A Survivor’s Checklist
This is a checklist of important things to do when someone close to you dies in North Carolina. Endswell recognizes that closing out someone’s affairs can be an overwhelming process, especially while you are grieving. By providing you with this checklist, with all of these things written in one place, we hope to help alleviate some of that burden.
Endswell’s Assistance
Death Certificates
Endswell will provide you with certified copies of the death certificate as quickly as we are able to obtain them from the Register of Deeds office in the county where death occurred. While we provide 3 copies free of charge, we can obtain more for an additional cost of $10 per copy. Most of our clients choose to order between 5-10 copies. It all depends on your personal circumstances.
Death certificates are used for closing out a deceased person’s affairs, including, but not limited to:
- Bank accounts, credit/debit cards
- Insurance policies
- Retirement accounts
- Investments, stocks, and bonds
- The VA, if the deceased was a veteran
- Any vehicles or property in their name
- Electric/utility companies (a death certificate is usually not required here, but rarely, companies will ask to see them)
Some of these agencies will accept a photocopy of the death certificate, while others will require a certified copy. If you run low on certified copies, you can request additional copies from Endswell, or directly from the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred.
Social Security
When submitting the death certificate for printing, Endswell will notify the Social Security Administration of the death. For this reason, you typically do not need to provide the Social Security Administration with a death certificate.
If the deceased was your spouse, you may be eligible for a $255 one-time lump sum death benefit from Social Security. The SSA should not need to hear from you to disburse this benefit.
If the deceased was receiving monthly Social Security payments, and did not have a spouse, the monthly payments should stop automatically. If the deceased had a spouse, and they both received monthly Social Security payments, the lesser of the two will stop, and the spouse will continue to receive the greater of the two.
While Social Security should automatically adjust any monthly payments, you may need to contact them if a payment is received erroneously after the death has occurred. The local Social Security office, which serves the greater Triangle area, can be called at (877) 803-6311.
In most cases, you should not need to make an appointment with Social Security to close anything out. However, there are special circumstances where this is necessary. We will include more information about these circumstances in the “Miscellaneous” section toward the end of this document.
Obituary
Endswell can post an obituary on a featured page on our website, with up to 50 photos. We are also able to obtain quotes to post a version in a local paper. If you need help writing an obituary, please contact us for assistance.
First Steps
Notify Close Friends and Family
Inform close friends, family, and community members. It may be helpful to involve a friend or family member who can assist notifying others that the death has occurred.
Notify Employers
Notify the decedent’s employer to address any logistical concerns, retrieve any personal belongings from their place of work, and discuss outstanding benefits with the decedent’s employer.
Forward Mail
Contact the local post office to forward the deceased’s mail to a trusted person’s address to ensure important communications are not missed.
Secure Property
Ensure the deceased’s property is secure, changing locks if necessary. Locate vital documents (will, deeds, insurance policies). Locate cell phones, tablets, and computers that may have sensitive and important data. Move any vehicles to a safe location.
Next Steps
For these steps, you will likely need to have the certified death certificates before proceeding.
Legal and Financial Consultations
Set appointments with lawyers and financial advisors to understand the steps and legal proceedings necessary for settling the estate.
Bank Accounts
Create a detailed inventory of all bank and investment accounts, and work with the respective financial institutions to close or transfer the accounts
Credit Cards and Loans
Notify all credit card companies and loan agencies of the death to settle debts and close accounts.
Insurance Policies
Identify and contact all insurance providers (life, health, auto, home) to either file claims or to adjust policies.
Utilities and Services
Work with utility companies to either transfer or terminate services. Cancel subscriptions, memberships, and ongoing deliveries to save unnecessary expenses.
Report to Credit Agencies
Inform the major credit reporting agencies of the death to freeze the credit report and prevent identity theft. Here are the contact details for major U.S. credit agencies:
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
Estate Settlement
Proceed with estate settlement, ensuring a fair distribution of assets as outlined in the will or according to state laws, which might involve selling properties or assets.
Taxes
Collaborate with a tax consultant to address the necessary state and federal tax filings, including the final income tax return and potential estate taxes.
Property and Asset Management
Manage property and assets diligently, ensuring proper transfer, sale, or donation, and updating property deeds and vehicle registrations as necessary.
Additional Steps
These are optional, and may or may not be applicable to your situation. Endswell encourages you to do what is best for your grieving process.
Memorial Services
Plan and hold a memorial service or a community gathering to remember the deceased, coordinating with religious organizations or community groups if needed. Endswell can help you plan a funeral or memorial service at our Hillsborough location, with a maximum capacity of 70 people. If you plan to invite a larger group or if you would prefer to hold a service elsewhere, we are here to help you plan and coordinate a personalized service.
Support and Counseling
Encourage family members to seek support or counseling to cope with the loss, and consider joining grief support groups or forums. Endswell has published a list of local grief groups and resources on our website. https://endswellfuneralhome.com/grief-resources/
Obituary
As previously mentioned, Endswell can provide an obituary on our website that stays up indefinitely. Writing an obituary and going through photos can be helpful for someone’s grief experience, as they reflect on the memories that are evoked through this process.
Miscellaneous
Special Circumstances with Social Security
To qualify for Social Security death benefits, the deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security, ranging from 1.5-10 years, depending on their age at death. While the spousal benefit is a one-time lump-sum payment, the following individuals may be eligible for monthly Social Security benefits:
- Children under age 18
- Children aged 18 or 19 who are attending elementary or high school full-time
- Disabled children of any age, provided they were disabled prior to age 22 and remain disabled
- Dependent parents age 62 or older
- A surviving spouse, if caring for an eligible child who is under age 16 or disabled
- A surviving ex-spouse, if caring for an eligible child who is under age 16 or disabled, provided the marriage lasted 10 years or longer
Unlike the lump-sum $255 spousal benefit, monthly Social Security death benefits are not paid automatically. If any of the above situations apply, please contact the local Social Security office serving the greater Triangle area to pursue these benefits:
Social Security Administration
3315 Poole Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(877) 803-6311
Subscriptions and Social Media Accounts
Handle the deceased’s digital footprint by closing or memorializing online accounts, including social media and email, to protect their privacy and legacy. Also be sure to close accounts for streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) and other possible subscriptions, such as gym memberships or food delivery services (HelloFresh, etc.).
Return Leased or Rented Items
Identify and return any leased or rented items to prevent potential legal issues or fines.
Documentation
Maintain a centralized file with all relevant documentation, such as correspondence, receipts, and legal documents, to facilitate smooth transitions and references. Endswell includes a customizable checklist on the next page to assist with this.
This checklist is not comprehensive and there may be other matters unique to your personal circumstances. While Endswell cannot offer legal advice, we are available to help in any way we can. Please contact us if you need any assistance and we will connect you with the appropriate resources.