Things To Consider after Sitting Shiva

The petira (death) of a loved one is one of the most devastating events in a person's life. To make matters worse — at the very time when you feel incapable of dealing with life's routines — you're slammed with an avalanche of financial tasks that require immediate attention. Below is a checklist to use when needed to keep a sad event from becoming even more painful. Responsibility for the various actions can be divided among family members and close friends of the niftar (deceased).

This is the wrong time to make major financial decisions. If you act precipitously, you may make costly mistakes that will be tough to unwind later. Don't allow a salesperson to talk you into buying financial products, such as an annuity or life insurance.
Up to 10 Days After The Petira (death):
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  • Obtain death certificates (usually from the funeral home). Get multiple copies; you will need them for financial institutions, government agencies, and insurers.
  • Take the will to the appropriate county or city office to have it accepted for probate.
  • If necessary, the estate’s executor should open a bank account for the deceased’s estate.

Places to Contact:
  • Social Security (800-772-1213; socialsecurity.gov) and other agencies from which the deceased received benefits, such as Veterans Affairs (800-827-1000; va.gov), to stop payments and ask about applicable survivor benefits.
  • Agency providing pension services, to stop monthly checks and obtain claim forms.
  • Life insurance agent, to obtain claim forms.

For a Spouse:
  • Gather documents including; banking, bills, credit card statements, taxes, life insurance policies, and estate documents.
  • If your spouse ran the household finances, it would be great if they left behind an organized filing system as well as all the passwords you need to access computer files.
  • Other documents to gather: Social Security numbers, birth and marriage certificates, military discharge papers, company benefits booklets, car titles, powers of attorney, and current statements for bank, brokerage and retirement accounts.
  • If you still have children living at home you may be eligible for the following additional Social Security benefits: "Child & Care Benefit" (parent caring for children until the youngest child is 16); "Surviving Child Benefit" (child benefit for children under 18).

For a Parent:
  • Contact utility providers to change or stop service
  • Contact the postal service to stop or forward mail.
  • Contact a trust and estates attorney, to learn how to transfer assets and assist with probate issues.
  • Contact an accountant or tax preparer to find out whether an estate tax return or final income tax return should be filed.
  • Contact bank(s) to verify accounts and safe deposit box.
  • Contact the life insurance agent to get claim forms.

For an Elderly Relative:
  • Know the location of the will, birth certificate, marriage and divorce certificates, Social Security information, life-insurance policies, financial documents, and keys to a safe deposit box or home safe.
  • Have the person complete an advance directive, including a living will, which specifies wanted and unwanted procedures. The person should also appoint a health-care proxy to make medical decisions if he or she becomes incapacitated.
  • Make sure the person gives copies of the documents to his or her doctor and a few family members or friends. Take the documents to the hospital if the person is admitted.