Below is a list of items you may need to do once a person moves beyond our world.

End of Life Checklist – Who to call?

• Call the hospice provider if a person dies at home and in hospice care.
• If a person dies at home and is not in hospice care, call the police. Regardless of the cause of death, the police need to come to the scene, confirm the person is dead and the cause of death.
• If a person dies at a hospital, you must arrange for an authorized company (mortuary/funeral home) to pick up the body.
• Contact family and friends with news of the death.
• Religious preference – contact church, synagogue, mosque, etc., if a person was associated with one

What to do with the body?

• Did the decedent pre-plan their burial wishes?
• Do they have a pre-bought plot? If yes, get that information and contact provider
• Did they pre-buy burial arrangements? If yes, get that information and contact provider
• Do they have a Neptune Society policy? If yes, get that information and contact provider.
• Did the deceased express their burial wishes? If yes, what are they?
• Burial with a type of casket versus cremation
• Did the person want a ceremonial service, and where?
• Who to invite to service?  
• Any musical requests for service?
• Did the person serve in the US military and qualify for VA burial services? If yes, did the decedent want this?
• Are there any special requests?
• Does the deceased have religious burial requirements? Discuss with the person’s religious leaders.

How to handle the death certificate

• Locate marriage certificate and divorce decrees (if applicable)
• Locate birth certificate
• Please fill out information for the death certificate (note it may take 4 to 8 weeks to receive the death certificate depending on county backlog)
• Request multiple copies of death certificates since financial institutions and companies may need originals.

End of Life Checklist – What are the next steps

• Contact the deceased’s estate planning attorney (if applicable) and discuss the next steps.
• Is there a signed and dated Will?  
• What are the terms of the Will?
• Who is the Executor of the Will? (They will handle the disposition of the Will and work with Estate Planning Attorney and Probate Courts, if applicable)
• Is there a signed and dated Trust?
• What are the terms of the Trust?
• Who is the Trustee or Successor Trustee? (They will handle the Trust and work with the Estate Planning Attorney)
• Is a Power of Attorney involved before the person’s death? If yes, gather information from them, including the decedent’s assets, liabilities, and insurance policies.
• Notify income and vendors of death.

Look at the Power of Attorney checklist to cover the decedent’s estate. Examples of a few items:

• Investment Account(s)
• Insurance Policy(s)
• Safe Deposit Box

Determine what type of financial account(s) the decedent set up.

• Individual Bank Account
• Joint Owned Bank Account
• Payable-on-Death Account
• Transfer on Death Account
• Trust Account

Most banks may freeze a decedent’s account within 30 days of death. To unfreeze an account, you must contact the financial institution to determine their requirements. Often financial institutions need:

• Death Certificate
• Legal paperwork designating you as Executor or Trustee
• Identification
• Completed bank paperwork that requires notarization or Medallion Signature

Check out the Estate Planning Attorneys on our website that can help you with this process.