Steps to Take to Prepare for a Loved One Has Passed Away

The last thing any of us want is to plan or think about any of our loved ones dying. It means we open ourselves to the reality that one day we are going to experience a lot of pain. Without preparing, however, we open ourselves up to a lot of stress during a time when we should be focusing on grieving. The more you prepare in advance, the less stress there is to handle after their passing. One of the ways that you can prepare is by knowing the steps you need to take, which are as follows:

Contact the Relevant Authorities

If your loved one died in hospital, then the death certificate will be drawn up without too much hassle. It is up to you to then go and contact all of the relevant authorities and to go through their assets. This means contacting their employer if they were still working, their insurance policy, their creditors, and so on. It is a very lengthy process, but it is necessary. You will need the death certificate to send to them.

How to Handle Funeral Costs

The worst part about any death is that to give them a proper goodbye you will, very likely, have to pay upwards of £10,000. This can be more money than any one family has, especially in their savings. If there wasn’t any insurance policy to cover funeral costs set out by your loved one, then you have a few options:

1. Split the cost between siblings, parents, and children.
2. Work with the funeral parlour to set up a payment plan
3. Take out a personal loan

Though it is absolutely not fair if you end up needing to pay for the entire funeral cost without help from your siblings or other family members, it can happen. Before you take that burden on for yourself, work out how much each family member would need to pay. Close family members, like your loved one’s parents, siblings, and adult children are all options. The bigger the family, the less each one would have to pay to share the costs. Don’t pressure people, however, if they cannot afford it.

If it does come down to financing, be smart. You might be expecting money from the will, but if there isn’t any left in your loved one’s savings, you might still be coming up short. Prepare as if you aren’t getting anything so that you can realistically handle the future.

If Something Goes Wrong

The worst part is, of course, that the proceedings following a loved one’s death are not always straightforward. If there is some sort of error in the will, or if there are bills and debts to be paid, then this can draw out and complicate the process. What is important to note here, however, is that you are not alone. If your loved one’s solicitor drew up a faulty will, then they are responsible for that, and you do have precedence. Get help when suing a solicitor, and you can get the compensation you deserve for the error and the distress caused by the fault. This way, even if the issue in the will cannot be rectified, you can at least get something to help cover the funeral costs.

The loss of a loved one is never easy. It can seem daunting having to live life without them, and with funeral preparations and dealing with the will, you may become lost and stressed. Be sure to ask for help.