GUIDE
Navigating the Aftermath of Loss
Following the loss of a loved one, the weight of responsibility often falls heavily on individuals or family members to manage their affairs. To assist during this challenging time, we've meticulously crafted a comprehensive guide outlining the necessary steps and tasks, organized by their time sensitivity. Additionally, we've included links to further information and resources to accommodate various needs that may arise beyond the scope of the guide.
We are here to help you through this.
Losing someone is hard enough. And while it may seem like the stream of to-do tasks are beyond daunting and overwhelming, we hope this list will help.
Immediately following the death of a loved one:
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Arrange care for any children, dependents, pets, etc. if needed.
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Identify the next of kin*, as this person is responsible for deciding what happens to the body of the decedent*. In some circumstances, an autopsy* is automatically conducted by the county coroner. In other cases, an autopsy can be requested by the next of kin or the surviving family members.
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Notify friends and family. This is a very difficult task and it is often helpful to have friends or family help with this, as it is highly emotional.
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Notify the decedent's employer, if applicable.
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Look for a will*. A will is often found in a safe place in the home of the decedent. It is unlikely that it is kept with a lawyer of the county court.
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If the decedent had a will, look to see if it identifies what their wishes were, i.e. cremation* or burial*.
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Notify banks, investment companies, credit cards, social security, etc. that your loved one has passed away. This is an important and time sensitive step which will help decrease the possibility of identity theft.
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Order 8-12 certified copies of the death certificate*.
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Decide on burial or cremation plans. If there are no set plans or wishes prepared by the decedent, the next of kin makes the final decision on where and what happens to the body.
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Order a casket or urn, and identify if the body needs to be embalmed* for viewing purposes.
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Find out through the decedent's employer or insurance company if there were any death benefits*.
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Forward any mail to the next of kin or executor’s* address if the decedent lived alone.
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If the decedent was living with someone or married, put all of the utilities and miscellaneous bills in the name of the current occupant.
A few days to a few weeks after the death of a loved one:
14. Create a memorial page and/or write an obituary to be published in the local newspaper. This step is not necessary and is up to the next of kin or executor of one’s estate* to decide on doing this.
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15. Start making funeral plans. Some people have set plans and wishes for their funeral or services; some have prepaid for their service; and others have no plans at all. It is important to fulfill the wishes of our loved ones after their passing. If there are no plans, it is up to the family, next of kin, or a collaboration of friends and family to decide what would be the best way to honor your loved one.
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16. Identify how and who will pay for the funeral or service. The average cost of a funeral or service in Georgia ranges from $6,000-$12,000. This does not include the cost of the burial, cremation or urn. If assistance is needed, consider starting a GoFundMe program or perhaps something through your local community or church.
17. Notify friends and families of your loved one of the funeral or service arrangements and let them know the funeral itinerary.
After service or funeral of a loved one:
18. Identify all assets, bank accounts, bills, mortgages, debts and liabilities. Include any and all death benefits or work benefits such as life insurance, 401k, IRA, etc.
19. Find an estate attorney you trust. Life Interrupted Foundation has partnered with multiple estate attorneys and are there for you when you are ready to begin the probate* process. If one’s estate is valued at over $50,000, it is highly recommended that a lawyer helps the family or individual with the probate process
20. Start the probate process. If there is a will, the estate will go into probate and the proceedings will follow what is outlined in the decedent's will. If there is no will, the estate of the deceased will go into probate intestate and follow the laws of succession*. Cancel your loved one’s drivers license or ID.
21. Close or freeze any credit card accounts. Cancel any insurance policies, i.e. car insurance, homeowners insurance, health insurance, etc. Some of this will be automatic once an employer or social security agency is notified. However, it is best to personally verify that all policies have been canceled.
22. Notify credit reporting agencies of your loved one’s passing. Close all email accounts associated with the decedent. This will help decrease the chances of theft or hacking. If you don’t know the passwords to get into their accounts, make sure all banks, accounts and credit reporting agencies are made aware of the death. Memorialize or deactivate your loved one’s social media accounts. This is an optional step, however some families prefer that their loved one always has a place to be remembered.
Another list to keep in mind: Self Care
When navigating the seemingly impenetrable daze of grief, simple self-care tasks can easily go out the window.
1. Eat. There is a reason why people bring over food and casseroles to people in times of tragedy. You need to eat what you can. Even if it's just a bite here and there. Even if it feels impossible. Do what you can, when you can. Your body needs it.
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2. Sleep. Sleeping is an integral in allowing your body to heal both physically and mentally. Even if it is just a nap here and there, sleep when you can.
3. Get outside. Or if that feels like too much, open some windows and lift the blinds. Allow yourself some fresh air and sunshine.
4. Shower. Brush your teeth. Brush your hair. Simple basic hygiene tasks.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or accept help. Your friends and family want to help, but often don’t know how. If there is a task on the list above that you simply cannot tackle yourself, let someone do it for you. You don’t have to put everything on your plate.
6. Give yourself grace and allow yourself to feel all the feels: anger, sadness, denial. Feel it. Or perhaps whatever emotions might not come up that you think should. Don’t “should” yourself on anything.
7. Be kind to yourself. Don’t put a timeline on your grief. Or let anyone else do that for you. Your grief journey is your own. There is no right or wrong amount of time to when you should be feeling “better.” As hard as it might feel, don’t put time constraints on your grief.
Glossary
Decedent – A deceased person; a person who has died.
Next of kin – This is the closest living relative. This person will be responsible for deciding what happens to the body and where the body will go.
Will – A last will and testament; a legal document that describes how you would like your property and other assets to be distributed after your death. In order for a will to be considered valid, it must have met specific criteria based on the state the decedent lived in (i.e. notarized, witnesses, verified signature).
A will is typically found in the home of the decedent in a safe place, such as a safe. If a will cannot be found at the home, look into safety deposit boxes and storage units. While unlikely, some people choose to pay to store their will at the county court.
Estate – The property owned by a person at death over which an executor or administrator* is authorized to exercise control either by virtue of a Will or, in the absence of a Will, by the Probate Code.
Executor – If the deceased had a will, an executor is named in the document. This person is responsible for settling the estate of the deceased through the probate process.
Administrator – If the deceased did not have a will, or no will was found or considered valid, the estate will go into probate intestate, and an administrator will be named by the probate court. This person acts to settle the estate of the decedent.
Probate – Probate is the legal process that gives a person called the executor or personal representative the authority to: gather all of the deceased person's assets, pay off any debts and taxes, and give the remaining assets to the people named in the will. If there was no will, the remaining assets will be distributed based on the laws of succession. Depending on how the estate is set up, the probate process can be a very long. It is advised to involve an estate attorney in settling the affairs if the estate is worth $50,000 or more.
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Death Certificate – An official statement signed by a physician that lists the cause, date, and place of a person's death. It is advised that the next of kin or the executor of the estate request 8-12 copies of the death certificate. Oftentimes when settling affairs, such as closing bank accounts and receiving death benefits, the original death certificates are required. It is important to have a sufficient amount of copies.
Autopsy – An examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the character. Not every person who passes requires an autopsy.
Cremation – The process of reducing a dead body to mostly tiny bits of bone resembling ash that involves exposing the body to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments. This process is used in place of embalming and burial.
Embalming – The process of preserving a body by delaying the natural effects of death. This is done by introducing specialist embalming solutions into the body after someone has passed away, helping to give them a more peaceful appearance.
Burial – The act or ceremony of putting a dead body into a grave in the ground. This is done during a service for the decedent, after the embalming process.
Death Benefits – A death benefit is the decedent’s life insurance policy or retirement plan that gets distributed to the beneficiary listed on the account. Death benefits include the retirement plan the decedent had before the death such as 401k, IRA, etc. Life Insurance money is usually tax-free and can be paid out all at once or over time (depending on the type of policy), while retirement benefits generally get taxed upon withdrawal. It can be helpful to reach out to a tax professional in regard to these withdrawals.
Laws of Succession – Succession, in legal terms, means succeeding to the rights of another. The word commonly refers to the distribution of property under a state's intestate succession laws, which determine who inherits the property when someone dies without a valid will. The laws of succession vary by state.