Serving families
after the loss of
a loved one.
How do I plan a meaningful funeral?
What if we want our loved one buried in another city or state?
How many certified copies of the death certificate should I order?
Why would an autopsy be performed?
Why do I need to contact the Social Security Administration?
What do I need to do after the funeral?
What is an executor or personal representative?
Who can be the personal representative?
If I am the personal representative, is there anyone who can help?
Where do I get copies of birth certificates?
Our family is fighting over everything, what can we do?
Why is identity theft prevention an issue after someone has passed away?
As the surviving spouse, what steps do I need to take next?
I am so down, what should I do?
Very soon it will be necessary to select a funeral home. If you do not know which funeral home to use, see the List of Arizona Funeral Homes on the Information page. It may be wise to discuss options with a couple of funeral homes to find someone that you are comfortable working with and to help you get a better understanding of pricing and options available to you and your family. Referrals from friends and family may also be valuable. Also be sure that the immediate needs of dependents and pets are cared for.
How do I plan a meaningful funeral?
Look over the Considerations for a Funeral guide on the Resources page for information to consider when planning a funeral. You can print the Considerations for a Funeral booklet which provides you with those things to consider as well as a worksheet to help you with planning, tracking and organizing information. You may feel overwhelmed with things to do, as well as with grief over the loss, use the materials in this booklet to help track your thoughts and the important information coming at you during this time. Your funeral director and clergy will also be very valuable resources in helping with these plans.
Inform immediate family members first, once they are aware they may want to assist you with informing others. Before informing too many people, you may want to have funeral service information available to save you from making multiple calls. Use the Family & Friends to Contact form on the Resources page to help you keep track of information and contacts. Notify clergy and make arrangements with a funeral home.
What if we want our loved one buried in another city or state?
If you would like to have your loved one buried in another city or state, you will still need to contact a local funeral director to help you in making arrangements for transportation and arrangements in the city or state where you wish to have the burial. Please be advised that you will be required to pay charges for both funeral homes used, the one making arrangements for sending and the one receiving.
The death certificate is the official document to verify the death of an individual. The funeral director will ask you for information so that he or she can complete the death certificate. The following information will be needed for the funeral director to complete the death certificate: (1) the full name of the deceased (2) the Social Security Number (3) name of parents (4) mother's maiden name (5) place and date of birth (6) name of doctor (7) Military service information if applicable.
How many certified copies of the death certificate should I order?
Your funeral director will order as many certified copies of the death certificate as you would like. You will need several of the certified copies to take care of final details related to any accounts, all insurance policies, to transfer property, and to make official notifications. It is recommended that you order 10-15 copies now through the funeral director (or more if there is a large estate). You can order additional copies later through the office of Vital Statistics, however it may be time consuming to do it at a later date.
Why would an autopsy be performed?
An autopsy may be performed if there are questions about the cause of death. Family may also request an autopsy if the cause was unknown. You may hear the term 'medical examiner's case' or a 'coroner's case' when an autopsy is going to be performed. If an autopsy is performed, the funeral director will be in contact with the Medical Examiner's Office to determine the earliest time for the funeral director to make funeral arrangements. If your loved one's death has been classified as a medical examiner's case, you are asked to contact the Medical Examiner's Office when you have selected a funeral home. You may reach them at (602) 506-3322.
Why do I need to contact the Social Security Administration?
It is necessary to contact the Social Security Administration to report the death of your loved one and to stop any unwarranted Social Security payments. Contacting Social Security will also help to prevent any penalties as well as help to protect the identity of the person who has died. You will also want to discuss survivor's benefits for a spouse or minor children. You can reach the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. They are available M - F from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Their website is www.ssa.gov
You may not have to, but it is strongly advised that you seek the advise of a probate attorney. Handling an estate can be very complex work. It is advised that you talk to an attorney to determine how best to handle the will, the estate, claims, taxes and probate. Being responsible for the estate of another is a tremendous legal responsibility, you will want to get the professional advice and services that you need to make sure that the estate is handled according to Arizona law. See the worksheet on the Resources page to help you collect information to present to an attorney when discussing your case.
What do I need to do after the funeral?
In the first week or so after the death, it will be important to collect necessary documents for meeting with your attorney and to begin processing benefits, claims and beginning the probate process.
See the Resources page for tools to help you track and organize information in the weeks and months ahead.
The kinds of things to be collecting include:
(1) Certified and photo copies of the death certificate. There is a cost for the certified copies, so ask the agencies you are dealing with whether they need a certified copy or if a photo copy will suffice.
(2) All insurance policies should be collected, even if they appear to be no longer effective, keep all policies at this point. Collect auto, home, health and life insurance policies. Also look for insurance policies issued from professional organizations, credit card companies, an employer, accident policies and long-term care policies. At this point all of these may be beneficial. Keep them in a safe place. Be sure to check in the safe deposit box if there is one.
(3) Collect and record the Social Security numbers for the spouse and any dependents.
(4) Keep safe any discharge papers from service in the U.S. Military.
(5) Locate any marriage license or decree of divorce. You can get copies at the office of the County Clerk where the marriage license was issued.
(6) Locate birth certificates for dependent children. See the Information page for contact information for obtaining birth and death certificates from any state.
(7) If there was a will or any trust documents, keep them safe and take them to your lawyer as soon as feasible. Make and keep a copy for your records. Be sure to take any and all wills that may exist, as well as anything termed "codicil", which is an addition or amendment to a will.
(8) Create a complete list of the property. This includes real estate, business, and business partnerships, stocks, bonds, accounts, equipment, livestock and personal property of the deceased. Our Meeting With an Attorney worksheet on the Resources page is a helpful tool to keep track of this kind of information. Keep any titles to property you find with this list.
Use this information when you talk to or meet with an attorney so that he or she can give you the most accurate information regarding the procedures and costs to handle this estate.
Once you locate the will of the deceased, keep it in a safe place. Make a copy of it for your records and take the original to your attorney. If you are having difficulty locating the will, check with the deceased person's attorney. Determine if there is a safe deposit box. Look through the personal files and papers of the deceased person.
If there is no will, then you will hear the term "intestate," which means without a will. When someone dies without a will, the court will appoint someone to act as the personal representative of the estate. The property will be dispersed to family according to state law.
Probate means 'proving the will.' However the term probate is used much more generally and often includes the process of having the will accepted by the court and oversight of the administration of the estate. This includes caring for the property, paying allowable claims, costs of administration and taxes, distributing the estate assets to the lawful beneficiaries and closing the estate. These functions are usually carried out by the person named in the will to act as the personal representative. If no one is named as the personal representative, the probate court will appoint someone as defined by statute.
What is an executor or personal representative?
If there is a will, it will typically name someone as the personal representative or 'executor' of the estate. (The term "executor" is an old term, in Arizona the courts use the term "personal representative" to mean the same as executor.) The personal representative will work closely with the attorney to ensure that the final details are handled according to state probate laws. The personal representative will submit the will to the court, inventory property, pay allowable claims and taxes, identify assets, distribute property to the rightful beneficiary or heir and close the estate. If you are responsible to act as the personal representative, no property should be transferred until proper authorization has been obtained. Your attorney will help with this. If you are serving as the personal representative, inform beneficiaries that you will keep all of the property safe and distribute gifts when authorized to do so. It will be your job to safeguard property and keep beneficiaries informed of the status of the case and property.
Who can be the personal representative?
If the personal representative has not been named, or the person died intestate (without a will), then there are laws regarding who can be named to serve as the personal representative. Your attorney can assist you in determining who should serve as the personal representative for the estate.
When a family chooses, Leslie Mann-Damon, a Certified Fiduciary in private practice may be appointed by the court to serve as the Professional Personal Representative of the estate. Please call us if you are interested in additional information about this option.
If I am the personal representative, is there anyone who can help?
To begin with, your attorney and their staff will be a valuable resource. If you don't have an attorney and need to hire one, find one that you are comfortable working with, it may be a long process. You may want to consult family and friends or refer to the Arizona Bar Association for a listing of lawyers specializing in probate matters.
If you would like help with performing responsibilities of the personal representative, this is our specialty. Next Steps for Families, LLC will work closely with you and your attorney and assist you with all of the responsibilities related to serving as the personal representative and caring for all aspects of the real and personal property.
Please call us for a consultation to see how best we can meet the needs of your family and the estate.
What is a fiduciary?
Fiduciary literally means, the highest form of legal trust. A fiduciary is someone who accepts the responsibility of taking care of the needs or property of another person for the benefit of that person. The fiduciary serves in a role of trust. Fiduciaries serve by court-appointment as guardians, conservators or personal representatives of estates. They also serve by agreement as trustees, representative payees for Social Security income or other income benefit plans, or as agents under powers of attorney. (Arizona Fiduciary Association). Fiduciaries must be certified by the Licensing and Certification Division of the Supreme Court of Arizona
Where do I get copies of birth certificates?
You can order birth and death certificates through the Office of Vital Statistics. Visit their website for more information about ordering birth and death certificates. Their website also provides information and regulations for ordering certificates from Arizona, as well as other states.
You will find the assistance of many professionals especially helpful in the coming months. Caring for the final details of an estate can be very complex, you deserve the assistance professionals have to offer in taking care of these final details.
Consider the services of an experienced probate attorney, an accountant or tax advisor, professional fiduciary and others who can ease some of the burden and ensure that the details are completed in accordance with the laws of Arizona.
Call Next Steps for Families, LLC for assistance. We can arrange for third-party services, assess the needs of surviving family members and provide help processing and caring for the property.
Our family is fighting over everything, what can we do?
After a loss in the family, emotions are often tender and disputes may arise. Next Steps for Families, LLC can conduct a formal family meeting or mediation to help communicate the processes as well as help families to work through issues related to the property.
Why is identity theft prevention an issue after someone has passed away?
Unfortunately, there are many stories about spouses and family members who find out that someone has used the personal information of their deceased loved one to obtain credit and create debt. The creditors then come after the family. The family may not be responsible for the debt, however they are likely to get multiple inquiries, demand letters and phone calls until the situation is properly handled.
At Next Steps for Families, LLC we utilize an identity theft prevention process to help protect personal information and offer a document destruction service to eliminate unnecessary documents.
Please see the Information page regarding fraudulent schemes targeted at the families of recently deceased family members.
An assessment is an interview with the surviving spouse or family to obtain information to determine their preferences and to help identify services that they may like or benefit from. We also assess the environment for both issues of safety and convenience. We will discuss individual preferences and identify services that may be useful to consider during this time of transition. We will arrange a consultation with qualified providers for services of interest to you for surviving family members.
If the deceased was a Veteran who received a discharge other than dishonorable, survivors may be eligible for a lump-sum payment of $300.00 for burial expenses, as well as $150.00 toward a burial plot in a private cemetery. Burial is free for Veterans, their spouses and dependent children in a VA National Cemetery. Veterans are also eligible for a headstone or grave marker and a flag at no charge. Your funeral director will help you with the process of applying for these benefits. If the Veteran was receiving disability payments, the spouse and dependent children may be entitled to monthly payments. Check with your regional Veterans' Affairs Office to determine eligibility.
As the surviving spouse, what steps do I need to take next?
After the funeral, use the Next Steps worksheet on the Resources page to help you determine what needs to be done next.
With regards to the details of the property, keep the following in mind:
Insurance policies: As the survivor you may need to determine if the beneficiaries you have listed on your own insurance policies are correct. They may need updated. You should also review accuracy and coverage for other policies such as auto, home and long-term care.
This also applies to other accounts and titles on property. You should review titles on automobiles, your home and other property and make necessary changes.
Another consideration is medical insurance. If the deceased's employer covered you or any dependents with medical insurance, you would still be eligible for coverage for up to 36 months as long as you pay the premiums. You will need to look at the coverage and premiums and consider whether to continue this coverage or make other arrangements for coverage.
As mentioned above, the titles to accounts will need to be updated to reflect the proper beneficiaries. You may want to contact an attorney for assistance.
Your will, durable power of attorney and advanced directives should also be updated to reflect the proper instructions and beneficiaries. You may want to contact your attorney for assistance.
With regards to credit cards, cancel cards that were held exclusively in the name of the deceased person. Payment for a credit card held in the deceased person's name alone will be paid for by the estate. If the account was jointly held, contact the credit card company to have the name on the card updated. Be sure to continue making payments on cards that have your name on them.
I am so down, what should I do?
Grief and mourning over the loss of someone you love is very difficult. We have listed a number of support groups and counselors specializing in grief on the Information page and reading materials and articles that you may find helpful on the Resources page. You are in our thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time.
It is also beneficial to see the Information and Resource pages which contain a number of resources that you may find helpful and which may answer some of your additional questions.
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