hestiaPlan a farewell, togetherFor:Use now
After a funeral, there may still be a few things to take care of. This list helps you keep track and share them. A few have deadlines. Check those with the right office or company. Do the rest at a pace that feels right for you.
Keep the funeral contract and the bill that lists each charge. Keep cemetery or crematory records, receipts, and proof the obituary ran. Keep the certified death certificates too. These are official copies. Families often need them for insurance, benefits, and bank accounts. They are also needed to settle the estate, which means what the person left behind.
Ask about life insurance and benefits from work. Ask about retirement accounts, Social Security, and Veterans benefits. Ask about union benefits and any unpaid medical or care bills. If there is an estate to settle, talk with a lawyer or the right county office. Do this before you give out any money or property.
Forward mail if needed and care for any pets. Keep cars and property safe. Pause subscriptions. Make a list of valuables and important papers. Do not close accounts too fast. Some payments or bills may still be coming in or going out.
Some things can wait. These include a headstone, placing ashes, or a later memorial. Thank-you notes, sharing photos, and marking special dates can wait too. There is no deadline on remembering.
Answer four questions about what has happened. Then you get a list of steps in order. You do not need an account, and it is free. You can print it or share it with your family.
Hospice grief teams, estate lawyers, grief counselors, and chaplains may share these guides with the families they help. They may also write guides under their own name. There is no referral deal. No money or gifts change hands either way.