When a close family member passes away, you may be left with a lot of questions regarding all the things he left behind. Not only will you need to go through his belongings and figure out what to do with everything he owned, but you will have to get his affairs in order as well. Understandably it can be a daunting and cumbersome task – especially if you are not really sure what comes first and when everything needs to be done.
You will need to contact close family and friends and make arrangements for someone to take care of any kids or pets. You will also want to contact the person’s boss to find out about benefits and any pay that was due. You will want to find out if there was any type of life insurance policy as well.
Within a few days of your loved one’s death, you will need to make funeral arrangements. Your loved one may have already paid for a burial, so be sure to look through any paperwork you can and ask other family members for help. It can sometimes feel emotionally overwhelming. You do not need to do it all alone. Having someone with you as a second set of ears can really relieve some of the burden.
Once the funeral proceedings have finished, you will need to get a copy of your loved one’s death certificate. It will be requested by a lot of different agencies, so you will do best to get several copies right now. If you locate a will, contact your town or county to see how to expedite the process. Contact your insurance agent with any questions you have about benefits or policy cancellations. And throughout the process, take time to grieve and remember the good times with your loved one. Remember that while the task you are completing may be hard, your loved one is worth it.
