When a spouse, parent, or other family member dies, what are the next steps you need to do? If you are facing a death in the family for the first time, you may feel at a loss as to what needs to be done.
- Make Funeral Arrangements. If the deceased person had a prepaid burial contract, you’ll need to contact the funeral home to notify them of the death. If no prearrangements have been made, then you’ll need to choose a local funeral home or crematorium and reach out to them to make the arrangements.
- Notify Social Security. The funeral home will generally notify Social Security of the death, but you should also call them at 1-800-772-1213 to let them know of the death so that future payments can be stopped. In many cases, the last Social Security payment will need to be returned. If the payment was direct deposited, Social Security will be able to reverse the payment so you will not need to mail it back. If the deceased person had a spouse, he or she should schedule a time to talk to Social Security about a potential increase in their monthly payments. If the deceased person had minor or disabled children, the children may be eligible to receive Social Security income on the parent’s record.
- Contact payors of other Income. If the decedent was receiving a paycheck, pension, or other income, notify that company or financial institution of the death. You will likely need to provide a copy of the death certificate (which you probably won’t receive for a few weeks). Talk to the company to determine if the spouse or another beneficiary will receive future income payments or a lump sum distribution of any remaining funds.
- Contact financial institutions and life insurance companies where the Decedent had joint accounts or accounts with beneficiaries. The joint owner or beneficiary of any such accounts or life insurance should be able to collect those funds by providing a copy of the death certificate.
- Contact an Estate Attorney. If the deceased person had accounts or assets in his or her sole name, you may need to open an estate to collect and distribute those assets. An estate attorney can talk to you about the various estate administration options and help you complete the paperwork that needs to be filed with the court.
Amanda Spence has been helping families in North Carolina with probate and estate administration for thirty years. If you need help with the next steps to take after a family member passes away, contact Amanda at 919-863-4183 or [email protected].