The time after your parent passes away can be one of the most difficult periods of your life. Coping with your grief and learning how to function without one of your parents can be overwhelming. Having to deal with your parent’s estate and handling their final arrangements can seem like an insurmountable task.
While it can be distressing to think about a time when you may have to deal with this, it can be beneficial to read about what to do when a parent dies. Learning what you can about navigating the process can give you a sense of calm and control during a time that’s full of turmoil. Having a checklist of what needs to take place will ensure you don’t miss anything.
This blog will discuss the most common steps after a parent dies. Stay organized and look for places where you can delegate tasks to others during this difficult time in your life.
It may be difficult to think about the nuts and bolts of life when handling a parent’s death. However, you need to complete some of these steps right away so you can begin preparing for funeral arrangements and other items.
One of the first things you need to do after your parent passes away is let their close friends and family members know. You might have to look through their address book or access their cell phone to find important contact information.
How you choose to contact these individuals is up to you. You may not have the time or energy to make multiple emotional phone calls. You can also send out text messages if that’s something you feel is more appropriate.
This is also a great opportunity to delegate to others. Your spouse or another close person may be able to contact these individuals on your behalf.
Other parties and people you may need to notify of your parent’s death include:
Staff members will handle getting you a legal pronouncement of death if your loved one passes away in a medical facility. This can include one of the following places:
This document is needed to obtain a death certificate. It includes various information, such as:
You’ll need to get a medical professional to declare your loved one dead if they passed at home. You can do this by calling 911 after they die. They can be declared dead by medical personnel and transported to a funeral home.
You’re unable to move forward with other after-death actions if you don’t have the legal pronouncement of dead. This can include handling their legal affairs and planning their funeral.
You’ll want to ensure that your parent’s personal property and assets are secured and taken care of. This can include mundane and simple chores like:
One of the most important things to do at this stage is to care for any pets that your parent owned. While you don’t necessarily need to adopt their pets, you should ensure they’re placed with a loving family that can help them cope with the loss of their owner.
Many mature adults may have already made plans for their funeral and memorial. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to do so, especially if the death is unexpected. According to Captrust, only around 17% of American adults have funeral plans in place.
If they don’t have a written will in place, look through their safety deposit boxes or home safes to see if they’ve written anything about their plans. They may have left details with their attorney if they have one. You may want to call local funeral homes to see if your parent made arrangements with them.
This step can take many forms. First, you can follow their pre-determined instructions if they’ve left those for you. If not, it’s up to you to make the best choices for them.
Some of the steps you’ll need to take include:
Again, this is an opportunity to lean on your support system. It can be overwhelming to know what to do after death. Connect with others who are close to you and look for them for guidance when planning this momentous event.
One of the things that will need to be written for your loved one is an obituary. This isn’t something you need to do yourself.
You can have someone you know that’s an excellent wordsmith write it on your behalf. The local paper may be able to write it after you supply them with a few details.
No matter who you decide to have write the obituary, a few details you should provide them include:
You don’t necessarily need to include the cause of death. However, many readers will want to know what happened. Including basic information can help give them some peace of mind.
You may want to write a eulogy to recite at your loved one’s funeral. One option may be to open up speaking opportunities to whoever feels moved to do so at the funeral. Whatever option you choose is up to your personal preference.
Once you get past your parent’s funeral, it’s time to handle their financial affairs. That can be one of the most overwhelming and confusing parts of what to do when a parent dies, but it’s necessary.
You’ll need to get around 10 certified copies of their death certificate. Death certificates are needed for various purposes, including:
You can work with your local county offices or the funeral home to get copies.
You and the other survivors of your loved one will need to determine where your parent’s property goes. This can include some of the following things:
Once you locate their will, you’ll need to determine who the executor is. The executor is responsible for administering the last wishes and will of the deceased. Executors can be appointed by your parent before they pass or by the court.
Your parent’s assets will get distributed by the court if they don’t have a will or trust in place. Their assets will get handed out based on state law.
You’ll need to take inventory of your parent’s assets for the probate process if you’re the executor of their estate. Look for some of the following types of documents in their home:
You can connect with your parent’s financial advisor or accountant as well. They may have access to information regarding their assets. Additionally, you can get into accounts where you’re listed as a joint account holder.
Not everything you need to navigate after a parent’s death has to do with paperwork and legal documents. Taking care of yourself is of the utmost importance after your parent dies. You won’t be able to deal with everything else if you don’t take the time to grieve.
Grieving doesn’t look the same for every person. There’s no time limit on how long you can grieve either. Take all the time you need to deal with your parent’s death healthily.
There are a few ways you can take care of yourself after your parent dies, including:
Consider speaking to a professional if you’re dealing with severe feelings of grief or if your feelings are making it difficult to perform everyday tasks.
We hope our post-death checklist gives you some guidance on what to do when a parent dies. Moving forward while dealing with your parent’s death can be stressful and heart-wrenching. Having access to this parent death guide will give you some peace of mind in knowing what to do when a loved one passes away.
At Lone Star Cremation, we know firsthand how challenging this time can be. Our staff is here to guide you through the process by offering caring and compassionate cremation services. Reach out to our office to schedule an appointment.
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