A loved one has recently passed, and you have been informed that you are named as the successor Trustee of their Trust, or the Personal Representative of their estate. Or perhaps you had a joint Trust with your significant other and you are now serving as the sole Trustee. You know you need to get things done, but you don’t have the time or energy to do them. You know you need to consult with a probate attorney, but you are not quite in the mood to do that yet. We understand. Please click on the link below to set up a time to talk when you are ready. For now, you are just looking for a quick checklist so you can get your head around what is coming. We are here to help.
Below is a quick checklist of things you may need to address. The more complex list of items you will undertake in your role as Personal Representative and/or Trustee will depend on the estate plan itself. You should discuss your role in more depth after you have reviewed the estate plan documents with your probate counsel.
Quick Checklist:
- Get a legal pronouncement of death. If your loved one passed in a hospital or nursing home, the staff will know to prepare this. If not, you will need a medical professional to assist. You will need this to obtain a death certificate.
- Inform Friends and Relatives when you are ready.
- Inquire about burial plans. The Deceased may have specific intentions. These may be found in a written document or may have been shared with loved ones.
- Obtain several copies of the death certificate. You will need these for a variety of reasons. Links here are provided to obtain death certificates in California and Hawai’i.
- Secure Property. If the Deceased was living alone, you may need to make sure their residence is locked and vehicle secure. Likewise, make sure pets are cared for.
- Find and Review the Estate Plan
- Forward mail
- Notify the Social Security Administration
- Notify the state Department of Health
- Cancel services no longer needed- cellphone, internet, etc…
- Contact life, home, auto and health insurance companies
- Contact banks, financial intuitions, and credit agencies to prevent identity theft
- Inform Financial advisors and accountants
- Cancel driver’s licenses
- Identify social media and email accounts
- Identify the Trust/Will beneficiaries and contact information for each
- Identify the Deceased’s property and accounts, and latest account statements for assets and liabilities
As you may not have authority or permission to accomplish some (or maybe any), of the tasks above, you may want to talk with counsel, and other family members, before you get started so you can act efficiently.
Takeaway
This article provides some common items that need to be addressed on the death of a loved one. When you are ready for more specific assistance Contact CASHMAN LAW today for a free consultation to see how we might help guide you through this difficult time.
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