Over The Next Few Days
Please consider the following over the next few days:
Prepare a list of friends and relatives to be notified by phone, e-mail, card or letter.
Arrange hospitality for visiting relatives and friends.
Arrange for child care, if necessary.
Delegate special needs of the household, such as cleaning, food preparation, etc., to friends and family who offer to help.
Plan for the disposition of flowers after the funeral (to a church, hospital or rest home).
Notify insurance companies of the death (requires certified Death Certificate).
Check all life and casualty insurance for death benefits, including Social Security, credit union, trade unions, fraternal and military.
Check on possible income for survivors from these sources.
Locate the will or living trust and notify the lawyer and executor.
Stop Social Security payments and determine eligibility for one-time death benefit and/or survivor benefits.
If the deceased was living alone, notify the utility companies and landlord and notify the post office where to send mail.
Review all debts and installment payments, including credit cards. If there is to be a delay in meeting payments, consult with creditors and ask for more time before the payments are due.
Prepare a list of people to receive acknowledgments of flowers, charitable donations, calls, etc. Include a thank you to those who have given their time.