| The time after the death of a parent, spouse | | | | or a homicide), you will also need a copy of |
| or other family member can be filled with | | | | the investigative report to be eligible for |
| intense emotions of grief. With the stress of | | | | additional accidental death benefits. Check |
| planning a funeral and memorial service, it | | | | the fine print of the policy to see if this |
| can be easy to lose track of the business of | | | | sort of coverage was provided. 3. Closing |
| wrapping up personal affairs and settling a | | | | bank accounts: Any existing checking and |
| deceased loved one's estate. This article | | | | savings accounts will remain open and any |
| outlines some tips to help get through this | | | | applicable fees will continue to be charged |
| difficult time and ensure that the surviving | | | | as long as there is money in them-unless you |
| family members are prepared to handle any | | | | formally close the bank accounts. You will |
| future legal and business issues, quickly and | | | | need to bring in a certified death |
| efficiently. Uncover any last requests: If | | | | certificate and fill out a Death Notification |
| you're lucky, your loved one will have left a | | | | Form as supplied by the bank to officially |
| detailed, legally certified will outlining | | | | close the account and withdraw or transfer |
| burial requirements and distribution of | | | | any remaining funds. If the account was a |
| assets. Check with the deceased's lawyer if | | | | joint account with your name on it, the death |
| you're unsure whether a will exists. If it | | | | notice is more of a formality to make the |
| doesn't, talk with family members to see if | | | | bank aware that no more deposits will come in |
| any last wishes were mentioned. Set up a | | | | under the deceased's name beyond any related |
| financial plan: Even the most generous of | | | | insurance settlements. 4. Transferring |
| insurance policies and estate settlements are | | | | retirement benefits: If you are named as a |
| unlikely to last forever, so meet with a | | | | primary beneficiary on a 401(k), individual |
| financial planner to set up a long-term | | | | retirement account or company retirement |
| budget and discuss restructuring any | | | | plan, supply a certified death certificate to |
| investments to satisfy your financial goals. | | | | roll the benefits over to a retirement |
| Get several copies of the death certificate: | | | | account in your name. If you decide to |
| You should get a copy of the death | | | | withdraw the money and place it into a |
| certificate for documentation purposes. There | | | | checking or savings account, be aware that |
| will be several instances in the coming days | | | | you may face a significant tax penalty. The |
| and weeks in which having a copy of the death | | | | days and weeks following the death of a loved |
| certificate will be required. Ensure you have | | | | one can be very stressful. Settling an estate |
| more than one copy of the death record; | | | | requires the submission of paperwork to each |
| various institutions will require such | | | | individual institution where an account is |
| documentation for settling an estate and | | | | held by the deceased. You'll also need to |
| you'll find maintaining additional copies | | | | provide paperwork when requesting a |
| will help you speed up paperwork. Below are | | | | death-related service or benefit. Part of the |
| four examples when providing a death | | | | paperwork requires providing documentation of |
| certificate is required: 1. Transporting the | | | | the death. Death record policies vary, so be |
| body: In most states, the funeral director | | | | prepared to provide an official certified |
| will need a copy of the death certificate to | | | | death certificate copy available by mail or |
| legally transport the body to the funeral | | | | in person from the state or county vital |
| home and will file the death certificate with | | | | records agency where the death occurred. |
| the courthouse for legal proof of death. The | | | | Government-certified copies of a death |
| funeral director will also need a copy of the | | | | certificate can also be obtained on an |
| death record to apply with the health | | | | expedited basis through authorized online |
| department for a burial transit permit. 2. | | | | service providers such as Since multiple |
| Claiming a life insurance policy: If your | | | | copies are generally required, you should |
| loved one had life insurance, the life | | | | determine the number of certificates you will |
| insurance company will require an official | | | | need before you place your order and avoid |
| certified death certificate as proof of death | | | | having to duplicate your order or pay |
| when a primary or secondary beneficiary | | | | separate order processing fees. |
| submits a claim. Generally speaking, a | | | | |
| secondary beneficiary is only allowed to make | | | | Marty Morgan is an advocate for the vital |
| a claim if the person listed as the primary | | | | record industry with an interest birth |
| beneficiary has also died. In either | | | | certificate, death certificate, marriage |
| situation, photocopies are considered | | | | record and divorce record public record |
| unacceptable. If the death was found not to | | | | searches. |
| be from natural causes (such as an accident | | | | |