What Now?

A Useful Checklist After A Loss

Points to discuss with family, your attorney or executor:
__Filing of all life insurance claims.
__Updating bank accounts, credit cards, loans and financial portfolio.
__Changing auto and property titles.
__Contacting Social Secruity to change benefits and file for death benefit.
__Contacting the Veterans Administration and/or Railroad Retirement, if applicable.
__Contacting place of employment or union about possible benefits.

Assistance available through our funeral home:
__Additional Death Certificates (needed for settling insurance claims, etc.)
__Additional Acknowledgement Cards.
__Help completing VA benefit forms.
__Helping you make your own pre-arrangements.
__Marker selection and engraving.
__Additional cemetery information.
__Grief Recovery resources.

Helpful instructions and useful phone numbers:
__Contacting Social Security: The number for the Social Security Administration office is (800) 772-1213 or online at www.ssa.gov. Benefits include a one-time benefit to the surviving spouse or dependent children. If applying for benefits other than death, you may need a birth certificate and/or marriage license.

__Contacting the Veterans Administration: The number for the Veterans Affairs Department of Benefits Information and Assistance, 2901 Montopolis in Austin, is (800) 827-1000 or online at www.va.gov.

__Regarding Banking Information: Make a request for release from each bank or financial institution in which the deceased and you held a joint account. The bank will tell you what forms you may need to sign.

__About Titles, Deeds and Registrations: Before you change the deed on property and remove the deceased's name, check with local officials where the property is located. You will need a copy of the Death Certificate for this process. The same is true for changing titles and registrations on vehicles.

__Gathering bills and credit obligations: Do a thorough job gathering outstanding bills and credit obligations, like loans and credit cards. In some cases with installment loans and credit cards, you may be covered by credit life insurance which will pay off the account balance in the event of death.

__Review your own insurance needs: With the passing of a spouse or other loved one, your insurance needs may change. You do not want to be overinsured or underinsured. Talk to a trusted advisor about what is appropriate and make the necessary adjustments.