Losing a loved one can take a large emotional toll on you and your family. It’s especially difficult when someone close to you dies under abnormal circumstances. While you may be grieving, you do have some obligations to take care of immediately after their passing. Here are some of those checklist items.
Get an Official Declaration of Death.
Typically, people who die in medical custody or a professional center have an official cause of death declaration. For people who have untimely deaths at home or in an atypical environment, you need to hire a medical professional to officiate the cause of death. As soon as you notice your loved one died, call 911 immediately so their body can be transported to the hospital and subsequently a funeral home. This allows you to efficiently handle arrangements and legal matters.
Contact the Family Members.
You’ll want to alert the deceased person’s family as soon as possible. You can either find the recently deceased’s contacts or you can speak to someone close to them in order to send a mass message to everyone else. Family members, coworkers, and anyone else the recently deceased cared for should be informed as soon as possible so they can attend any future services.
Speak to an Attorney.
If your loved one dies due to the negligence of a caretaker or medical practitioner, you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney. They can help you with your wrongful death law claims for proper compensation. Sometimes, serious injuries can lead to death later on if they were able to cause fatal damages. Be sure to speak to a professional about how injuries and wrongful death are related.
Handle Their Personal Responsibilities Immediately.
If your loved one has a pet or children, you’ll need to quickly make boarding arrangements. It’s also important that you secure their home so their pieces of property are not vandalized or stolen. After a couple of weeks when everything has been officiated, you’ll need to automate their bills and expenses.
Get Rid of Their Social Media Accounts.
For some people, looking at a recently passed loved one’s social media can be devastating. Take some time to delete their social media accounts. On the other hand, you can memorialize their accounts. This allows friends and family to post messages to pay their respects.
The unexpected loss of someone you love can deeply hurt you. However, pain shouldn’t keep you from handling your responsibilities. With this checklist, you and everyone involved can send the deceased home in peace.
This article is from Brooke Chaplan, a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.
