What you NEED to do that day

1. Contact a funeral home to take the body (even for cremations)
2. Follow “final written instructions” (or look for them)
3. Contact Family Members
4. If pets are involved – find a temporary or hopefully long-term home.
5. Contact Attorney, Accountant and Executor of Estate (if you know them)  
6. If working – Contact Employer and ask if there was life insurance through them.

Day 2 & Beyond

1. Prepare an obituary – the Funeral Home can help as well as family and friends.
2. Plan Funeral, Cremation or Memorial
3. Call Social Security (800-325-0778) – most funeral homes will contact SS for you.
4. Credit Cards, Utilities (if lived alone), Life Insurance Policies – need to be contacted.
5. Make sure a lawyer handles any estate and will issues and the accountant files final tax returns. 

Action Step: If a hospice patient, call Hospice first after the patient expires and they will help make this process go as smoothly as possible.

Action Step: When calling Social Security – Inquire about survivor benefits

Action Step: If a Veteran, check to see if the deceased is eligible for their death benefits.

Golden Nugget: Honor their Wishes – After reading numerous books and articles about death and dying, the clear advice is to do what they would have wanted if possible. After a death is an emotional time and it is much easier to “follow the script” or intentions rather than recreate the wheel.