Following a death, the last thing you want to think about is handling a bunch of details but unfortunately it is something that needs to be done. This checklist can assist in working through the various details that you may have not even thought about. A printable version of this checklist can be downloaded and printed out for your convenience.

Grieving is a process and you may be seeking some help in dealing with what you are feeling. Visit the Grief and Guidance page on our website for help and resources available.  

Hinton-Turner Funeral Home notifies Social Security Administration of the death electronically. If you have any questions and/or are eligible for survivor or minor children benefits, please contact the Social Security Administration at www.socialsecurity.gov or by telephone at 1-800-772-1213, Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. Note: If the deceased was receiving benefits, most checks that arrive after death will need to be returned to the Social Security Administration.

Hinton-Turner Funeral Home obtains copies of the death certificate for you. The state of Kentucky charges $6.00 each. It may take several weeks for certified copies to be available. These are required for proof of death to change the title on the deceased’s assets such as automobiles, bank accounts, stock certificates and life insurance policies.

Notify the deceased’s employer, Human Resource Department or Insurance Department. Inquire about life insurance,health insurance for the survivor and children, profit sharing and pension, if applicable.

File a claim against every policy. If needed, Hinton-Turner Funeral Home is available to assist you with this process. If the deceased is listed as the beneficiary on any other life insurance policy, request the required forms to name a new beneficiary.

Contact the health insurance carrier for instructions.

Contact the company from where the pension or profit sharing is received for instructions.

If the deceased received an honorable discharge, there may be burial and other benefits available. Hinton-Turner Funeral Home will assist you obtaining those benefits if eligible. One of the veteran benefits would be a government monument or marker. There are several choices involved and we will gladly assist you by completing the required documentation. There may be a cost involved with placing the marker that will be your responsibility unless other arrangements are made.

If the deceased was a member, inquire about benefits.

Inquire on all loans, service contracts and credit cards to find out if they were covered by credit life insurance. If yes, the balance would be paid in full at the time of death and the deceased’s estate would owe nothing. If they were not covered by credit life insurance, then contact the creditor(s) to continue payment.

Notify credit card companies of the death. If the card(s) was issued in the deceased and survivor’s names, you may want to find out the requirements to change and issue a new card(s) solely in the survivor’s name. Note: Inquire about transferring frequent flyer miles, if applicable.

If a joint account(s) exists, you may wish to name someone else to the account. If social security checks were being directly deposited into an account, the financial institution needs to be notified of the death. If the deceased’s estate is in trust, contact the Trust Department of the financial institution for instructions. Note: Some credit unions offer life insurance.

Change stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit and all other investments into the survivor’s name. Financial institutions and stock brokers have required forms. Transfer real estate title of jointly held property with the register deed’s office in the county where the real estate is located. Also, have joint property reappraised for tax purposes.

If the surviving spouse is the beneficiary, decide whether to roll the IRA over to the surviving spouse’s IRA account(s).

Ensure the homeowner’s policy is updated and continues to provide adequate coverage for the deceased’s property until removed from the home, if the home is being sold. If the home was rented, cancel the lease after removing the deceased’s property.

Contact the insurance company about accident insurance. If the deceased’s death was accidental, additional benefits or unused premiums may be due to you.

Contact the automobile insurance company about accident insurance. If the deceased’s death was due to an automobile accident, additional benefits or unused premiums may be due to you. Also, ensure the insurance company continues to cover the deceased’s automobile(s) until it is sold or transferred to a beneficiary.

Contact the Circuit Court Clerk office immediately to cancel the deceased’s driver’s license to prevent fraud. To transfer an automobile title, you will need to provide a copy of the death certificate, current title and proof of insurance to the County Court Clerk.

Contact the Federal and State tax offices to determine legal requirements regarding inheritance and estate taxes. Also, review the income tax situation for possible adjustments of withholding or estimates for increased or decreased taxliabilities.

The survivor may want to consult an attorney regarding the disposition of the estate. The attorney will be able to assist in matters such as changing property deeds and titles, disposition of bank accounts, stocks and bonds and probating the will (file within 30 days of death, unless adequate steps have been taken to avoid probate). Discuss attorney fees and have a written retainer agreement. Also, it may be an appropriate time for the survivor to create and/or update their will.

The survivor may want to speak with an accountant or financial adviser. Compile a list of all the assets at the time of death, i.e., copies of property deeds and titles, statements, etc. This information is required for filing federal and state estate tax returns.

• Organize all paperwork and review the present financial situation.

• Keep an up-to-date account of all cash income and expenses.

• Keep detailed notes including names, phone numbers, tasks you need to complete and required deadlines.

• Pay all bills and taxes owed as soon as possible including funeral, taxes, mortgage, medical bills, etc. incurred.

• Close any accounts that are no longer required.

• Required Documents:(Compile and place this documents in a safe place where you can find them as they are needed. )

You may already have a monument or grave marker. In that case you will need to contact a monument company to have the death date engraved. Typically, they will have someone that will periodically engrave dates when they are in the area. Should you need a monument, we recommend you contact a local monument company who can give you guidance in selecting a fitting monument or memorial.

When a loved one dies, the grief and emotional stress of making arrangements can be overwhelming. By planning and funding these details in advance, it relieves your family not only from the responsibility of decision making at a difficult time, but also a potential financial burden. In addition, a prepaid funeral guarantees many prices at the time of purchase. Hinton-Turner Funeral Home is here to assist you. Please contact us to set up an appointment.