What to Expect after the Memorial

Life goes on and you’ll find yourself, depending on the day or time-of-day, feeling out-of-sync with what is going on around you. You’re facing strong emotions and intermittent fatigue, all while coping with daily life. You are also responsible for taking care of many details related to your loved one's life and estate.

Our guide to the early days after a death of someone dear to you can help.

Practicing Good Self-Care

Immediately after the memorial, you should give yourself adequate time to rest. While you may find sleep to be elusive, you can always just lie down and shut your eyes for a time.

Remember to eat and drink enough fluids. Do your best to calm your mind. When you are compelled to complete an important task related to the death of your loved one, never hesitate to call upon a friend or family member to help.

If you find you need more grief support, we offer valuable information on the nature and purpose of grief, the varied experiences of grieving, and insights on ways you can help yourself heal after loss.

We also offer support in an on-going aftercare program to support you and your family in completing pertinent documents and ensuring your affairs are looked after.  Please call us to learn the many ways we can assist you.

Dealing with Practicalities

There are certain practical matters you’ll need to attend to after the death of a loved one:

Finding the Will

You need the original document for the court and to register at the local probate office.

Locating Assets and Determining Liabilities

Locate all the essential information about your loved one’s assets and liabilities. These will include insurance policies, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments, and loans. You need all of these to manage upcoming transactions and to notify financial institutions.

Contacting their Employer

This will help you handle retirement plan distributions and employer-purchased insurance payouts, and ensure that any vacation pay due goes to beneficiaries.

Keeping Your Eye on the Mail Box

Chances are good something will eventually arrive about an account or loan the deceased had and there may be assets that aren’t even known to the family. Take the time to cancel magazine and catalog subscriptions, and anything else arriving by mail regularly.

Paying the Bills

Make sure you’ve arranged to wrap up any outstanding liabilities: the monthly utility bill, the mortgage, credit card bills, or car loans.

Filing Tax Returns

You will eventually have to send in federal and state income tax returns and possibly estate tax returns. It may benefit you to turn these tasks over to a certified accountant.

Consulting a Lawyer

When things are really complex or if you’re just not comfortable handling an estate, you may want to bring in an estate attorney. At the very least, check in with one after you’ve completed what you can. We’d recommend telling them what you’ve done and asking them if you’ve missed anything along the way. Chances are, they can tie up any loose ends in a short period of time and the peace-of-mind you receive in return for their fee may be well worth it.

For further information about the legalities of death, click here.