In all the emotion involved with losing a loved one, it is likely that the last thing on your mind is “paperwork.” Unfortunately, a great deal of it often follows any death, and it is important to “take care of business” as soon as possible so you and your family are protected and can dedicate your time to taking care of one another. Within the first thirty days of a loved one’s passing, you can expect to take on the following responsibilities.
1. Funeral and burial arrangements.
If at all possible, enlist the aid and support of caring, practical family and friends as you make these arrangements rather than trying to do it all yourself. A reputable funeral director can be of tremendous help not only with the arrangements for the funeral itself, but also with dealing with medical or assisted living facilities, the disposition of the remains, finding an appropriate cemetery, and even with determining whether your loved one may qualify for military burial or honors. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need to ask. Compassionate, professional funeral directors and their staff should be happy to help you in any way they can.
2. Take care of your personal needs.
Grief is not only a deeply emotional experience; it is a deeply physical one as well. It is normal to feel completely exhausted. Do your best to make sure that you get enough sleep and proper nutrition. Time with family and friends can also be very therapeutic. They may also be of great assistance in helping you take care of “logistics” as well, such as fielding mail and phone calls, setting up a post-funeral reception (should you choose to have one), financial matters, caring for pets, etc.
3. Identify and notify any power of attorney agents, trustees or conservators.
Your loved one may have designated you or others close to you as “fiduciaries.” These may include trustees, conservators, and/or power of attorney agents who should be aware of your loved one’s final wishes, along with of the location of important documents, such as wills or trusts.
Even if your loved one set up an organized probate plan prior to passing, these processes can still be difficult, especially while one is grieving at the same time. If you have any questions at all regarding probate issues, an experienced probate attorney can help.
The Law Offices of Paul J. Healy have helped the residents of Jacksonville and the North Florida counties of Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns in the area of probate and estate law since 1989.
