Losing a friend or relative can be upsetting, but the loss of a spouse can be dramatic and overwhelming. Unfortunately, preparing for the loss of your spouse is not always possible, so the death can be even more troublesome. If you have recently lost your spouse and are confused by what to do after this loss, use this guide to help you through their final wishes.
Contact Immediate Family
Once you have some time to gather your thoughts, you will need to contact immediate family to give them the news of your spouse's death. This is important for your spouse and the family, but it is also necessary to ensure you have support and help during this time.
Contact a Funeral Home
You may think your next step is to contact your insurance policy holders or banks to make financial arrangements, but you will most likely be asked to contact a funeral home beforehand. If your spouse has passed away at a hospital or hospice center, they will need you to arrange the transportation of the body from their facility.
Most people will contact a funeral home that is local to their home and the hospital. However, you can also ask the hospital for a recommendation. If your spouse will be buried in a different city or state, you will need to contact a funeral home in that specific area to arrange pickup.
Once transportation is complete, you can work with the director, like one at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home Inc, to arrange your spouse's funeral, burial, or cremation.
Contact Attorneys and Policy Holders
Once the basic funeral arrangements are made, you and an immediate family member should spend time gathering essential documents from lawyers, employers, and insurance policy holders. This will help you determine if your spouse had documents that not only contain final wish requests, but also arrangements for these expenses.
Contact your spouse's attorney and insurance policy holder. Also, you should contact your spouse's employer to determine if they have paperwork on file regarding death benefits. The majority of Americans have enrolled in life insurance benefits through their employer, so checking to see if your spouse had this benefit is crucial. Here are a few documents you should gather:
The above documents will help you through the emotional and financial issues that you will face after the loss of your spouse.
Understanding what to do after death will not bring back your spouse, but it can make the process less stressful. With this guide and the help of family, close friends, and understanding professionals, you will be able to handle the loss of your spouse a little easier.
Share1 December 2016
Growing up, my grandfather owned a substantial amount of property. Besides his home, he owned a clubhouse situated in front of a beautiful, peaceful pond. This clubhouse was the place where my large, extended family met for holiday get-togethers, mid-week fish fries, and birthday parties. Over the years, many special memories were made at this fun place. A few months ago, I discovered that I’m supposed to inherit my grandfather’s clubhouse. I can’t wait to renovate this old structure. I sincerely hope I will host many family gatherings at this beautiful place in the future. On this blog, I hope you will discover tips for making your family gatherings memorable.