Even if it is expected, having a loved one pass away is never easy. In addition to all the emotional challenges, you also have to assist with things like planning memorial services and figuring out how to care for the deceased’s belongings.
Here are some tips that can help you through this difficult time.
Notify the Appropriate Parties
The first thing you should do is call the appropriate authorities to get a legal pronouncement of death. This is usually only necessary if a person dies at home.
Typically, you can call 911 and get directed to the relevant departments. Then you should move on to alerting close friends and family members of the deceased. If you cannot handle this yourself, just call one and ask them to let others know.
Finally, you should tell the deceased’s employer about their death. In some cases, they may have a life insurance policy, pay due, or benefits that you need to collect.
Care for the Deceased’s Dependents
If your loved one had children, pets, or other dependents, you may need to step in and make sure they are cared for. This can mean arranging for someone else to feed a pet each day, or it may require talking to the Department of Family and Children Services to make sure a child’s needs are met.
Arrange for Care of the Body
The next step in managing a loved one’s passing will be arranging for someone to care for the body. Check the person’s will or other final wishes paperwork to see if they have a preference between burial or cremation.
If the option is left up to you, choose which method will work the best, and then call the crematorium or mortuary to arrange pickup and care for the body.
Figure Out How You Will Pay for the Expenses
If you are the one handling payment for various funerary expenses, now is a good time to take a look at your finances. In an unexpected emergency situation where you do not have enough savings to help your loved one, you might want to consider researching online direct lenders.
Though you will need to pay off the loan eventually, a funeral loan can let you focus on your loved one while you get through this unexpected life event.
Plan the Funeral
If you are lucky, the deceased may have decided on exactly what they want their funeral or memorial service to look like. However, for many people, you will need to personally consider things like location, participants, schedule, flowers, and printed programs.
Try to start planning at least a few days in advance of the funeral, so everything can be ordered on time.
Handle the Paperwork
Try to find all important paperwork documents, such as the deceased’s will, birth certificate, and marriage license. You will also need to obtain multiple copies of death certificates.
If the person had a lawyer or accountant, you may want to call them to help you find and handle the paperwork. Depending on where you live, you may need to submit the will for probate within a set amount of time.
Once you handle all these things, remember to take some time for yourself. It is easy to get caught up in all the responsibilities after a loved one’s death, but you also need to make time to grieve.