When a loved one passes away, it’s common to feel overwhelmed and overwrought with emotion. Unfortunately, you’ll have to deal with responsibilities and logistics as you mourn. If you don’t know what to do when a friend or a family member has passed, here are a few helpful tips:
Follow Their Wishes
Unless your loved one had specific wishes, you must make funeral arrangements for them. Talk to other family members and close friends when you’re deciding where their body will be laid to rest. They might have some ideas on what the deceased might have wanted, or they might know of a pre-arranged plan. Don’t forget to consider what they would have wanted. Try to incorporate their taste and wants, from the music to the food.
Get a Certification
One of the most important documents after a person passes is the death certificate. Depending on the state where you live, it might even be required before the body can be buried or cremated. It’s also necessary so that you can retrieve benefits, insurance, and pension.
Some states allow the option of requesting a death certificate online or by mail. You can learn how to get a copy at your state through the CDC’s website.
Inform Friends and Family
Before you notify others about their death, consult friends and family. If the circumstances are complicated, it may be better to wait or keep the cause of death under wraps for now.
If your loved one is old-fashioned, you can opt to submit an obituary at the local newspaper. Most publications require fees, while others also have certain requirements. For example, the Washington Post requires that a person must have lived 20 years in the city to have a dedicated part in the paper.
For deceased people who were avid users of social media, you can request to memorialize their accounts. It’s a good way to keep their memories and remember their words. Plus, it also a good way not to let anyone impersonate them. Once it’s been reported that the owner has died, their account can’t be modified. Sites such as Facebook and Instagram allow memorialized accounts.
Arrange Their Belongings
While it’s difficult to let go, it’s necessary to find a new use for the things they left behind. But this doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of everything they owned. Make sure to keep their favorite things or repurpose those that can be reused. The important thing is that you shouldn’t let the things waste away when they could be useful.
Consider giving away some of the clothes and possessions to charity. If your loved one was passionate about a cause, it would be best to donate to a charity they supported. Another option is to have a garage sale. You could use the money to pay for the funeral costs, or you could donate it to a good cause.
It is difficult to deal with legal documents and paperwork after a person’s death. But it is necessary. Remember that grief has no timetable. Take things one at a time. Don’t hesitate to ask for help so that you won’t get overwhelmed.
