Death of a Family Member Checklist

It can be extremely difficult to focus on administrative and other tasks when dealing with the loss of a family member. This checklist will help you account for all the various details that need to be addressed.

Contact:

  • Funeral home
  • Primary care physician
  • Deceased’s place of worship
  • Close family and friends
  • Deceased’s current and past employers
  • Associations, clubs, unions, and professional organizations
  • Financial advisor
  • Insurance companies, including health, dental, life, disability, long-term care, automobile, and home insurers
  • Attorney, if necessary
  • Accountant
  • Executor
  • Trustee
  • Service providers, such as housekeepers, landscapers, trash collectors
  • Landlord
  • Doctors, dentists, and other health care professionals
  • Credit card companies
  • U.S. Post Office
  • Social Security Administration
  • Veterans Administration
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (if not a U.S. citizen)
  • State Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Credit-reporting agencies

Arrange for:

  • Funeral, cremation, or memorial services, if not prearranged
  • Your own bereavement leave
  • Obituary
  • Certified copies of death certificates
  • Security for deceased’s home and close relatives during the funeral
  • Care for minors and dependent family members
  • Care for pets

Locate:

  • Estate documents (wills, trusts, and written preferences for final arrangements)
  • Prior arrangement for anatomical gift
  • Prepaid funeral or cremation documents
  • Deed to cemetery plot
  • Safe-deposit box, if any
  • Deeds and titles of property
  • Birth, marriage, divorce, prenuptial, child support, and military discharge documents
  • Birth or adoption documents of children
  • Brokerage and bank account statements and checkbooks
  • Credit card statements
  • Pension and retirement plan administrators
  • Life insurance contracts, including policies through associations, employers, and banks
  • Annuity contracts
  • Business buy-sell agreements

Please note: Some items will be completed by the executor or personal representative in the course of opening the probate process.

This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a tax preparer, professional tax advisor, or lawyer.

Greg Patterson and James Allen Canady are financial advisors located at Atlantic Wealth Management, 712 Bridges Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. They offer securities and advisory services as Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. They can be reached at 252-515-7800 or at [email protected].

HOW CAN WE HELP?

If you have a question, or would like to receive more information, please complete the form or call our office at (252) 515-7800.

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The accompanying pages have been developed by an independent third party. Commonwealth Financial Network is not responsible for their content and does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness, and they should not be relied upon as such. These materials are general in nature and do not address your specific situation. For your specific investment needs, please discuss your individual circumstances with your representative. Commonwealth does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing in the accompanying pages should be construed as specific tax or legal advice. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2017.