| 1. Call the local funeral home. Bring the deed to | | | | your loved one was covered under Social |
| the grave plot, pre-paid cremation documents and | | | | Security, his or her spouse may be eligible for a |
| or military discharge papers (if applicable). Also | | | | lump-sum death benefit. Spouses must have been |
| bring any written instructions your loved one left | | | | married for 9 months or longer before the death, |
| behind regarding viewing and burial preferences. | | | | unless the spouse's death was the result of an |
| And note that it is customary for friends and | | | | accident or military service. |
| family to call the funeral home to find out more | | | | 8. Contact life insurance and annuity providers. |
| on the funeral arrangement such as the date and | | | | Obtain any policies for life insurance or annuities |
| time of any viewings, church funerals, burials, and | | | | and notify the carriers of the death to process |
| treatment of flower arrangements and | | | | the claims. |
| preferences regarding charitable donations. | | | | 9. Access safety deposit box. In order to access |
| 2. Write up an obituary. Write out information on | | | | the safety deposit box, you will need to be listed |
| your loved one's education, career, surviving | | | | as a signatory on the box and have the key. |
| family, military service, notable achievements, etc. | | | | Most banks will not allow you access without |
| to help assist the funeral director in drafting | | | | these two requirements being met. It is also |
| information for the obituaries in local newspapers. | | | | possible to obtain an Order from the Probate |
| 3. Get certified death certificates. You can | | | | Court to gain access to the box. |
| typically obtain death certificates from the funeral | | | | 10. Call the accountant. The executor/executrix of |
| director or from the County Assessor/Recorder's | | | | the estate will need to know what taxes, if any, |
| Office. Request at least 10 certified copies. In San | | | | are due to the IRS and State. The accountant (if |
| Diego County, Certified Death Certificates are $12 | | | | the decedent had one) should be called as soon as |
| for each copy. See the attached forms for | | | | possible to make sure that any estate tax that is |
| obtaining Certified Death Certificates by mail and | | | | due is paid within 9 months of the date of death |
| in person. | | | | as required by Federal law. The estate may need |
| 4. Review Will and/or Trust. Search for your | | | | to file a separate tax return and a 706 tax return |
| loved one's original will. This will often times be | | | | may be necessary in a larger estate. |
| kept at the drafting attorney's office or in a fire | | | | 11. Pay any bills that are outstanding. Make sure to |
| proof safe or safety deposit box. Hopefully, your | | | | open a bank account for the estate if you are |
| loved one kept the document at home in a fire | | | | the executor or a trust bank account if your |
| proof safe or with the drafting attorney since the | | | | loved one had a trust and you are the trustee. |
| safety deposit box could be "frozen" at death | | | | Transfer liquid funds from assets in the estate or |
| which could make it difficult to obtain. After a | | | | trust to the new bank account to pay things like |
| death, the original will should be lodged with the | | | | funeral expenses, utility bills, credit card payments, |
| Probate Court in the region where the person | | | | mortgages or any other debts your loved one |
| was a resident. After you have located the will | | | | had. The executor or trustee needs to make |
| and/or trust, the next step is to take these | | | | sure these payments are made and that records |
| documents to an attorney. | | | | of all expenses are kept up-to-date. This will be |
| 5. Call an attorney. You may or may not need the | | | | important information that should be shared with |
| help of an attorney for a probate or trust | | | | the accountant for the filing of tax returns. |
| administration. It is best however to consult with | | | | 12. Notify the post office. If you are the trustee |
| an attorney to best make that determination. | | | | or executor of the estate, you need to contact |
| There are many steps in a trust administration | | | | the post office to forward any future mail to |
| that if not done or done improperly, could lead to | | | | your address. You may need to cancel certain |
| legal liability for the successor trustee or executor. | | | | utilities and subscriptions as well. |
| 6. Contact current and former employers. | | | | 13. Re-title any joint tenancy accounts. Make sure |
| Contact current and former employer human | | | | to re-title any accounts that were in joint tenancy |
| resource departments and ask them to fax or | | | | to the survivor's name only. The bank or other |
| mail you a benefits summary for life insurance, | | | | financial institution will likely request a certified |
| accident insurance, profit sharing plans, retirement | | | | copy of the death certificate and that you fill out |
| plans, flexible spending plans, etc. Former | | | | their appropriate form to make the change. If the |
| employers may have pension or annuity benefits | | | | joint tenancy asset is real estate, an Affidavit of |
| listing beneficiaries. | | | | Death of Joint Tenant along with a Certified Death |
| 7. Contact the Social Security Administration. | | | | Certificate will need to be recorded at the County |
| Contact the local Social Security Office and notify | | | | Assessor's Office. |
| them of the death. You can find an office at If | | | | |