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legal_affairs [2024/06/30 16:59] – [Estate and Personal Affairs] davidhudlegal_affairs [2024/10/11 20:31] (current) – bogmire
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 ====== Estate and Personal Affairs ====== ====== Estate and Personal Affairs ======
  
-====== Actions to Take ======+Recommended steps to ensure you are properly prepared to manage the affairs of your loved one's estate. 
  
-=== 1. Notify Family and Friends ===+===== 1. Notify Family and Friends =====
  
-=== 2. Obtain a Death Certificate ===+===== 2. Obtain a Death Certificate =====
  
 A hospital or nursing facility will most likely help coordinate the death certificate, but if not here is a helpful resource: [[https://getcarefull.com/articles/how-to-get-a-death-certificate|How to get a death certificate in the US, by state]]  A hospital or nursing facility will most likely help coordinate the death certificate, but if not here is a helpful resource: [[https://getcarefull.com/articles/how-to-get-a-death-certificate|How to get a death certificate in the US, by state]] 
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 It is normally necessary to request several copies, as a death certificate will be required by many institutions that you will need to work with, such as banks, utilities, etc. It is normally necessary to request several copies, as a death certificate will be required by many institutions that you will need to work with, such as banks, utilities, etc.
  
-=== 3. Determine if your parent had a Trust or Will ===+===== 3. Determine if your parent had a Trust or Will =====
  
 This will allow you to initiate the probate process - See FAQs //What is Probate// This will allow you to initiate the probate process - See FAQs //What is Probate//
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-=== 4. Find An Estate Attorney (optional but recommended) ===+===== 4. Find an Estate Attorney (optional, recommended) =====
  
 An Estate Attorney will help you navigate the probate process, which is often complicated and includes court filings and court appearances An Estate Attorney will help you navigate the probate process, which is often complicated and includes court filings and court appearances
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 Estate attorneys are generally paid at the end of the probate process from the estate. For more information please see FAQs: //Can I afford an Estate Attorney// Estate attorneys are generally paid at the end of the probate process from the estate. For more information please see FAQs: //Can I afford an Estate Attorney//
  
-Link – Find an Estate Attorney+Link –  [[https://www.google.com/search?q=estate+attorney+near+me|Find an Estate Attorney]]
  
-=== 5. Notify Financial Institutions ===+===== 5. Notify Financial Institutions =====
  
 You will need to contact your parent’s bank, pension provider, credit card companies, loan providers and any other financial institutions to notify them of your parent’s death.  You will need to contact your parent’s bank, pension provider, credit card companies, loan providers and any other financial institutions to notify them of your parent’s death. 
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 Having physical and digital copies of the death certificate will be necessary Having physical and digital copies of the death certificate will be necessary
  
-=== 6. Cancel Unnecessary Utilities And Services ===+===== 6. Cancel Unnecessary Utilities and Services =====
  
 Do your best to collect and organize your parent’s mail to get a sense of all services for which they are receiving bills. Do your best to collect and organize your parent’s mail to get a sense of all services for which they are receiving bills.
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       * Consider deactivating your parent’s email and social media accounts to prevent identity theft. Some social media sites such as Facebook [[https://www.facebook.com/help/103897939701143/|allow an account to be memorialized]] so that friends and family can share memories about the person who has died.       * Consider deactivating your parent’s email and social media accounts to prevent identity theft. Some social media sites such as Facebook [[https://www.facebook.com/help/103897939701143/|allow an account to be memorialized]] so that friends and family can share memories about the person who has died.
  
-=== 7. File A Tax Return ===+===== 7. File a Final Tax Return =====
  
 A final tax return will need to be filed on behalf of your parent to cover any taxes that are owed.  A final tax return will need to be filed on behalf of your parent to cover any taxes that are owed. 
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 ===What if my parent was in debt at the time of their passing?=== ===What if my parent was in debt at the time of their passing?===
 If your parent dies with debt, the debts will be settled during the probate process. Any assets or property your parent had will be used to pay off debts before any money can be passed on to heirs. Learn more about what to do if your parent dies with debt. If your parent dies with debt, the debts will be settled during the probate process. Any assets or property your parent had will be used to pay off debts before any money can be passed on to heirs. Learn more about what to do if your parent dies with debt.
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 +~~DISCUSSION~~