Funerals are emotional, but they are also filled with a lot of questions. Hopefully, your loved one had their estate plan completed prior to their death in order to make the steps after their funeral as simple and easy as possible. Guidelines that you can follow after a funeral include:
Care for Survivors
The financial aspects of the estate can wait for a short period of time. It’s important to make sure any survivors, including pets, are being cared for in the meantime. You or other friends or family can step in to care for survivors or pets in the interim.
Financial Matters
Contacting creditors to ask to have bills put on hold is helpful, but you’ll first need to collect information on all debts. You don’t want the deceased’s home to go into foreclosure or utilities to be disconnected.
You’ll want to contact an attorney at this point so that you don’t obligate yourself to pay the debt your loved one left behind.
Your loved one may have left behind assets that can pay off these debts, and an attorney can advise you on what debts are necessary to pay, and which ones can wait until a Personal Representative is appointed.
Search for a Will
If you haven’t been given a will, it’s time to look for one. If you are not able to locate one, you may have to contact your loved one’s attorney to see if they are holding the original. A will lists the Personal Representative and beneficiaries of the estate. The difficult steps to take after a funeral are often outlined in a will, including:
Asset division
Account information
Beneficiaries
Contact an Attorney
As an estate’s Personal Representative, it’s up to you to preserve and close the estate. However, you need to have the legal authority to do so, and that begins with the filing of the appropriate documents with the Probate Court. An attorney is best suited to help you navigate this process. The goal is to take one step at a time, gather paperwork, and work with an attorney who specializes in probate administration if you have any questions or concerns.
