Funeral services help bring closure to all affected by the death of their loved ones. This emotional closure gives you the energy and willpower to finalize the post-funeral checklists. Below are five things to remember to do after a funeral to keep your affairs in order and move forward.

What to Take Care of After Funeral Services

1. Send Death Notices

After your loved one’s funeral service, you will have to send out notifications to the appropriate organizations. Think of employers, attorneys, insurance companies, Social Security, banks, credit card companies, and mortgage companies.

It is essential to ascertain a death certificate after a person passes since you’ll need the evidence when sending out death notices. Your funeral home will request copies of the certificate for you, and the state will hold the death records of the deceased as well. If your loved one had life insurance, send the death certificate with the notice to the life insurance company or companies. Sometimes people take out more than one policy.

Certain organizations such as Social Security, the Veteran’s Administration, and retirement plans offer financial assistance to help cover the costs. Talk to the funeral home about how to apply for these benefits, and ensure you have a death certificate when doing so.

2. Pay the Bills

While some who have passed paid their bills automatically online each month, others do not. Make sure not to miss any of the deceased’s remaining invoices. Check their mail, email, and previous bank statements for notifications of payments. Keep up with any future payments and ensure no bill becomes unmanageable.

3. Check for a Will

Contact the family attorney and ask if the deceased left a will. Ensure the attorney does not have anything on record before searching other avenues for a will.  You may want to check a home safe, a bank’s safety deposit box, or the state Will Registry.

4. Redirect Mail

Visit the local post office or go online to the USPS website and submit a change of address form. You’ll want to redirect any of the deceased’s mail to your address or another family member. You’ll be able to stay on top of any incoming mail without having to stop by the deceased’s house throughout the week to pick it up.

5. Transfer Vehicle Titles

You will also need to inform the DMV of any vehicle’s change in ownership after the funeral service. Whether the deceased had a car, motorcycle, or boat, notify the DMV about its change in status. If any of the vehicles were insured, remember to contact the insurance companies as well.

If you need further assistance with what to do after the funeral service or help with funeral planning, rely on Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home in Charles Town and Harpers Ferry, WV. Established in 1918, they pride themselves on compassionate customer service that’s available 24/7. To discuss your requirements, call (304) 724-6500 or visit their website.