Five Things to Do When Your Parent Passes Away

Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy. When a parent passes away, that can be especially difficult. In addition to the emotional pain of losing a parent, you may have logistical considerations associated with their passing. From an estate planning perspective, there are certain things you should do when a parent passes away. An attorney who is experienced in elder law can help you navigate this difficult time.

Make Funeral Arrangements

The first thing to do when a parent passes away is to make funeral arrangements. Depending on the circumstances, there may be a writing or document detailing your parent’s wishes for their funeral and burial, or you may have to make the plan on your own. We recommend looking for such a writing first if you do not already know of its existence.

Depending on the details of the funeral, this may also entail writing an obituary, contacting family members with details about the funeral, and asking them to write remembrances and to be pallbearers, as well as arranging food if there will be a gathering following the funeral.

Notify Relevant Parties

Following your parent’s death, it is important to notify relevant parties including:

• Family members

• Employers, if the parents were still working

• Organizations such as the Veterans Administration, if your parent was a veteran.

• Churches or other communities in which your parent participated  

• Social Security Administration 

• Medicaid

Gather Important Documents

In the days and weeks following a parent’s death, one of the most important things you should do is collect important documents. First and foremost on this list should be the parent’s will and any other estate planning documents they had. If your parent did not write a formal will, collect any other documentation you may have of their wishes upon their death. Other important documents to collect include:

• Pronouncement of Death

• Death Certificate

• Life insurance policies

• Property documents (such as leases or titles to real estate)

Handle Financial Details

One of the things you should do following a parent’s death is to ensure that their financials are taken care of. This can include things such as paying any outstanding bills and locating all financial accounts and insurance policies, including health insurance and life insurance.

Call Your Parents’ Lawyer

If your parents had an estate plan or a will in place with an attorney, one of the first things you should do is get in touch with them. Your parent’s attorney will be able to let you know what steps to expect as to whether or not the will should go to probate, the process of legally proving a will in court.

If your parents did not have a will or estate plan in place, an attorney can help you understand what steps you should take now and how the estate may be divided. An attorney can also advise you on disposing of and dividing the estate even if there was no will.

Contact a Fort Worth, TX Elder Law Attorney

The death of a parent can be an overwhelming time. A knowledgeable and empathetic trusts and estates attorney can guide you through this time and assist you in dealing with the legal aspects of their death and with trusts and estates considerations. At Gonzalez Law, PLLC, our attorneys strive to provide clients with knowledgeable legal advice while alleviating the legal burdens on you during a difficult time. Schedule a free consultation with a Fort Worth, TX estate planning attorney by calling our offices at (817) 349-7330 today.