Losing someone you love is never easy, but it becomes particularly difficult when the responsibilities and arrangements following the death fall to you. It can be hard to grieve when you have to sort through legal and financial paperwork. Your first step is to take a deep breath. You need to take care of yourself through this process. Next, make a checklist of what you must achieve. Some steps, such as funeral arrangements, happen immediately. Others can take weeks or even months to complete. When you have a set to-do list, accomplishing each task becomes a little easier. Make sense of the process with this guide on what to do after the death of a loved one.
Make Funeral Arrangements
Hopefully, you don’t have to make all the funeral decisions yourself. If your loved one already made arrangements regarding their burial or cremation, you will simply have to confirm these plans with the funeral director and any other relevant individuals. If funeral arrangements fall to you, there are several details to consider. You must arrange for the burial or cremation and finalize the details of the service. Most importantly, you should contact other friends and family members to notify them of the service. Remember that you don’t have to do any of this alone. Other loved ones can take on some details of the funeral, write the obituary, and notify others of the time and date of the service.
Manage Finances and Property
No one wants to trudge through paperwork as they grieve, but it’s a necessary part of what to do after the death of a loved one. You will have to coordinate with the bank, the life insurance company, employers, the Social Security Administration, and more. Be sure to discontinue any utilities, subscriptions, and any other regular payments. Work with creditors to pay off loans and any other outstanding balances. However, remember that you aren’t personally responsible for your loved one’s debts unless you co-signed for a loan or the debt falls to you as the spouse.
Find Help for Yourself
Grief is difficult, especially when it comes with so much responsibility. Make sure you take care of yourself even as you sort through the whirlwind of arrangements and paperwork. Connect with friends and family members so that you can lend and receive support as you need it. Keep an eye out for signs that you could use professional help for your grief. If you focus too much on what you need to do and not enough on processing your emotions, the grieving process becomes much more difficult for you in the long run. When you take care of yourself through it all, you have a much better chance of handling the stress and hardship in constructive, healthy ways.
