What To Do After A Family Member Dies

Checklist  
  • Call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213. Social Security benefits include a one time benefit of $255 to the surviving spouse or dependent children. Check with your funeral director to determine what claims have already been filed for you.
  • Veteran's Administration claims can be completed at a Veteran's Hospital, the funeral home or cemetery. Contact your funeral director or the county Veteran's Services Officer to determine exactly what benefits have already been filed for.
  • Change the deed on your property and remove the deceased's name from that deed. This is done at the county seat where the property is located. You will need a certified copy of the Death Certificate for this.
  • Change the titles and registration of your vehicles. This is done at the Division of Motor Vehicles. This includes cars, trucks, trailers, motor homes mobile homes, homes, etc. You may use a photocopy of the Death Certificate for this.
  • Contact all life insurance companies the deceased had policies with. Request a claim form or ask for help from the local agent. Send in the claim form, the policy and a certified copy of the Death Certificate. If you need any help, your funeral director can assist you.
Traditionally, life insurance companies require only two documents to establish proof of a claim: a Statement of Claim and the Certificate of Death (or Attending Physician's Statement). Remember, though, that this is just a general statement and your insurance companies reserve the right to request further information or proof if they deem it necessary.

When filling out the claim, you should have the following information available:
  • The policy number(s) and face amount(s)
  • The full name and address of the deceased
  • His/her occupation and last day worked
  • His/her date and place of birth and the source of birth information
  • Date, place and cause of death
  • Claimant's name, age, address, and Social Security number
There are several ways of settling insurance claims. In most cases, you may opt for a lump sum benefit, or you may choose to have the money paid to you over a time period of your choice. In the latter case, the bulk of money remains with the insurance company and continues to gather interest. In either case, check with your insurance agent, financial advisor or attorney to find out which method would be most beneficial for your particular situation.
  • Contact credit card companies to notify them of the death. Some credit cards and charge accounts include a life insurance policy with them. They may want a certified copy of the Death Certificate. If the card is held jointly, find out what documentation is required to change into the survivor's name. Ask the credit bureau to assist you in transferring your spouse's credit into your name. They may also be able to assist you in determining any outstanding obligations of the deceased.
  • Make a prompt request for release from each bank or financial institution in which the deceased and you held a joint account. This is necessary before you can withdraw funds from that account. A bank will usually stop payment on all checks as soon as a death notice is published. The bank must also have the account cleared by the state tax authorities.
  • Change over all bank accounts and remove the deceased's name from those accounts. You may need a photocopy of the Death Certificate for this.
  • Contact any financial institution where the deceased had a loan and inform them of the death. They will be able to inform you if the loan was covered by credit life and what needs to be done to file the appropriate claim. A Death Certificate is often required.
  • Gather all of the bills together and make sure you are aware of all the credit obligations of the deceased. Many installment loans, service contracts, and credit card accounts are covered by credit life insurance, which pays off the account in the event of the death of the customer.
  • Contact all sources of retirement funds that the deceased was receiving and apply for any benefits that are due to you. You may need a certified copy of the Death Certificate for this.
  • Change all utilities from the deceased's name. It is a good idea to use your first initial and last name when listing your name in the phone book. This will help avert any unwanted or prank calls. Many, if not all of these accounts should be placed in a joint account with another family member to help in the processing of future estates.
  • Contact all health insurance companies to notify them of the death and stop coverage on the deceased.
Note: if a company requests a certified copy of the Death Certificate, but are not providing you with a benefit, allow the company to pay for their own certified copy, i.e.: a life insurance company will pay the claim for life insurance, so you need to provide them with a certified copy of the Death Certificate; a health insurance company, on the other hand, just needs to stop coverage. Allow them to provide their own certified copy of the Death Certificate if they require one.