When someone close to you dies, that death is often saddening enough, without having to worry about putting all the affairs in order. However, more often than not, there is much that the family and loved ones must do in the wake of someone’s death, including settling his or her estate. Here are some of the things you can expect following the death of a loved one.
While the death of a loved one may be all that you can think about at the moment, remember that not everyone who needs to know may have been informed. Be sure to tell the deceased person’s employer, creditors, and friends. When informing the latter, social media can be useful, but be sure to inform close friends personally.
There are some immediate tasks that need to be taken care of very quickly after someone dies. Those tasks include finding someone to care for children and pets of the deceased if any, paying outstanding bills and new bills as they arrive, locating a will, trust, and life insurance, and collecting documentation including a death certificate.
The longest and most difficult thing you need to do following the death of a loved one is administer his or her assets to next of kin. Even if the deceased person left a will or trust, it can still take months or years for these documents to clear probate court and go into effect. A probate lawyer in El Paso can help with the legal situations you may encounter.
In the wake of a death, you will doubtlessly be grieving and unable to do as much as you otherwise would like. It’s best to take things slow and address all necessary tasks related to settling an estate one at a time. Work closely with the estate administrator, if there is one, or ask your attorney for advice.