tangible possessions. Liabilities include any unpaid debts that accrued over their lifetime.
As mentioned, a last will and testament would likely designate an executor to manage matters of the estate. If no executor is named, a probate court will designate one. Be sure to execute the estate according to state laws. Seeking legal counsel can be beneficial when handling estate affairs.
Have the End of Life Conversation Before Death
Most will deal with the passing of a loved one in their lifetimes. While it may be uncomfortable to do, end of life conversations can help point your loved ones in the right direction when you pass away. Discuss what type of funeral you’d like, where you plan on keeping your will, what to do with your social media accounts, if you have life insurance, and more. Write everything down and go over the information with your spouse, children, or close family members and friends. Doing this may help a loved one to carry out your wishes during their time of emotional distress and confusion.
Don’t leave your loved ones to figure out finances after you’re gone! A life insurance policy from Navy Mutual can help ensure your family has the financial security they need to pay remaining debt, mitigate funeral costs, and have funds left over to continue their lives. Set an appointment with a representative or email us at counselor@navymutual.org.
The Navy Mutual blog is meant to provide basic information that generally applies to most situations and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. It is not meant to replace the services of a financial planner, insurance counselor, attorney, or tax advisor. You are encouraged to consult qualified legal and financial professionals for individual estate planning advice. Information contained in this blog post may change on occasion.