When someone dies, the announcement of his/her death often creates a “paralysis” among family members and close friends who then rally around those affected by the death.
Seldom are their immediate thoughts directed toward what should be done to finalize the decedent’s affairs.
In case you’re involved in a situation I just described or anticipate the death of someone close to you soon, I have created a checklist to follow to get family members and estate representatives prepared and through the probate/estate administration process.
This checklist is very general. It may not address all the details required in your particular case, but it’s a good start. If the process seems overwhelming, don’t panic. I’m here for you, along with our paralegals and co-attorneys, each with decades of experience. We can handle all the estate details or just a few tasks, depending on your needs.
Click here to download and print my easy-to-follow estate administration checklist: Checklist of Things to Do When a Person Dies
What to Do When You Are Named as the Executor or Estate Administrator
Place an “X” in the left column when the item has been completed
| Notify immediate family and close friends of the death | |
| Evaluate and then respect the emotional impact on the surviving spouse, children, close relatives, and friends; arrange for needed support, be it financial or otherwise | |
| Deal with the donation of bodily organs to an “organ bank”, as appropriate | |
| Arrange care for dependents, especially minor children, if any | |
| Arrange care for pets, if any | |
| Find and review the decedent’s expressed funeral and burial wishes, often found in a Last Will or safe deposit box. This is very important. Notify any designated funeral representative named in the decedent’s Last Will or other writing so that arrangements can begin. | |
| Prepare and arrange for an obituary | |
| Arrange for mortuary, cemetery, burial, cremation, as appropriate | |
| Ask the funeral home for and obtain the death certificates (you may want to ask an attorney how many are needed). I suggest requesting more than anticipated. | |
| Arrange funeral/burial services | |
| Notify other members of the family and friends of the funeral and burial arrangements | |
| Locate Will, Codicils, Trusts | |
| Locate other important legal and financial documents, accounts, investments, income tax returns, life insurance policies, etc. | |
| Advise Social Security and other government benefit agencies, and private pension administrators as appropriate | |
| Evaluate the need for police security at the decedent’s residence | |
| Cancel or rearrange home deliveries | |
| Have the post office hold mail or initiate a forwarding address | |
| Find perishable property (food, plants, etc.), arrange for care or disposal | |
| Notify the agent under any power of attorney of the death to stop using the power of attorney | |
| Keep written records of all payments for funeral and other expenses | |
| Locate safe deposit box(es) | |
| Locate life insurance policies and determine death benefit(s) | |
| Investigate Social Security death benefits | |
| Investigate union death benefits | |
| Investigate veteran’s burial allowance and other veteran benefits | |
| Investigate fraternal organizations for any death benefits (i.e., Knights of Columbus) | |
| Investigate employee benefits, including accrued vacation pay, death benefits, final wages, retirement plans, deferred compensation, and medical reimbursements | |
| Investigate refunds on insurance or canceled subscriptions | |
| Investigate Keogh and IRA accounts | |
| Investigate business, partnership, and investment arrangements | |
| Retain and meet with an attorney regarding estate matters | |
| Retain and meet with the CPA regarding tax and accounting matters | |
| Meet with a life insurance agent to collect proceeds or consider options | |
| Deal with fire, theft, liability, and auto insurance on the decedent’s property | |
| Work with the attorney and CPA to prepare the inventory, the list of accounts, and the list of debts | |
| Review credit cards and charge accounts, and cancel as appropriate | |
| DO NOT pay any of the decedent’s debts until the attorney discusses with the family or the executor | |
| Obtain valuations and appraisals of assets, as appropriate | |
| If Trust is involved, arrange for any allocations and transfers | |
| Consult with an attorney about distribution, probate, and non-probate assets to beneficiaries | |
| File required tax waivers to secure release from New Jersey Estate Lien(s) | |
| Secure release of liability to beneficiaries through Accounting(s) and/or discharges | |
| Arrange for final income tax return and estate tax return, as necessary |
Fredrick P. Niemann Esq.
I hope this checklist helps. As I said earlier, it’s not an exhaustive list, but it’s a good start. If you need help or advice addressing this checklist or want to speak with a knowledgeable New Jersey estate administration attorney who can work with you, please call me at (732) 863-9900 or e-mail me at fniemann@hnlawfirm.com to set up an office consultation at your convenience. It’s my pleasure to assist.
Written by New Jersey Probate and Estate Administration Lawyer, Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq.