Immediate Need

To begin sorting through property and other belongings, you will need to find the will and executor. Typically, an executor is named in the will. This person will need to be involved in many of the following steps. In the case that there isn’t a will, a probate judge will name an administrator, in place of an executor.

To more easily complete the rest of the steps, secure certified copies of death certificates (and lots of them) through the help of the funeral home or from the vital statistics office. These copies will be used in order to close accounts, file claims, etc.

Another thing that will make things easier is hiring a Trusts and Estates attorney. While not necessary, a general rule of thumb is that if the estate is valued at $50,000 plus, a Trusts and Estates attorney will be a great help in navigating what can be a very complicated process.

Now it’s time to take the will to probate, i.e., executing the will. During this process, the probate court will ensure that all debts or other liabilities are taken care of before distributing assets to the beneficiaries.

All assets (investment portfolios, homes, cars, etc.) will need to be filed in probate court — which can be a bit of a process. It may be helpful to hire an appraiser to help with household items or other such physical objects. In some cases, you will need to track down assets that are in other locations or missing. Search firms take a cut of the value in return for their help.

As far as finances go, it is important to make a list of bills (such as taxes, utilities, etc.) and share this with the executor so that these expenses are taken care of while the estate is getting settled. Also be sure to get in touch with credit agencies, banks, and financial advisors to let them know of your loved one’s passing. Many of these institutions will require a death certificate to close out accounts.

In the same vein, cancel subscriptions that are no longer needed, like TV streaming services, phone plans, and grocery/food delivery services. Close out credit card accounts and cut the cards afterward to prevent theft. If there are joint users, you will be able to remove the deceased from the account. Also be sure to close out home, auto, and health insurance policies, and remember to ask that any unused premium be returned.

Your loved one’s passport can be kept as a memento or can be returned to the government to protect against identity theft concerns.

The driver’s license requires a bit more care — it is important to cancel the license because then their name will be removed from the DMV’s records and keep a copy of the canceled license in your records, which may be needed to close out other accounts.

Update voter registration to remove your loved one from voting polls. Here’s how to do it in WA, since rules vary by state.

Finally, close out email accounts and decide what you want to do with social media accounts. You may want to delete social profiles, or turn them into memorial pages.