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After a Death Occurs Checklist
On this page, we have compiled a list of the many tasks which need to be handled after a death.
FAMILY and HOME
Tasks that relate to family and home
Arrange new homes and care for any pets.
Evaluate the need for security at your loved-one's residence.
Locate wills, codicils, and trusts.
Locate safe deposit boxes. Follow all directions.
Take the will to the appropriate County or City office to have it accepted for probate.
Arrange for a close friend or relative to have a house key to periodically check phone messages, collect mail, water plants, etc.
Obtain death certificates (the funeral home can help with the quantity). Get multiple copies; you’ll need them for financial institutions, government agencies, and insurers. Mount Sinai can assist you in procuring the death certificates.
Notify the deceased’s employer. Inquire about health insurance. Ask about employee benefits, i.e. accrued vacation pay, death benefits, pension plans, etc.
Contact military, religious and/or fraternal organizations to ask about possible death benefits or other services they may offer.
Cancel memberships to organizations. Reach out to professional organizations, health clubs, social clubs, etc. and find out how to handle his/her membership status.
File a change of address with Post Office.
Cancel home deliveries.
Cancel subscriptions for newspapers, magazines and cable TV. Ensure refunds are sent to appropriate address (which may not be the address listed on the account).
Check email for re-occurring payments and to identify any online accounts of memberships.
After all online accounts and payments have been finalized; cancel the accounts – AOL, Google, Yahoo etc.
Identify user names and passwords for all digital accounts; this may include Facebook, Photo /Video sharing sites, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn. Download everything and delete all accounts. In the case of Facebook, it is possible to identify an account as "In Memoriam" which keeps the page visible so that people can continue to view older posts and pictures.
Send out "Thank You" notes.
Evaluate the emotional impact of those close to the deceased. If needed, arrange for counseling or support.
MEDICAL
Tasks that relate to doctors and medication.
Advise Social Security, Medi-Cal, and/or other agencies as appropriate.
Notify the health insurance company. End coverage for the deceased, but be sure coverage for any dependents continues if needed.
Call doctor’s office for list of prescriptions, etc.
Cancel all medical appointments.
Call pharmacy and cancel all prescriptions. If your loved one received Medicare, Social Security will inform the program of the death. If the deceased had been enrolled in Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D), Medicare Advantage Plan or had a Medigap policy, contact these plans at the phone numbers provided on each plan membership card to cancel the insurance.
For what to do with any unused medications, please visit this
Link
FINANCIAL
Tasks that relate to finances and banking.
Keep records of all payments for funeral and other expenses.
Contact Social Security (800-772-1213) and other agencies from which the deceased received benefits, such as The Veterans Administration (800-827-1000) to stop payments and ask about applicable survivor benefits.
Retain and meet with a CPA as to tax and accounting matters, including list of accounts and debts. He can prepare a final income tax return and estate tax return, as necessary. A return will need to be filed for the individual, as well as an estate return.
Keep monthly bank statements on all individual and joint accounts that show the account balance on the day of death.
Notify credit reporting agencies. To minimize the chance of identity theft, provide copies of the death certificate to the three major firms —Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — as soon as possible so the account is flagged. Four to six weeks later, check the deceased's credit history to ensure no fraudulent accounts have been opened.
Payment for a credit card held in the deceased person's name alone will be paid for by the estate. If the account was jointly held, contact the credit card company to have the name on the card updated. Be sure to continue making payments on cards that have your name on them.
Contact financial advisers, stockbrokers, etc. to discuss Keogh and IRA accounts. Determine the beneficiary listed on these accounts. Discuss all other investments, real estate, inventory assets, etc.
Research union death benefits, deferred compensation, final wages, and medical reimbursements.
LEGAL
Tasks that relate to estate matters, wills and trusts.
Retain and meet with an attorney regarding estate matters, asset inventory, etc.
DO NOT pay any of Decedent's debts until attorney discusses with family or executor.
If a Trust is involved, arrange for any allocations and transfers.
Notify mortgage companies, banks and credit unions. Change ownership of joint bank accounts. Did the deceased have a safe deposit box? If a password or key isn't available, the executor would most likely need a court order to open and inventory the safe deposit box.
If necessary, the estate’s executor should open a bank account for the deceased’s estate.
Make a list of important bills. Share the list with the executor or estate administrator so that bills can be paid promptly.
INSURANCE and RECORDS
Tasks that relate to estate matters, wills and trusts.
Contact utility companies to change or stop service.
Cancel driver's license. Clearing the driver's license record will remove the deceased's name from the records of the department of motor vehicles and help prevent identity theft.
Locate life insurance policies. Set up a meeting with life insurance agent to collect proceeds or consider options. You will need to provide the policy numbers and a death certificate. If the deceased was listed as a beneficiary on a policy, arrange to have the name removed.
Terminate other insurance policies. Contact the providers. This could include homeowner's, rental, and/or fire, earthquake, automobile and so forth. Claim forms will require a copy of the death certificate. Verify any refunds with the Agents.
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