"When I'm Gone" instructions

Handling the estate of a person after they have died can involve a large list of to-do items; selling homes, closing bank accounts, forwarding mail, etc. Make things easier for your surviving loved ones by creating a checklist for them of things you want them to do after you are gone. Then place these instructions, along with all other pertinent documents such as your Will & Testament, into a safe place known by your loved ones.

Below are a few suggestions for your "When I'm Gone" instructions...

ANNOUNCEMENT AND SERVICES:

Notify family, friends, unions, and professional, religious, or fraternal organizations. Place obituary(s).
Make sure their organ donation wishes are followed.
Contact church and funeral home.
If they were in the military, contact the Veterans Administration (www.va.gov) to request military honors for funerals and death benefits.
Conduct viewing and/or services. Write thank you notes for food, flowers, memorials, people who assisted in the services.
Have an auto responder setup on their email address. Then delete the email address after several months.
Notify the post office. Cancel any mail subscriptions and reoccurring charges.

TAXES

Locate previous tax File federal and/or state taxes for the year the person passed away.
Determine if you need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) at irs.gov to report to the IRS on the estate’s activities and payments.

ASSETS

Notify account managers and change account numbers and registration type (banks, credit unions, brokerage houses, investment companies, ).
Apply for benefits with the Social Security Department, any life insurance companies, and any other companies, current / previous employers holding annuities or pension
Notify provider of any other source of
Reestablish title/ownership of Safe Deposit
Review bank accounts and cancel automatic
Research if there is any unclaimed money sitting in insurance companies, banks, utility companies, stocks,
Notify the motor vehicle department and change titles for cars, boats,
Look for cash and other valuables hidden around the house.

LIABILITIES

Notify all creditors, including loan and credit card
Finalize hospital bills, doctor bills, and nursing home accounts. Contact Medicare for possible assistance with the final medical
Ask mortgage companies if there was home owner’s insurance which will pay off the mortgage.
Obtain a credit report for the deceased. It will provide a list of companies with whom they had current
Document all payments of debts and expenses. You may need to prove these are settled before the estate can make payments to beneficiaries.

ESTATE

Order an adequate number of death certificates from the funeral home (at least 10‐15).
Review with the estate executor and attorney all wills, trusts, important documents, statements, memos, deeds, titles, and probate information.
Gather unpaid bills you find or that come in the mail. Organize the information for payment from the estate.
Have executor transfer assets and inheritances to heirs and beneficiaries. Distribute any remaining personal possessions.
Appraise major estate assets including real estate, jewelry, and other high value items.
Understand the different types of estate documents.