When Death Occurs:
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When a death occurs, loved ones will be feeling intense shock and grief
initially. There are so many arrangements to be made in a matter of
days. The tasks of planning a funeral to honor a loved one are somewhat
similar to that of a wedding, but it is a very sad time and you only have days
to do everything. This also includes pulling together many documents that
are necessary to provide to the funeral director during planning.
Once the funeral is past, there will still be intense grief. However,
the estate matters now start coming to light, and hopefully this will not cause
even deeper stress.
Was there a will? Will any
assets need to be filed in probate? Where are all the critical
documents? Are all family members in agreement with how affairs should be
settled?
Who Will Be Key to Helping Your Heirs
With Your Estate?
- Funeral Director
- Cemetery Director
- Pastor, Priest or Other Religious Leader
- Attorney
- Insurance Professional
- Accountant
- Professional Appraisers
- Real Estate Agents
- Bank or Trust Company
- Business Partners and Associates
- Business Broker
- Others?
Do you have a convenient list of all critical team members? Does your
spouse, your executor, a key family member or friend, or one of your advisors
have the list and their contact information?
One of the most helpful things you can do is to have all of your key
financial documents organized and in one place. Do you have another key
person designated on any safe deposit boxes, so that they have access to your
will and other important papers stored there? Have you shared with another
key person where your critical personal and business documents are, and do they
know how to access them should an emergency arise? Have you made your
wishes known?
Our Help & Professional Resources
Obviously, our own mortality is a scary thought. However,
leaving your loved ones with a stressful situation is not a kind legacy to
leave.
We can help you with your estate issues, with any other related
planning you may need to consider, with coordinating your estate team, and with
assisting your heirs and loved ones through the difficult time after an event
happens. The better you plan in advance, then fewer stresses and arguments
should arise later.
Contact us today for your estate planning
review. Don't wait until it's too late. We can help you create your
ideal legacy today. »
If you have been recently widowed or
received an inheritance,
please contact us today. We will help you evaluate your
alternatives. This is a complimentary consultation. We are here to
support you and are very sorry for your loss. »
Online Resources
AverTrust Wealth LLC: Request When a Relative Dies Checklist from
our Life Event Series
Means
To a Better End: A Report on Dying in
America Today. An interesting 2002 state-by-state analysis of end of life care.
MFDA:
How to Arrange a Funeral (pdf) by the Michigan Funeral Directors Association
On Our Own Terms -- Moyers on Dying
National Public Radio series Exploring Death in America
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