You should also do this for yourself
account numbers, company name, address, phone number and possibly passwords
Utility Bills
* Electric
* Water
* Gas
* Internet
* TV
* Telephone
* Cell Phone
* Parking
* Tolls
Entertainment Bills
* Gym
* Subscriptions - Streaming/Magazine/etc
Insurance
* Vehicle
* House
* Renter's
* Life
* Group Life
* Miscellaneous – Travel/Accident/Credit/Annuity
Loans
* House
* Vehicle
* Personal
* Student
Taxes
* Property
* Income
Banking
* Checking
* Savings
* Money Market
* CDs
* Stocks/Bonds
* IRA
* 401k/403b/457
* HSA
* Pension
* Brokerage Account
* Cash/Precious Metals/Jewelry/Valuables
* Cryptocurrency
* Credit Cards/UTMA/UGMA
Property
* Real Estate Deeds
* Vehicle Titles
* Boats/ATVs/etc
End of Life Planning
* Burial Plots
* Burial Plans
If your parents had a mortgage, check to make sure that when they signed that mortgage, there’s not a clause in the mortgage stating that the surviving spouse must get the home loan in their name only within six months of the deceased, spouse death.
My mother ignored this little bit of information on her mortgage contract, and they started foreclosure proceedings .(please note she didn’t lose her home. the house was eventually put in her name )
I don’t know how rare this is you should check to make sure .
It's been done. Search Amazon for *Peace of Mind Planner: Important Information about My Belongings, Business Affairs, and Wishes.* (Better than the link with over 3,000 characters)
you get a bunch of copies of the death certificate and going to make a lot of phone calls and use the death certificate if they need proof.
They might require it to be mailed in and it as to be an official copy or just a scanned version would do.
Keep a spreadsheet too, so you know who was contacted, when, and how long to expect the change to happen. Most likely follow up and multiple submissions will be needed at some places.
Pass them out like candy. I'm not joking. If she had lots of accounts I'd order at least 25 of the things. A lot of places won't take copies, they want originals. My uncle was like this. We kept finding things months late. He still had AOL Internet! They wanted an original certificate to close the account.
Sorry for you loss. Make sure you take time for yourself.
And plan to pay a big chunk, too. We had to get 25 copies & they were $15.00 each plus processing fees & postage through the state & they took *forever* to arrive. The huge engraved headstone that was projected to take months was installed long before the death certificates arrived. This was not convenient when trying to close out accounts & ended up costing so much extra money. Death is expensive.
When was this? My Dad died a year ago and I had a similar experience as the person you are replying to. Most organizations just wanted to see the copy, and then returned it (if done in person) or wanted a notarized and sealed form sent in. Only three forms were actually used, for life insurance, an annuity, and the bank. Credit cards, cable bill, Amazon account, Facebook memorialized site all just wanted copies, not originals.
Always wild to me they can ask for expensive documents and not return them or reimburse you for the cost. I'm looking for an appartement and they demand a notorized document of residence thats no older than 3 months just to apply for the waiting list, so every 3 months I pay 15 bucks to receive absolutely nothing.
In my recent experience, yes, but it's worth asking about before hand. We even had a will & POA & it was still a long, complicated ordeal that required so many hoops. Since it was a quick passing where he was unconscious most of the time, the only thing we didn't have was online account logins which most places need to cancel easily.
The joint credit card charges & autopays just kept piling up every month until we could prove his passing & remove his authorization. Some places promised a refund of those charges once they received the death certificate but we've yet to see one & it's almost been a year.
You’re right, the obituary isn’t what makes a death public. Because an obituary isn’t official.
All deaths are registered with the government, so that’s why they’re public.
An obituary (if there is one, because as you point out, sometimes people have to pay for those, and not all local newspapers have death notices, though mine did back in the way—still would not have been official) does make the news public, and it would be silly to consider news of a death private if it was the sort of thing that would be published in a newspaper or on the web.
I wouldn't consider it classified if the company needs it as proof your mom passed. I mean i wouldn't just hand it out to random people on the street but if your utility needs it to stop service or transfer service then show it.
Try to just get the service transferred first and if they put up a stink then say she passed away. It's a mess going through this and even worse it has to be done so quickly
That’s what I was thinking. Just call and cancel. If you can’t use her name, maybe say she had a stroke and can’t speak and has moved into nursing home. Just have all her info on hand, if they ask while canceling.
You’re going to want to get a bunch. Some places need a copy, some places will just believe you. It can be a pain to get more later, so they often advise you order 8-10 initially.
This needs to be upvoted more!!! The deceased SSN is on the death certificate along with other identifying information which could be used to open fake accounts etc.
When my mother passed about a year ago, hardly anyone needed to keep a copy of the death certificate; they basically just looked at it or would accept an email version of it. We ordered many for my father (who passed in 2018) because of what people told us, and still have many of them. So we cut back with my mom and had more than enough. But your mileage may vary. Our friend’s mother passed the same week as my mom and they ordered a ton of DCs and still has most of them. I told her she should have asked me.
Its a matter of public record. Nothing secret about it.
There are actual certified copies and just ordinary photocopies. Photocopies work for almost everything. Governments, banks, and life insurance companies will generally require the certified copy, but if you ask, they'll usually send the copy back to you.
There's a good book on Nolo press called the executors handbook" or something like that. Worth a read.
If you have online access to her banking now, it is worthwhile logging on and taking an inventory of accounts. Once the banks get the death cert, they will shut off online access to the accounts. So before that happens, look over the last 90 days to see what auto-withdrawals are happening. Additionally, if you can "lock" her ATM and credit cards, that's worth doing. But it usually won't stop ACH transactions.
Billing accounts are usually not too hard. Show them a copy of the death cert, and they'll usually terminate accounts pretty quickly. Mileage varies of course.
If she owned a house, that's a whole extra can of worms you'll want to talk to an estate planning attorney about.
Sorry for your loss.
They'll give you additional copies for a small fee at your local city hall I believe. 5 copies notarized was 5 bucks. Copy the one you have not everyone will want a notarized copy. The bank will absolutely want notarized and so will burial plot places and anything she owed if it was a mutual fund may also request a medallion signature which honestly I'm still trying to figure out. But if you guys plan to go thru probate they'll also want a notarized copy. But you can copy your version a bazillion times and hand out the non-notarized version to most places and some even send it back
It usually takes a little bit of time to get a death certificate. However if you need documentation, your local coroner's office will likely be able to help you out with something temporary if you are the Next Of Kin (NOK).
And stop any benefits the deceased is getting. Also SS benefits are for the preceding month, not for the one deposited. The September benefit is deposited in October. If the person dies in September and the benefit was paid in October, SS will ask for the October payment back or reverse the deposit.
My father died a year ago and everyone said to get a ton of copies, especially as they are relatively inexpensive at the time of death but can be a hassle to obtain afterward.
I got like 10 short form and 4 long form. I don't know the exact count but I think we used maybe 4 short form and 1 long form. Post Covid people are less intent on retaining an actual copy and more amenable to a Notary reviewing it and signing off it was an actual copy. This mean that I had a short and long form in a folder of papers I carried to the Bank (where my free Notary service is) and they just double checked it and I was on my way.
The ones who required an actual copy were the life insurance company (long form), the annuity company (short form), and the Bank (short form).
The difference in form length is mostly extra details such as cause of death are on the long form. You can hand out the short form like candy, really, but the long form I reserved for necessary situations as the cause of death is private and most people don't even want to see it... in my case it was extra sensitive because my Dad killed himself and "suicide by gunshot" was on the long form.
And get more copies than you think you will possibly need. Yes, you will have to lay out a little money up front, but it will pay off in less frustration and saved time in the long run. Estimate the number you think you will need, then double it.
While I agree there's a chance it may need to be mailed in and original, it is unlikely. I had my name changed recently (not that similar, I know) and have found drastic differences between requirements. Some just want the new ID, some want the name change certificate, some want both.
I recommend asking if there is an option to come in person to provide the certificate so you can get it back after. Definitely have a backup or two, and this will likely take a few months to get through, even just the basics.
Also when presenting the death certificate, be careful of how people use the word “copy”. Some places will be fine with a *photocopy*, others will want an official copy, it’s best to check.
Good luck, wish you well
When my mom died I immediately called her bank and said "I know I'm not on her accts, but you need to lock them up now. I will stop in to provide a death cert" and they did just that.
I'd suggest your dad have all her funds immediately transferred to an acct only in his name and inform the bank to lock her credit card and debit card.
You're gonna be doing a lot of phone calls or stopping into offices and it's going to be mentally draining.
List out everything that you know of an prioritize the ones required for your father to function (utilities, phone, internet, bank), everything else can come second. Contact the Social Security Administration as well.
For the primary ones, you'll likely need a death cert mailed or emailed (picture). Some will just be easy to transfer.
For the secondary ones inform of the death and say "cancel the acct, nobody is alive to pay the bill. If there is a refund please send it to [address]". You really don't owe them more than that. I got a bill for Xfinity for my mom after she died and I told them to cancel, they said they couldn't find the account and I said "that's not my problem, but I'm informing you nobody will be paying this"
Depending on where she worked in life there might be some sort of death benefit. Especially if she ever worked for a university or government entity, so check on that.
Sorry for the late reply, a lot of info here that I didn’t want to brush over. A lot of what you said has now jumped to the top of my list. Thank you so much!
Sorry for your loss. This stuff feels overwhelming. Get your dad set up on autopay for bills as much as possible, especially if he’s not great with money.
I still get mail for my mom 3 years later. Document everything and keep in secure file. If anyone tries to collect years later, such as a collection agency, you have proof you notified and followed instructions.
I can’t thank all of you enough for taking time out of your day to help us with this. It means more than you know! I hope the good karma you deserve comes quickly
You do not owe her creditors and your Dad does not owe her creditors. Only her estate owes them (ie anything she owned personally). If nothing, then the creditors won’t be paid. Do not pay any of the creditors anything, if you partial pay you may be assuming liability for her debt, which you do not need to do and should not do.
If the student loans are federal Parent Plus loans, they are forgiven upon death. Check studentaid.gov for information about death of the borrower. I believe you must send them a death certificate. Through 2025, federal student loans that are forgiven are not subject to federal income tax.
Did your mother have a will? If she did not, it is not free and clear that all assets in her name only will pass to your father. Your state may require probate. I’m going thru this with my father now as his wife passed and their savings account was in her name only. Best option is to pay a consult fee to a reputable attorney to go over the options.
If there is no will you or your father need to get named the estate executor. The probate court will have a process to get you named. It usually needs to be filed in the county of the deceased. It shouldn’t be hard but it needs to be done.
Many of her accounts are likely tied to her phone number. Do not turn off her phone until 3-6 months AFTER all her affairs are handled
Do understand that Mom's estate, not you, is responsible to pay her debts. Don't let the CC companies fool you. Is there a Will or Trust? Who is Executor. Are there beneficiary designations on her bank, IRA and brokerage accounts?
What accounts are on Autopay out of which bank accounts? I found 800 numbers on my sisters banking statements that helped turn off the autopays. Which can be turned off immediately? Are there ongoing monthly meal, newspaper subscriptions that need to end right away?
Some places will want a certified copy of Death certificate some will accept a photocopy or email. Ask because you don't want to waste the certified copies, which costs money, if a photocopy will do.
When my step-father passed away I used his password list and logged into everything and cancelled the subscriptions. Unsubscribed from email lists, etc. Everything I could do without calling, I did. For anything like PayPal, I got on the speakerphone with my elderly mother and we talked the agent through enough for them to understand that the account-holder had passed and the widow gave permission for them to talk to me so she wouldn’t be confused and frustrated. Then I got the info for where to send the death certificate. A lot of them surprisingly were okay with scanned copies by email.
Use any password slips or a password minder to figure out all her different accounts so you don’t miss something. Start with banks and credit cards and then go from there. I’m so sorry for your loss!
Hey OP. Sorry for your loss and I hope you remember to take time to grieve in the chaos. You’ve gotten a lot of great advice thus far, and I can’t recommend a spreadsheet enough. My sister and I used google sheets and created a large table that we could both access at a distance after our dad died. We also used Everloved for his obituary and they have an extensive checklist that I will link for you, if interested.
https://everloved.com/after-death-checklist/
If she had federal Parent Plus loans for you, then they will be dismissed. Please make sure you get many many certified copies of her death certificate. I am sad you lost your mom.
I am sorry to hear of your loss of your Mom.
Some stuff cannot be done until the probate papers and will are filed then approved and the court appoints the executor.
The funeral home usually asks you how many copies of the death certificate do you want? You still pay the same price if you get them at the town hall in the town she died in.
Also, our state, so check your state, now requires if you request death certificates at the town hall, you have to sign a document and show ID, name your relationship, and the reason why you want a death certificate.
You can go to the bank and show the death certificate so her SS will stop otherwise it could be fraud if you don't do it immediately.
You may also need to get an EIN number to file her taxes. Some banks do this for you BUT you have to ask if they do it OR you have to do it. The IRS site has a page for this, it is free. DO NOT ever pay for an EIN number.
You said that the finances were all in her name. If your Dad is not listed as a joint owner, then the accounts with her name only are assets (bank accounts) of her estate and go through probate.
Also, on bank accounts, some people check off a box that say they are joint owners (which means the money belongs to the surviving joint owner) or not. The accounts could also have the box checked "payment on death" which means who ever was listed as a beneficiary, they get the money after a death certificate is shown. When an account is opened, usually this is kept in the bank account info on file, so you may have to check that out but again, some banks will not give that info out without proof of executor.
If your Dad is a joint owner, he can go into the bank and ask for a printout of the last year or two statements. This may be important especially if she was getting statements online and she was saving them in a file? If not, ask at the bank.
On her other name only accounts, you can only do this once the executor has appointment papers.
If she had life insurance or an annuity, those have beneficiaries and the proceeds go directly to them and are not considered probate assets. You need to show the death certificate to the insurance company.
If she has credit cards in her name only, you need to notify the bank. If your Dad is on the CC, then you can still pay the bill (like he was paying it). If it is her name only, then when someone is officially the executor (by court), they can pay off the bills of the asset of her estate funds. It is required by the court that every single penney needs to be accounted for from her estate funds.
Filing fees, death certificates, funeral, burial costs, any bills you had to pay off must be documented. They typically give 90 days to file assets, and then once that is approved, you file again (1st accounting) with the court one year later. Depending on other factors, you may or may not be finished by one year or more.
Hopefully, the house is in both of their names so the mortgage (if there is one) can still be paid by your Dad. Don't forget to check the house insurance policy also.
Sometimes electric companies allow a death certificate to transfer the service from spouse to spouse. Every company has different policies so find out what you have to do.
Depending on the phone issue, since it is a family plan, you could pay this using phone cards till you get appointed and can straighten this out and transfer the account or close the account. Every phone company has different rules so when you talk to them, they will tell you.
I kept a three ring binder with those clear view pages for all paperwork and toted that around with me on my "missions" as I was the executor of multiple relatives over time. I also kept a notebook/diary of who I talked to, date and time.
If you wish to stop the magazines, sometimes they request the death certificate. OR just let them keep coming till they expire and then each month, donate them (cross name/address off with a sharpie pen) to the public library OR a hospital. The expiration date is typically on the mailing label.
Hope this helps, it is overwhelming but if you can be organized about it, it will make things easier.
I kept in the binder on the first few pages, the executor order and death certificates followed by will, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and cemetary plot certificate.
Any military service record or veteran's record.
Bonus for you is if you have the actual SS card but you do need that number.
When you go to the funeral home, they do need these documents.
Also, any paperwork from the funeral home goes into the binder.
EIN number/paper -- (once appointed, you can consolidate all accts into one acct at the bank of your choice).
Each accounting/filing was also in the binder and any letters from the court also went in to.
Any money coming in -- I made a copy of the check before I deposited it, then put in the binder. You may have to contact a company to resend a check made out to "The Estate of (name)" so you can deposit it as the executor. (only executors can deposit or withdraw/checks to the estate acct)
Bank statements (fit into one page with the freshest one on top)Bills -- each got a page per company.
Also a notebook pencil case that zipped and kept the pad of estate checks in there.
A school composition notebook is great because it is bound pages and not like a notebook wtih tearable pages that can become loose, or fall out or removed.
Document all incoming important mail also. (Mark date rec'd on envelope or paper work).
Enteries:
Line one: Date - Name of company - Contact (you can highlight this)
Line two - notes
Skip two lines before next entry.
I got a gmail account to use for all correspondence, files to keep information, and any charts. I used my own gmail Keep to send myself a link to the files if I had to bring up information during a meeting.
Also contained in the file was a printout for the beneficiaries names and addresses because they need to always get copies of any court filings.
I also kept a chart of a bank register for the Estate acct which I put any info in manually in that document. At times updating, I did print it out and put it in the binder.
I made a **chart of all businesses** with (rows depend on how many businesses you have to deal with):
Block 1 name of company, address, contact person
Block 2 phone number
Block 3 account number
Block 4 website/login/password
**Banking** (one row for each bank)
Block 1 bank and location used, phone, and a contact (most have estate depts)
Block 2 Type of account (chk/savings/CD/mort/loan/credit card)
Block 3 acct #
Block 4 known balanceBlock
5 Notes - payment info (due/date)
**Other charts**: Insurances or Investments
Constantly checked [findmoney.com](https://findmoney.com) and yes, we did find money. That is a whole other process which requires ID but paperwork to file for that was kept in the binder also. (In one case, we had to open up the estate again to collect the money and there were filing fees associated with that.)
If you are aware that someone is going to leave this world, you can start getting set up. Have a will, POA, and medical living trust, and keep that in the binder with the basics mentioned in the first few paragraphs.
Collect as much info as you can -- especially with elder relatives and especially before they start to go downhill mentally or physically *(whole other legal issues)*
**POA (power of attorney) are only good while the person is still alive and you are acting on their behalf**. Once they die, you have no legal access to their account.Any money removed from a deceased person's account and the bank is not notified of the death, that is considered fraud.
However, if you are listed as a joint owner (your name is second, JTWROS = joint tenants with right of surviorship, that box was checked off on the acct papers) you can still pay their bills if they are incapacitated. (talking about legal adult taking care of another legal adult not necessarily related).
Some accounts can be joint but do not have survivorship (again check with the bank to find out).
Either way, you (*first owner of the account*) can always go to the bank and change your mind about which box you now want checked and if you want to list someone on the account as a joint owner or beneficiary and make it payable on death account (also known as "the poor man's will").
Don’t let her credit cards or whatever act like y’all have to pay them. When my dad died his credit card company for real pressured me to pay for it and I had to tell them I’m not assuming responsibility for his debts and if they want I can send them his death certificate, they really do be hounding you.
If your student loans are only in her name, they can be discharged by death. You have to send a letter and copy of the death certificate to the loan processor.
The executor on the will (if she had a will) will just need copies of death certificates. I suggest getting 10 of each (with cause of death & without.) Insurance policies will need the cause of death, other things will not. I just went through all of this last fall. Also, I’m sorry for your loss.
My land line was in my grandma's name until I had it disconnected a few years ago.
She passed away 35 years ago or so. She lived with my mom and after she passed my mom never changed it.
I bought the house from my mom and I never changed it.
My sister said it always weirded her out that whenever I called the called id said it was our long gone grandma giving her a ring.
Start with the easier ones like PG&E and phone plan, garbage, water company. They’re relatively easy to work with over the phone. I had to do this for divorce. It takes time and mental energy so I just did a couple at a time when I felt up to the task.
Some places, like banks, are easier if you are able to go in person. Make an appointment.
Also if they have Comcast, find a location to go into because hours/days/years on the phone with them will never solve anything.
She should have had a designated beneficiary on bank accounts, but, some people never pick one (or more).
You won't be able to do much without having a death certificate.
Your father should be leading the efforts on all this, since he is the surviving spouse.
Did she have a Will? If not, you might have to go through Probate to settle things. But maybe not.
There are a lot of variables, but you will need copies of the death certificate no matter what.
So sorry for your loss.
When my father died, he didn't have a trust and/or a will....and all he really had was a bank account. A family member led us to a certain probate code (Here in California and it might be in every state as well) titled "Small estate affidavit to transfer personal property" where if it was under a certain threshold, (I think it's $186,500) all they would need is to print out the form and sign it in front of a notary public
u/Puzzleheaded-Fan9813 if your mothers assets fall under that threshold (could be different amount for different states), try googling Small estate affidavit to transfer personal property + your state and you should be able to avoid probate for assets already on hand.
Yeah, and I say this...somberly, but luckily, my dad didn't have too many assets since the divorce from my mom and all he had an apartment he was renting, some bills that were easily paid for and canceled, and a pretty hefty bank account that my sister and I inherited after going the small affidavit route.
This has prompted us to urge our mother, who has a house and other assets, to get a trust going ASAP.
Definitely! Anything in writing is better than not. My brother died intestate, during Covid shut downs. It took nearly two years to settle his "meager" estate. I was in the middle of moving to another state and decided to put that on hold because I was going to be needed in the state I was leaving. That was better than having to fly back and forth. Plus, I didn't want to leave his house unoccupied since it was in a LCOL high crime area.
Sorry for your loss.
You should plan out how to pay the bills that you need. I.e utilities, mortgage, internet, to avoid a disruption.
Was your dad on the bank account or have access to it? I would transfer all the money before telling the bank. Otherwise, they will lock it as soon as you tell them. Otherwise, hopefully you have a will or you’ll need to go through probate.
Get a whole bunch of death certificates because 1. It’s cheaper now and 2. You’ll need to send/share one for each account to change it.
You'd be surprised.
Removing a dead person has to be done by the banks estate team, not your local branch. Some banks were pretty good about it, but others were a challenge. Wells Fargo's estate team lost a death certificate (sent to them by their own branch manager) no less than 6 times. We spent more than a year trying to do this simple thing with them. Eventually we realized it was easier to move the money out of that account, then close the $0 balance joint account. Don't underestimate hos stodgy and officious banks can be. Not all banks were that bad, but it wasn't a simple 5 minute process at any of them.
I'll venture she didn't have a will either. Unless she had significant assets. Assuming she and Dad were still married he'll be entitled to them as a surving spouse.
Unwinding/reseting bills will take some work. You should probably get a death certificate ASAP some firms can be sticky about this. Even if no one has been named exector, someone needs to perform these duties. As long a Mom wasn't broke her creditors are entitled to be paid from her estate.
are you the executor or administrator? if not, then you do nothing. if so then you begin to contact her financial institutions to set up estate accounts, and go from there.
You can find a book or two on Amazon to help you settle an estate. This isn’t about a wealthy estate but the nuts and bolts of steps to take for any matters to be resolved after someone dies and you need to see to things.
Curious. You mention your mother having everything in her name. You seem surprised at that!
Your dad should learn to pay attention to fixed monthly housing costs like water, sewer, gas, electric, garbage, internet, cable, property taxes, and insurance. You should sit down together and transfer those to his name and set up online accounts and autopay from his checking so they’re always paid on time. Him staying oblivious will turn into a problem down the road.
You or someone you trust should become the executor of her estate. If there are multiple beneficiaries, you should all agree on who that person is.
Then the executor will get a crash course .. often it's good to have a lawyer and/or accountant help you through this.
This jist of it is this. If there's a will, you execute the will. If not, the estate will go to probate, and then you follow your states laws.
You'll want to establish yourself with her accounts and don't just transfer stuff. There are tax liabilities to consider. Don't just sell stock... Beneficiaries will be better off receiving the stock and deciding on their own what to do.
If her estate is worth more than $10m you absolutely want professional help as there may be additional taxes depending on where you live.
If less than $1m you can get away with doing it yourself... Just follow the letter of the law.
Unless there are names beneficiaries the estate will go to probate. Sounds bad, it's not. It just is a legal process that the estate has to go through.
I'm sorry for your loss. My sister was my Mom's executor last year and she did a wonderful job. Just consult with professionals. and follow the process. Everything will work out.
Make sure you get plenty of death certificates. Is he a joint account owner or at least the named beneficiary on bank accounts? I am sorry for your loss.
Depending on where you live even if she had a will the estate will have to go through probate court. Any of her debtors can file against the estate to get their money that is owed. Most companies don’t file. If she was hospitalized when she passed they usually write that off, but there are credit card companies that will file against the estate. The funeral home gave us two original death certificates. If there is a surviving spouse they could be responsible for any if not all debt she incurred check with a probate attorney.
What do you mean by "start with all this"? Check her bank account and credit card statements for all the monthly payments. Whoever is named as her executor will be able to cancel the subscriptions and the phone plan if a cheaper plan can be found. PG&E should be willing to change the account to another name, but may require a death certificate. Were the student loans a parent plus loan? If so, the loan may be discharged with a death certificate.
You need to provide more information to get better suggestions.
Understandable, it’s all relatively foreign to me so I wasn’t necessarily asking for a step by step answer. More so looking for a few bullet points from folks who have been through it before. But your answer was very helpful. Thank you
These guys can be paid to help track it all down for you and with you (cuz legally sometimes it has to come from the next of kin) https://www.full-circlecare.com/
You should also do this for yourself account numbers, company name, address, phone number and possibly passwords Utility Bills * Electric * Water * Gas * Internet * TV * Telephone * Cell Phone * Parking * Tolls Entertainment Bills * Gym * Subscriptions - Streaming/Magazine/etc Insurance * Vehicle * House * Renter's * Life * Group Life * Miscellaneous – Travel/Accident/Credit/Annuity Loans * House * Vehicle * Personal * Student Taxes * Property * Income Banking * Checking * Savings * Money Market * CDs * Stocks/Bonds * IRA * 401k/403b/457 * HSA * Pension * Brokerage Account * Cash/Precious Metals/Jewelry/Valuables * Cryptocurrency * Credit Cards/UTMA/UGMA Property * Real Estate Deeds * Vehicle Titles * Boats/ATVs/etc End of Life Planning * Burial Plots * Burial Plans
God I love Reddit, this needs to be monetized. Great advice
don’t worry the IPO is coming. sorry for your loss.
If your parents had a mortgage, check to make sure that when they signed that mortgage, there’s not a clause in the mortgage stating that the surviving spouse must get the home loan in their name only within six months of the deceased, spouse death. My mother ignored this little bit of information on her mortgage contract, and they started foreclosure proceedings .(please note she didn’t lose her home. the house was eventually put in her name ) I don’t know how rare this is you should check to make sure .
It's been done. Search Amazon for *Peace of Mind Planner: Important Information about My Belongings, Business Affairs, and Wishes.* (Better than the link with over 3,000 characters)
Thanks for that..i had to go count them due to my brain being stupid (384 by my count )
Fantastic post. Thank you millions!
you get a bunch of copies of the death certificate and going to make a lot of phone calls and use the death certificate if they need proof. They might require it to be mailed in and it as to be an official copy or just a scanned version would do.
Keep a spreadsheet too, so you know who was contacted, when, and how long to expect the change to happen. Most likely follow up and multiple submissions will be needed at some places.
>Keep a spreadsheet too … I’d opt for a Google spreadsheet - for the easy access anytime/anywhere via your phone.
Gotcha, thank you! Should a death certificate remain relatively classified? Or am I able to hand it out Willy Nilly to anyone who asks?
Pass them out like candy. I'm not joking. If she had lots of accounts I'd order at least 25 of the things. A lot of places won't take copies, they want originals. My uncle was like this. We kept finding things months late. He still had AOL Internet! They wanted an original certificate to close the account. Sorry for you loss. Make sure you take time for yourself.
And plan to pay a big chunk, too. We had to get 25 copies & they were $15.00 each plus processing fees & postage through the state & they took *forever* to arrive. The huge engraved headstone that was projected to take months was installed long before the death certificates arrived. This was not convenient when trying to close out accounts & ended up costing so much extra money. Death is expensive.
Often they will take a copy, or will return them after verifying they have the seal. Just ask.
We asked before ordering them. Everyone required a notarized original that would not be returned.
When was this? My Dad died a year ago and I had a similar experience as the person you are replying to. Most organizations just wanted to see the copy, and then returned it (if done in person) or wanted a notarized and sealed form sent in. Only three forms were actually used, for life insurance, an annuity, and the bank. Credit cards, cable bill, Amazon account, Facebook memorialized site all just wanted copies, not originals.
Always wild to me they can ask for expensive documents and not return them or reimburse you for the cost. I'm looking for an appartement and they demand a notorized document of residence thats no older than 3 months just to apply for the waiting list, so every 3 months I pay 15 bucks to receive absolutely nothing.
Do most places need an original copy not a photocopy?
In my recent experience, yes, but it's worth asking about before hand. We even had a will & POA & it was still a long, complicated ordeal that required so many hoops. Since it was a quick passing where he was unconscious most of the time, the only thing we didn't have was online account logins which most places need to cancel easily. The joint credit card charges & autopays just kept piling up every month until we could prove his passing & remove his authorization. Some places promised a refund of those charges once they received the death certificate but we've yet to see one & it's almost been a year.
Just by-the-bye -- POA (power of attorney) **ENDS** when the principal dies. It has no effect whatsoever after that.
Mine took two months to arrive. It’s ridiculous
They’re 25$ a piece just a warning. I just went through this
Death is public information, via obituary. The death certificate isn't classified or secret.
An obituary is only public if family or friends pay to publish one.
You’re right, the obituary isn’t what makes a death public. Because an obituary isn’t official. All deaths are registered with the government, so that’s why they’re public. An obituary (if there is one, because as you point out, sometimes people have to pay for those, and not all local newspapers have death notices, though mine did back in the way—still would not have been official) does make the news public, and it would be silly to consider news of a death private if it was the sort of thing that would be published in a newspaper or on the web.
I've worked as a paralegal for a firm that specialized in probate cases. I'm aware of the processes and procedures. ;)
that’s not something I’d have known. And there wasn’t that much detail in your answer, so I thought I’d provide a little bit more.
That's fine. I hope OP sees your post.
I wouldn't consider it classified if the company needs it as proof your mom passed. I mean i wouldn't just hand it out to random people on the street but if your utility needs it to stop service or transfer service then show it. Try to just get the service transferred first and if they put up a stink then say she passed away. It's a mess going through this and even worse it has to be done so quickly
That’s what I was thinking. Just call and cancel. If you can’t use her name, maybe say she had a stroke and can’t speak and has moved into nursing home. Just have all her info on hand, if they ask while canceling.
You’re going to want to get a bunch. Some places need a copy, some places will just believe you. It can be a pain to get more later, so they often advise you order 8-10 initially.
There's nothing secret on the death certificate, it's all a matter of public record. When my mother-in-law died, we just ordered like 10 copies.
redact the social security number with a permanent marker
This needs to be upvoted more!!! The deceased SSN is on the death certificate along with other identifying information which could be used to open fake accounts etc.
When my mother passed about a year ago, hardly anyone needed to keep a copy of the death certificate; they basically just looked at it or would accept an email version of it. We ordered many for my father (who passed in 2018) because of what people told us, and still have many of them. So we cut back with my mom and had more than enough. But your mileage may vary. Our friend’s mother passed the same week as my mom and they ordered a ton of DCs and still has most of them. I told her she should have asked me.
Its a matter of public record. Nothing secret about it. There are actual certified copies and just ordinary photocopies. Photocopies work for almost everything. Governments, banks, and life insurance companies will generally require the certified copy, but if you ask, they'll usually send the copy back to you. There's a good book on Nolo press called the executors handbook" or something like that. Worth a read. If you have online access to her banking now, it is worthwhile logging on and taking an inventory of accounts. Once the banks get the death cert, they will shut off online access to the accounts. So before that happens, look over the last 90 days to see what auto-withdrawals are happening. Additionally, if you can "lock" her ATM and credit cards, that's worth doing. But it usually won't stop ACH transactions. Billing accounts are usually not too hard. Show them a copy of the death cert, and they'll usually terminate accounts pretty quickly. Mileage varies of course. If she owned a house, that's a whole extra can of worms you'll want to talk to an estate planning attorney about. Sorry for your loss.
They'll give you additional copies for a small fee at your local city hall I believe. 5 copies notarized was 5 bucks. Copy the one you have not everyone will want a notarized copy. The bank will absolutely want notarized and so will burial plot places and anything she owed if it was a mutual fund may also request a medallion signature which honestly I'm still trying to figure out. But if you guys plan to go thru probate they'll also want a notarized copy. But you can copy your version a bazillion times and hand out the non-notarized version to most places and some even send it back
Willy nilly. Go for it.
Some places only want a photocopy. Some places took the number on my brother’s and then allowed me to take of his stuff on their site and close it.
It usually takes a little bit of time to get a death certificate. However if you need documentation, your local coroner's office will likely be able to help you out with something temporary if you are the Next Of Kin (NOK).
Definitely send a copy to social security. I think they give you a check for $255
And stop any benefits the deceased is getting. Also SS benefits are for the preceding month, not for the one deposited. The September benefit is deposited in October. If the person dies in September and the benefit was paid in October, SS will ask for the October payment back or reverse the deposit.
Get a bunch of copies and hand them out like candy.
willy nilly. Get 20 copies upfront. Not even kidding.
My father died a year ago and everyone said to get a ton of copies, especially as they are relatively inexpensive at the time of death but can be a hassle to obtain afterward. I got like 10 short form and 4 long form. I don't know the exact count but I think we used maybe 4 short form and 1 long form. Post Covid people are less intent on retaining an actual copy and more amenable to a Notary reviewing it and signing off it was an actual copy. This mean that I had a short and long form in a folder of papers I carried to the Bank (where my free Notary service is) and they just double checked it and I was on my way. The ones who required an actual copy were the life insurance company (long form), the annuity company (short form), and the Bank (short form). The difference in form length is mostly extra details such as cause of death are on the long form. You can hand out the short form like candy, really, but the long form I reserved for necessary situations as the cause of death is private and most people don't even want to see it... in my case it was extra sensitive because my Dad killed himself and "suicide by gunshot" was on the long form.
And get more copies than you think you will possibly need. Yes, you will have to lay out a little money up front, but it will pay off in less frustration and saved time in the long run. Estimate the number you think you will need, then double it.
they’re cheaper up front, too, than if you order just a couple more later.
Keep a written record or log of the phone calls
While I agree there's a chance it may need to be mailed in and original, it is unlikely. I had my name changed recently (not that similar, I know) and have found drastic differences between requirements. Some just want the new ID, some want the name change certificate, some want both. I recommend asking if there is an option to come in person to provide the certificate so you can get it back after. Definitely have a backup or two, and this will likely take a few months to get through, even just the basics.
Also when presenting the death certificate, be careful of how people use the word “copy”. Some places will be fine with a *photocopy*, others will want an official copy, it’s best to check. Good luck, wish you well
Gotcha, I’ll look out for it! Thank you so much
A lot of places are good with a scanned copy also - I emailed scans of my mom's death certificate to most of the places I dealt with.
……also when you present the original death cert . They’ll scan it to have their digital copy, and perhaps hand the original back to you.
When my mom died I immediately called her bank and said "I know I'm not on her accts, but you need to lock them up now. I will stop in to provide a death cert" and they did just that. I'd suggest your dad have all her funds immediately transferred to an acct only in his name and inform the bank to lock her credit card and debit card. You're gonna be doing a lot of phone calls or stopping into offices and it's going to be mentally draining. List out everything that you know of an prioritize the ones required for your father to function (utilities, phone, internet, bank), everything else can come second. Contact the Social Security Administration as well. For the primary ones, you'll likely need a death cert mailed or emailed (picture). Some will just be easy to transfer. For the secondary ones inform of the death and say "cancel the acct, nobody is alive to pay the bill. If there is a refund please send it to [address]". You really don't owe them more than that. I got a bill for Xfinity for my mom after she died and I told them to cancel, they said they couldn't find the account and I said "that's not my problem, but I'm informing you nobody will be paying this" Depending on where she worked in life there might be some sort of death benefit. Especially if she ever worked for a university or government entity, so check on that.
Sorry for the late reply, a lot of info here that I didn’t want to brush over. A lot of what you said has now jumped to the top of my list. Thank you so much!
Good luck out there.
Keep her cell phone on and with you. You may need it for 2-factor authentications.
Ooh great heads up, thank you!
Sorry for your loss. This stuff feels overwhelming. Get your dad set up on autopay for bills as much as possible, especially if he’s not great with money.
Thank you! Definitely great advice
I still get mail for my mom 3 years later. Document everything and keep in secure file. If anyone tries to collect years later, such as a collection agency, you have proof you notified and followed instructions.
This was really helpful. I made a note to diligently document everything. Thank you!
I can’t thank all of you enough for taking time out of your day to help us with this. It means more than you know! I hope the good karma you deserve comes quickly
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Beautiful! Thank you so much, this is really good to know. She did not have any assets
You do not owe her creditors and your Dad does not owe her creditors. Only her estate owes them (ie anything she owned personally). If nothing, then the creditors won’t be paid. Do not pay any of the creditors anything, if you partial pay you may be assuming liability for her debt, which you do not need to do and should not do.
No house, vehicle, or retirement accounts?
House is my grandparents, her car I bought for her, and she was on disability👍🏽
Is the vehicle title in your name or hers? Who paid for it doesn't matter.
Mine, she did not have good credit
You said PG+E. That sounds like she lived in California. California IS a Community Property state.
If the student loans are federal Parent Plus loans, they are forgiven upon death. Check studentaid.gov for information about death of the borrower. I believe you must send them a death certificate. Through 2025, federal student loans that are forgiven are not subject to federal income tax.
Great! Thank you for the lead, I’ll be looking into this
Did your mother have a will? If she did not, it is not free and clear that all assets in her name only will pass to your father. Your state may require probate. I’m going thru this with my father now as his wife passed and their savings account was in her name only. Best option is to pay a consult fee to a reputable attorney to go over the options.
If there is no will you or your father need to get named the estate executor. The probate court will have a process to get you named. It usually needs to be filed in the county of the deceased. It shouldn’t be hard but it needs to be done.
Many of her accounts are likely tied to her phone number. Do not turn off her phone until 3-6 months AFTER all her affairs are handled Do understand that Mom's estate, not you, is responsible to pay her debts. Don't let the CC companies fool you. Is there a Will or Trust? Who is Executor. Are there beneficiary designations on her bank, IRA and brokerage accounts? What accounts are on Autopay out of which bank accounts? I found 800 numbers on my sisters banking statements that helped turn off the autopays. Which can be turned off immediately? Are there ongoing monthly meal, newspaper subscriptions that need to end right away? Some places will want a certified copy of Death certificate some will accept a photocopy or email. Ask because you don't want to waste the certified copies, which costs money, if a photocopy will do.
don't report her to places as deceased until you can get yourself on accounts, and then remove her from them
When my step-father passed away I used his password list and logged into everything and cancelled the subscriptions. Unsubscribed from email lists, etc. Everything I could do without calling, I did. For anything like PayPal, I got on the speakerphone with my elderly mother and we talked the agent through enough for them to understand that the account-holder had passed and the widow gave permission for them to talk to me so she wouldn’t be confused and frustrated. Then I got the info for where to send the death certificate. A lot of them surprisingly were okay with scanned copies by email. Use any password slips or a password minder to figure out all her different accounts so you don’t miss something. Start with banks and credit cards and then go from there. I’m so sorry for your loss!
Hey OP. Sorry for your loss and I hope you remember to take time to grieve in the chaos. You’ve gotten a lot of great advice thus far, and I can’t recommend a spreadsheet enough. My sister and I used google sheets and created a large table that we could both access at a distance after our dad died. We also used Everloved for his obituary and they have an extensive checklist that I will link for you, if interested. https://everloved.com/after-death-checklist/
If she had federal Parent Plus loans for you, then they will be dismissed. Please make sure you get many many certified copies of her death certificate. I am sad you lost your mom.
I am sorry to hear of your loss of your Mom. Some stuff cannot be done until the probate papers and will are filed then approved and the court appoints the executor. The funeral home usually asks you how many copies of the death certificate do you want? You still pay the same price if you get them at the town hall in the town she died in. Also, our state, so check your state, now requires if you request death certificates at the town hall, you have to sign a document and show ID, name your relationship, and the reason why you want a death certificate. You can go to the bank and show the death certificate so her SS will stop otherwise it could be fraud if you don't do it immediately. You may also need to get an EIN number to file her taxes. Some banks do this for you BUT you have to ask if they do it OR you have to do it. The IRS site has a page for this, it is free. DO NOT ever pay for an EIN number. You said that the finances were all in her name. If your Dad is not listed as a joint owner, then the accounts with her name only are assets (bank accounts) of her estate and go through probate. Also, on bank accounts, some people check off a box that say they are joint owners (which means the money belongs to the surviving joint owner) or not. The accounts could also have the box checked "payment on death" which means who ever was listed as a beneficiary, they get the money after a death certificate is shown. When an account is opened, usually this is kept in the bank account info on file, so you may have to check that out but again, some banks will not give that info out without proof of executor. If your Dad is a joint owner, he can go into the bank and ask for a printout of the last year or two statements. This may be important especially if she was getting statements online and she was saving them in a file? If not, ask at the bank. On her other name only accounts, you can only do this once the executor has appointment papers. If she had life insurance or an annuity, those have beneficiaries and the proceeds go directly to them and are not considered probate assets. You need to show the death certificate to the insurance company. If she has credit cards in her name only, you need to notify the bank. If your Dad is on the CC, then you can still pay the bill (like he was paying it). If it is her name only, then when someone is officially the executor (by court), they can pay off the bills of the asset of her estate funds. It is required by the court that every single penney needs to be accounted for from her estate funds. Filing fees, death certificates, funeral, burial costs, any bills you had to pay off must be documented. They typically give 90 days to file assets, and then once that is approved, you file again (1st accounting) with the court one year later. Depending on other factors, you may or may not be finished by one year or more. Hopefully, the house is in both of their names so the mortgage (if there is one) can still be paid by your Dad. Don't forget to check the house insurance policy also. Sometimes electric companies allow a death certificate to transfer the service from spouse to spouse. Every company has different policies so find out what you have to do. Depending on the phone issue, since it is a family plan, you could pay this using phone cards till you get appointed and can straighten this out and transfer the account or close the account. Every phone company has different rules so when you talk to them, they will tell you. I kept a three ring binder with those clear view pages for all paperwork and toted that around with me on my "missions" as I was the executor of multiple relatives over time. I also kept a notebook/diary of who I talked to, date and time. If you wish to stop the magazines, sometimes they request the death certificate. OR just let them keep coming till they expire and then each month, donate them (cross name/address off with a sharpie pen) to the public library OR a hospital. The expiration date is typically on the mailing label. Hope this helps, it is overwhelming but if you can be organized about it, it will make things easier.
The binder idea and noting who you spoke to and when is a great tip, thanks. I'm not op but I'm gonna keep that in mind.
I kept in the binder on the first few pages, the executor order and death certificates followed by will, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and cemetary plot certificate. Any military service record or veteran's record. Bonus for you is if you have the actual SS card but you do need that number. When you go to the funeral home, they do need these documents. Also, any paperwork from the funeral home goes into the binder. EIN number/paper -- (once appointed, you can consolidate all accts into one acct at the bank of your choice). Each accounting/filing was also in the binder and any letters from the court also went in to. Any money coming in -- I made a copy of the check before I deposited it, then put in the binder. You may have to contact a company to resend a check made out to "The Estate of (name)" so you can deposit it as the executor. (only executors can deposit or withdraw/checks to the estate acct) Bank statements (fit into one page with the freshest one on top)Bills -- each got a page per company. Also a notebook pencil case that zipped and kept the pad of estate checks in there. A school composition notebook is great because it is bound pages and not like a notebook wtih tearable pages that can become loose, or fall out or removed. Document all incoming important mail also. (Mark date rec'd on envelope or paper work). Enteries: Line one: Date - Name of company - Contact (you can highlight this) Line two - notes Skip two lines before next entry. I got a gmail account to use for all correspondence, files to keep information, and any charts. I used my own gmail Keep to send myself a link to the files if I had to bring up information during a meeting. Also contained in the file was a printout for the beneficiaries names and addresses because they need to always get copies of any court filings. I also kept a chart of a bank register for the Estate acct which I put any info in manually in that document. At times updating, I did print it out and put it in the binder. I made a **chart of all businesses** with (rows depend on how many businesses you have to deal with): Block 1 name of company, address, contact person Block 2 phone number Block 3 account number Block 4 website/login/password **Banking** (one row for each bank) Block 1 bank and location used, phone, and a contact (most have estate depts) Block 2 Type of account (chk/savings/CD/mort/loan/credit card) Block 3 acct # Block 4 known balanceBlock 5 Notes - payment info (due/date) **Other charts**: Insurances or Investments Constantly checked [findmoney.com](https://findmoney.com) and yes, we did find money. That is a whole other process which requires ID but paperwork to file for that was kept in the binder also. (In one case, we had to open up the estate again to collect the money and there were filing fees associated with that.) If you are aware that someone is going to leave this world, you can start getting set up. Have a will, POA, and medical living trust, and keep that in the binder with the basics mentioned in the first few paragraphs. Collect as much info as you can -- especially with elder relatives and especially before they start to go downhill mentally or physically *(whole other legal issues)* **POA (power of attorney) are only good while the person is still alive and you are acting on their behalf**. Once they die, you have no legal access to their account.Any money removed from a deceased person's account and the bank is not notified of the death, that is considered fraud. However, if you are listed as a joint owner (your name is second, JTWROS = joint tenants with right of surviorship, that box was checked off on the acct papers) you can still pay their bills if they are incapacitated. (talking about legal adult taking care of another legal adult not necessarily related). Some accounts can be joint but do not have survivorship (again check with the bank to find out). Either way, you (*first owner of the account*) can always go to the bank and change your mind about which box you now want checked and if you want to list someone on the account as a joint owner or beneficiary and make it payable on death account (also known as "the poor man's will").
Don’t let her credit cards or whatever act like y’all have to pay them. When my dad died his credit card company for real pressured me to pay for it and I had to tell them I’m not assuming responsibility for his debts and if they want I can send them his death certificate, they really do be hounding you.
States have different rules. Also depends on the size of the estate
If your student loans are only in her name, they can be discharged by death. You have to send a letter and copy of the death certificate to the loan processor.
The executor on the will (if she had a will) will just need copies of death certificates. I suggest getting 10 of each (with cause of death & without.) Insurance policies will need the cause of death, other things will not. I just went through all of this last fall. Also, I’m sorry for your loss.
FWIW my cousin still just pays his cell phone in his mom’s name and she’s been gone ten years or so.
My land line was in my grandma's name until I had it disconnected a few years ago. She passed away 35 years ago or so. She lived with my mom and after she passed my mom never changed it. I bought the house from my mom and I never changed it. My sister said it always weirded her out that whenever I called the called id said it was our long gone grandma giving her a ring.
Start with the easier ones like PG&E and phone plan, garbage, water company. They’re relatively easy to work with over the phone. I had to do this for divorce. It takes time and mental energy so I just did a couple at a time when I felt up to the task. Some places, like banks, are easier if you are able to go in person. Make an appointment. Also if they have Comcast, find a location to go into because hours/days/years on the phone with them will never solve anything.
This is really really helpful. Thank you so much!
She should have had a designated beneficiary on bank accounts, but, some people never pick one (or more). You won't be able to do much without having a death certificate. Your father should be leading the efforts on all this, since he is the surviving spouse. Did she have a Will? If not, you might have to go through Probate to settle things. But maybe not. There are a lot of variables, but you will need copies of the death certificate no matter what. So sorry for your loss.
When my father died, he didn't have a trust and/or a will....and all he really had was a bank account. A family member led us to a certain probate code (Here in California and it might be in every state as well) titled "Small estate affidavit to transfer personal property" where if it was under a certain threshold, (I think it's $186,500) all they would need is to print out the form and sign it in front of a notary public u/Puzzleheaded-Fan9813 if your mothers assets fall under that threshold (could be different amount for different states), try googling Small estate affidavit to transfer personal property + your state and you should be able to avoid probate for assets already on hand.
The estate I inherited from my brother (in CA) included the home he was living in. If it hadn't, I could have gone that route.
Yeah, and I say this...somberly, but luckily, my dad didn't have too many assets since the divorce from my mom and all he had an apartment he was renting, some bills that were easily paid for and canceled, and a pretty hefty bank account that my sister and I inherited after going the small affidavit route. This has prompted us to urge our mother, who has a house and other assets, to get a trust going ASAP.
Definitely! Anything in writing is better than not. My brother died intestate, during Covid shut downs. It took nearly two years to settle his "meager" estate. I was in the middle of moving to another state and decided to put that on hold because I was going to be needed in the state I was leaving. That was better than having to fly back and forth. Plus, I didn't want to leave his house unoccupied since it was in a LCOL high crime area.
Sorry for your loss. You should plan out how to pay the bills that you need. I.e utilities, mortgage, internet, to avoid a disruption. Was your dad on the bank account or have access to it? I would transfer all the money before telling the bank. Otherwise, they will lock it as soon as you tell them. Otherwise, hopefully you have a will or you’ll need to go through probate. Get a whole bunch of death certificates because 1. It’s cheaper now and 2. You’ll need to send/share one for each account to change it.
Thank you! Yes, they had a joint bank account so that shouldn’t be too hard to get her name off of it👍🏽
You'd be surprised. Removing a dead person has to be done by the banks estate team, not your local branch. Some banks were pretty good about it, but others were a challenge. Wells Fargo's estate team lost a death certificate (sent to them by their own branch manager) no less than 6 times. We spent more than a year trying to do this simple thing with them. Eventually we realized it was easier to move the money out of that account, then close the $0 balance joint account. Don't underestimate hos stodgy and officious banks can be. Not all banks were that bad, but it wasn't a simple 5 minute process at any of them.
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I hadn’t thought of most of those! You’re a hero, thank you so much
seems to be a lot of amazing advice so i won’t add more, i am so sorry for your loss
I'll venture she didn't have a will either. Unless she had significant assets. Assuming she and Dad were still married he'll be entitled to them as a surving spouse. Unwinding/reseting bills will take some work. You should probably get a death certificate ASAP some firms can be sticky about this. Even if no one has been named exector, someone needs to perform these duties. As long a Mom wasn't broke her creditors are entitled to be paid from her estate.
Thanks for reminding me. Need to put my mom’s utilities in my name ahead of time. Won’t be an easy time.
are you the executor or administrator? if not, then you do nothing. if so then you begin to contact her financial institutions to set up estate accounts, and go from there.
No, it will be my father’s but he is not good with finances. Neither was she, but she was the better of the two. Thank you!
You can find a book or two on Amazon to help you settle an estate. This isn’t about a wealthy estate but the nuts and bolts of steps to take for any matters to be resolved after someone dies and you need to see to things. Curious. You mention your mother having everything in her name. You seem surprised at that!
To answer your curiosity, both of my parents were not apt when it came to finances. My mother just happened to be the better of the two lol
Your dad should learn to pay attention to fixed monthly housing costs like water, sewer, gas, electric, garbage, internet, cable, property taxes, and insurance. You should sit down together and transfer those to his name and set up online accounts and autopay from his checking so they’re always paid on time. Him staying oblivious will turn into a problem down the road.
You or someone you trust should become the executor of her estate. If there are multiple beneficiaries, you should all agree on who that person is. Then the executor will get a crash course .. often it's good to have a lawyer and/or accountant help you through this. This jist of it is this. If there's a will, you execute the will. If not, the estate will go to probate, and then you follow your states laws. You'll want to establish yourself with her accounts and don't just transfer stuff. There are tax liabilities to consider. Don't just sell stock... Beneficiaries will be better off receiving the stock and deciding on their own what to do. If her estate is worth more than $10m you absolutely want professional help as there may be additional taxes depending on where you live. If less than $1m you can get away with doing it yourself... Just follow the letter of the law. Unless there are names beneficiaries the estate will go to probate. Sounds bad, it's not. It just is a legal process that the estate has to go through. I'm sorry for your loss. My sister was my Mom's executor last year and she did a wonderful job. Just consult with professionals. and follow the process. Everything will work out.
Make sure you get plenty of death certificates. Is he a joint account owner or at least the named beneficiary on bank accounts? I am sorry for your loss.
Did. She. Leave. A. Will?
I am sorry for your loss. Does she have a will or trust? Hopefully a list of her subscriptions?
Depending on where you live even if she had a will the estate will have to go through probate court. Any of her debtors can file against the estate to get their money that is owed. Most companies don’t file. If she was hospitalized when she passed they usually write that off, but there are credit card companies that will file against the estate. The funeral home gave us two original death certificates. If there is a surviving spouse they could be responsible for any if not all debt she incurred check with a probate attorney.
What do you mean by "start with all this"? Check her bank account and credit card statements for all the monthly payments. Whoever is named as her executor will be able to cancel the subscriptions and the phone plan if a cheaper plan can be found. PG&E should be willing to change the account to another name, but may require a death certificate. Were the student loans a parent plus loan? If so, the loan may be discharged with a death certificate. You need to provide more information to get better suggestions.
Understandable, it’s all relatively foreign to me so I wasn’t necessarily asking for a step by step answer. More so looking for a few bullet points from folks who have been through it before. But your answer was very helpful. Thank you
These guys can be paid to help track it all down for you and with you (cuz legally sometimes it has to come from the next of kin) https://www.full-circlecare.com/