Planning for the End of Life

Getting Prepared To Identify & Notify Loved One’s Professional Contacts:

To access a loved one’s Professional CONTACTS please note that most of the professions/companies below will not speak with you on your loved one’s behalf unless they have it on record that the dying person has approved your speaking on their behalf.

AARP published a helpful story providing an overview of prioritizing next steps when a loved one dies.

Also handy to have:

  • Loved one’s online user name and passwords
  • Loved one’s Notification list of family, friends and neighbors

NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list; it is only a list of suggestions to help you get the process started:

A Secure first step Get a legal pronouncement of death Death certificates are used to close bank accounts, file insurance claims, register the death w/ government agencies
A Secure first step Postal Service – USPS Go to the post office and put in a forwarding order
A Secure first step Secure the vehicle and home Lock up valuables, pet care, water plants, get mail, clean out frig, etc
A Secure first step Tell employer, friends and family In person, by phone, by text, plus via Facebook, Caring Bridge, etc.
Digital Media Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X (Twitter) YouTube, etc) SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE for more extensive list. Example: Facebook enables assigning a Legacy Contact
Digital Media Streaming Services Netfix, etc. SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE for more extensive list.
Digital Media Streaming Services Link to suggestions – Closing Online Accounts
Financial Accountant or Tax Preparer Identify, if any.
Financial Frequent Flyer accounts May be transferable to a beneficiary or family member
Financial-Debts Credit Cards Notify
Financial-Debts Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicare Drug May be set as Autopay. Notify.
Financial-Debts Mortgage / Rental Co. or Property owner Identify contact(s) & notify
Financial-Debts Outstanding payments for Items, vacations, timeshares, other properties, etc.
Financial-Debts Taxes File a Tax Return for a Deceased Taxpayer
Financial-Income Banks Checking/Savings: was account(s) set as Payable on Death (POD) or Transfer on Death (TOD)
Financial-Income Banks, financial institutions CDs, etc.
Financial-Income Investments 401K, IRAs, Stock, Bonds, etc. If any, determine beneficiary listed on accounts
Financial-Income Pension Suggestion: check bank statement Automatic DEPOSITS for details.
Insurance Insurance Life, Long Term, Home, Auto, Umbrella, Health (if not Medicare Supplemental, etc)
Legal Lawyer Notify, also may have Will.
Legal Find the Will and Notify the Executor
Legal Make a list of bills for the estate to settle
Legal Make an inventory of all assets
Legal Passport Keep or return to have canceled
Legal Probate is the legal process of executing a will
Medical Doctors Notify Primary Doctor, Opthamologist, Dermatologist, Dentist, Physical Therapist, etc.
Medical Nursing Home Notify
Medical Palliative/Hospice Notify
Medical Visiting Nurses Notify
Organizations University / Fraternity / Sorority Notify
Organizations Veterans Admin. Benefits may include a military salute or payment for a headstone or its engraving.
Pets Make sure pets have caretakers
Pets Veterinarian Notify
Prevent Identity Theft Credit Cards Send copies of the death certificate to one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.
Prevent Identity Theft Credit Cards Contact customer service to cancel. Finally, destroy any cards (retain Card statements for records)
Prevent Identity Theft DMV/ Car registration Contact DMV to learn how to to cancel Drivers License
Prevent Identity Theft Voter registration Contact county directly to find out how to remove from the voting rolls.
Social Security Social Security Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death. SSA will contact Medicare
Subscriptions Newspaper / Magazines Cancel (determine from person’s Mail)
Utilities Internet, Cable TV, Electricity, Gas, Garbage, Phone(s), Water Cancel

How to close some online accounts after death – a few links:

Note: This list is not exhaustive & these links may go out of date, you can always ‘search’ for the correct link.

This is not an exhaustive list; it is only a list of suggestions to help you get the process started:

Accountant or Tax Prepayer
Bank Investments (CDs, IRAs, etc)
Cable
Credit Cards
Dentist
DMV/ Car registration
Doctors (GP, Opthamologist, Dermatologist, etc.)
Electricity
Frequent Flyer accounts
Garbage
Gas
Insurance (health, home, auto, umbrella, life, long term care, etc)
Lawyer
Medicare Part B, Medicare Drug, Medicare Supplemental, etc.
Mortgage / Rental Co. or owner
Newspaper / Magazines
Nursing Home
Outstanding payments for items, vacations, timeshares, other properties, etc.
Palliative/Hospice
Passport
Phone
Social Media (example: Facebook enables assigning a Legacy Contact)
Social Security
TV / Streaming /
University / Fraternity / Sorority
USPS
Veterans Admin.
Veterinarian
Visiting Nurses
Voter registration
Water