Losing a loved one is an emotional and challenging experience, and dealing with the practical aspects that follow can feel overwhelming. In the wake of a loss, it's important to understand what has to be done to close the final estates and financial issues. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the essential steps and provide you with the knowledge to navigate these (sometimes confusing) aspects of after loss care to give you peace of mind.

If at any time you feel overwhelmed while going through this guide, Bereave has compiled a list of additional resources and preferred partners that are experts in these fields. You are able to create your free account here to access the all in one platform for after loss - checklists, resources, services and content to guide you through the first year+.

Government Related Activities

Social Security

When a loved one passes away, notifying the Social Security Administration is a primary step in the process. The deceased's Social Security benefits must be terminated to avoid complications. Here's what you need to do:

• Gather important documents: You'll need the deceased's Social Security number, death certificate, and your identification.
• Contact the Social Security Administration: Call or visit your local office, or you can report the death online.
• If you are the survivor, see the SSA website on how the benefits work and what to do next

Understand survivor benefits. If you're eligible for survivor benefits, it's essential to know your options and survivors benefit amount:

• Surviving Spouse
• Minor or Child with a Disability
• For your parents

Veterans Administration

For veterans and their families, the Veterans Administration (VA) plays a significant role. Here's what you should know:

• Notify the VA: Contact your local VA office and provide them with the necessary documentation, including the veteran's DD-214 form and death certificate.
• Understand benefits: Depending on the veteran's service history, you may be eligible for various benefits, such as burial assistance and survivor's pension. The VA Life Insurance options can be found on the VA.gov website here.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

You need to contact the Office of Personnel Management if your loved one was a federal employee or retiree. Follow these steps:

• Notify OPM: Contact OPM's retirement office and provide them with the required documents, including the death certificate.
• Understand survivor benefits: Explore the survivor benefits available for federal employees' spouses and children.

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Finances: Tying Up Loose Ends

Pension Plans

Pension plans can be a source of financial security for surviving spouses and dependents. Contact and notify the pension plan administrator of the passing and inquire about available survivor benefits.

401K/IRA/Annuities

Handling retirement accounts and annuities can be complex, but it's essential to secure the financial future. Take these steps:

• Contact financial institutions: Reach out to the respective financial institutions managing the accounts and provide them with the necessary documentation.
• Understand distribution options: Familiarize yourself with the distribution options and tax implications for these accounts.

Credit Cards and Bank Accounts

Managing credit cards and bank accounts is crucial to prevent identity theft and unauthorized access to funds:

• Notify financial institutions: Inform banks and credit card companies about the death to freeze accounts and prevent unauthorized transactions. More information here
• Settle outstanding debts: Work with these institutions to settle any outstanding balances.
• Bereave has vetted partners with companies that specialize in helping close accounts. You can find them here to review and contact.

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Insurance: Protecting Loved Ones

Life Insurance

Life insurance is designed to provide financial support in times of loss. Here's what you should do:

• Contact the insurance company: Notify the insurer and provide them with the necessary documents, such as the death certificate.
• Familiarize yourself with the policy terms, beneficiaries, and payout options.

Medicare/Health Insurance

Managing health insurance after a loved one's passing is crucial to avoid potential financial hardships:

• Notify Medicare and private insurers: Inform health insurance providers about the death and explore any available coverage options for surviving family members.

Car/Home Insurance

Canceling auto and home insurance policies will eliminate any unnecessary expenses. Reach out to the insurers and cancel the policies within 30 days to stop premium payments. If desired, the family can retain both the homeowner's insurance and auto policy by making timely premium payments.

• Insurer still needs to be made aware of the passing
• Typically, insurance providers grant a minimum 30-day window for the family to report the policyholder's passing to the insurer.

If the house is left to adult children:

• The heirs should let the homeowners insurance company know as soon as they can
• A new homeowner policy will be needed if the house is staying in the family

Car left from passing of single policyholder:

• Contact insurer before driving
• Executor (or administrator) is typically only covered when driving the car for maintenance purposes or to the DMV

If someone else is on the policy, they (might) still have coverage when driving the car until the policy is up for renewal. Check with insurer to confirm details on the coverage.

Change Beneficiaries - ensure that beneficiaries are up to date on insurance policies, retirement accounts, and any other relevant accounts.

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Estate: Wills, Trusts, and Probate

Wills and Trusts

Understanding the role of wills and trusts is essential in estate planning:

• Consult an attorney: If the deceased had a will or trust, consult an attorney to understand the legal process and distribution of assets.
• Probate proceedings: In some cases, the estate may need to go through probate, so be prepared for this legal process.
• For more information on probate plus helpful resources click here

Real Estate Title and Vehicle Title

Seek legal guidance to navigate the transfer of real estate and vehicle titles.

Real Estate - The process for transferring real estate after your loved one's death varies based on ownership and the will. Different states may have slight variations in procedures. A thorough breakdown of the what and how of real estate transfer after a death can be found in this article by AllLaw.com

Vehicle title - The procedure for transferring a vehicle title depends on the ownership status and the state of vehicle registration. Vehicles going through probate have a different process than vehicles not. A breakdown of the differences can be found here

• Contact your local DMV for a better understanding of the state-specific requirements and necessary documents.

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Protection: Safeguarding Against Fraud

Stop Junk Mail and Solicitor Phone Calls

Reducing unnecessary communications is essential during this difficult time. Enroll the deceased individual in the Deceased Do Not Contact (DDNC) Registry managed by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). This action assists in excluding the deceased person from commercial direct marketing databases and is a proactive measure to be taken promptly.

• Once registered, mailings should begin to decrease within 90 days

The USPS website has different procedures to take depending on if you have the same address as the deceased or not. Their suggestions and other mail related information can be found on their website.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

Contact AARP and inform them of the passing to cancel the membership.

Cancel Subscriptions and Memberships

Unsubscribe from subscriptions and memberships to minimize posthumous expenses:

• Review subscriptions and memberships: Identify and cancel any subscriptions or memberships held by the deceased.

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In conclusion, closing the final estate and financial issues after a loved one's passing is a challenging but necessary process. We hope this comprehensive guide has provided you with valuable insights and a roadmap to navigate the complexities of this journey. By addressing government-related activities, managing finances, handling insurance, and safeguarding against fraud, you can honor your loved one's legacy while ensuring a smooth transition during this difficult time.

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Not sure where to start?

Bereave has partnered with Full Circle Aftercare to help you through this process. Full Circle Aftercare is a concierge service that helps families wrap up the final estate and financial issues after the loss of a loved one in two hours.They provide a private session to assist the surviving family member with the tasks listed in this blog.

For more information on their offerings and contact information click here

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We Know Why You're Here & We Know What You Need

Do you need additional help with the after loss responsibilities and/or self-care? The Bereave After Loss Platform has everything that you need, for free, from the day of passing through the first year 1+.

The community driven platform provides a concise and actionable roadmap plus linked resources to help guide you in the most compassionate, cost-effective and efficient manner possible. Resources include:

- Links to vetted partners that can assist you in their professional fields (account closing, probate, grief therapy etc.)  
- Self-care content and therapy
- Tips/reviews from other users

Sign up for free here to join the community to make things easier on you and collectively get through this together.