6 Things To Do If A Loved One Dies

When someone dies, it is a very sad and stressful time for their loved ones. Unfortunately, there are several personal and legal things you must do as soon as possible to protect their estate and their assets. When you are grieving, it’s difficult to remember all that needs to be done. Whether you are the executor of their estate, a family member or a close friend, here are six things estate planning attorney Mario Godoy recommends you do when a loved one dies.

WATCH: Estate Planning Attorney Shares 6 Things To Do If A Loved One Dies

Transcript

In this video, we’re going to discuss 6 important steps to take after your loved one passes.

The unfortunate, inescapable truth of life is that each of us is destined to experience some type of human loss. And while it’s difficult to know what to do next, what we have here is a couple of steps that you immediately need to take:

1. If your loved one was receiving Social Security benefits, notify Social Security of the death. 
2. If your loved one was receiving a pension, notify the pension fund of the death to prevent an overpayment.
3. If you paid for the funeral or any other burial expenses maintain those records and those amounts. You should eventually receive some type of reimbursement from the estate.
4. You want to start identifying any of your loved one’s creditors or any debts that they may have had. 
5. You need to also secure their assets, in particular the real estate. So although you’re not appointed as a representative of the estate yet, you still can take some steps to secure your loved one’s assets. That could include changing the locks or otherwise finding some way to secure your loved one’s real estate. 
6. Determine if your loved one’s possessions need to be distributed through Probate Court. 

We’re here to help guide you through every step of this process, so call us for a consultation.

DuPage County Estate Planning  and Probate Attorney

Do you have questions about estate planning or probate law? Our experienced probate and estate planning lawyers in Lombard, Illinois can advise you on the best options to protect your assets and loved ones. To talk to an estate planning attorney contact the Estate & Probate Legal Group at 630-800-0112.

We provide legal services in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and Will counties.