Dealing with a death in the family can be stressful. However, dealing with finances after someone passes away in the family can even add more stress to the plate. These are some tips that can be useful to lift any burden or stress you may encounter with handling finances after a death.
Motif outlines a few tips on how to ease the stress. One of his first tips is to avoid making emotional decisions. Don’t make a hasty decision that you might regret later, instead wait it out a few months when you are emotionally ready. Next he mentions that you should reach out for help. Reaching out for help can be simple as contacting their financial advisor (if they have one) or another family member for assistance.
The next step would be to obtain several copies of the death certificate. Obtaining copies are important because you might need them as supplemental evidence when you visit financial institutions or insurance providers. Motif also recommends that you contact their previous employer, especially if they were still working before they passed away. Calling their employer will give you the answers you need like if they had benefits that will cover family members or life insurance policies.
To read more useful tips in how to resolve finances after a death in the family read the article here by Anna-Louise Jackson from Nerdwallet on Estate planning: How to resolve finances after a death in the family.
