Here is a list, in no particular order, of what needs to be done after someone dies to help you get through this difficult time. If the person went to the hospice, there is already a plan for what happens after death. If the death occurs at home without a hospice, try to speak to the doctor, local coroner, your local health department or a funeral home representative in advance to find out how to proceed. You can also consider a home funeral, which is legal in most states. When someone you love dies, the task of dealing with these personal and legal details may fall on you. It`s a stressful and bureaucratic task that can take a year or more while you grieve the loss. 8. Learn about COVID-19 funeral restrictions and guides for your area. Funeral safety laws and recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic are constantly being updated, so it`s a good idea to fully understand what you should and shouldn`t do before you start creating funeral plans. Cancel any subscriptions or services that are no longer needed upon the death of a loved one. This can include cable, streaming services, internet, and cell phone bills. ❑ Safe – In Washington State, safes in the deceased`s banks are not sealed after a death.

Anyone with lawful access always has the right to open the safe. Important documents such as a will and a final instruction letter may be in the safe. To learn what to do if no one is available with legal access to the vault, see the lists under Estates Administration, Safe Access, and Other Legal Assistance Resources at the end of this checklist. 27. Notify banks or mortgage companies. If you`re not sure what accounts your loved one had, use their email and any online accounts you have access to to determine which accounts can be opened. Then bring copies of the death certificate to each bank and change the owner of the accounts. You may need a court order to open and inventory a locker if a key is not readily available. It can take two months or more for benefits to arrive, so start soon. Call these offices to find out their requirements, such as sending a certified copy of the death certificate.

Write down the date you made your calls and write down what is needed to remind you what to do. Finding the will and executor is an important step when a loved one dies. It is important to know where all their money, possessions and other assets are and where they will go. In an ideal situation, the deceased has told you where his will is. If you haven`t had a chance to talk to them, you should look into the part of their house where they kept important documents. People usually appoint a personal representative in their will. This person is involved in much of the remaining steps. If your loved one did not have a will, the estate will be distributed according to Michigan law and an estate judge will appoint a personal representative. When a loved one dies, remove their driver`s license from your local foreign minister to remove their name and records from the department.

This is usually done by providing a copy of the death certificate. • Search newspapers to see if there was a prepaid funeral plan. Otherwise, you need to choose a funeral home and decide where to hold the service, whether to cremate, where to bury the body or ashes, and what type of headstone or urn to order. It`s a good idea to research funeral prices to help you make informed decisions. The doctor may ask if you want an autopsy. This is a medical procedure performed by a doctor specially trained to learn more about what caused the death. For example, if the deceased was thought to have Alzheimer`s disease, a brain autopsy will allow a definitive diagnosis. If your religion or culture has objections to autopsies, talk to your doctor. Some people who plan a funeral with observation worry about an autopsy, but the physical signs of an autopsy are usually masked by clothing and other body preparation techniques. “Ideally, you`ve had the opportunity to talk to your loved one about their wishes for a funeral or funeral,” writes Sally Balch Hurme, lead attorney and author of Checklist for Family Survivors. If not, she advises you to look for an instruction letter in the deceased`s papers or call a family gathering to have the first conversation about what the funeral will look like. This is essential if he has not left instructions.

You need to discuss what the person wanted in terms of a funeral, what you can afford, and what the family wants. Go to the post office and place a forwarding order to send the mail to yourself or anyone who works with you to take care of the immediate business.