Post-death logistics

Finding out that someone died is some of the worst news a person can get, especially if they weren't expecting it. If you’re trying to find out how they passed away, especially if it was unexpected, here are some ways you can go about finding out how someone died. How to find out how someone di

The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a database of death records created from the United States Social Security Administration's Death Index Master File. The SSDI generally includes all deaths that were reported to the Social Security from 1962 to the present, but you're sometimes able to find

Going through the mail of someone after they pass away is an important part of gathering documents that are likely to be needed during the probate process and/or when taking care of accounts for a deceased individual. Knowing which mail to keep and which to discard can feel confusing, but some prepa

Paypal is a payment platform used by over 392 million people, so knowing how to handle a Paypal account after someone dies is useful. Closing a Paypal account is easy to do, so long as you have the right documentation and know the steps to take. Here’s how to close a Paypal account after someone die

Venmo is an app used to send and receive money between individuals and companies. If they had one, closing a deceased person’s Venmo account is one of many steps you should take as an executor to ensure all the deceased accounts are reconciled and handled and that all the money in the estate is acco

Pensions can be confusing, even without the complication of a death. If someone has a pension, who does their pension go to after they die? If my dad died, can I get his retirement? Are there pension beneficiary rules? If any of these are questions you have, continue reading for more information on

Getting marketing calls is exhausting without the added emotional turmoil of losing someone. Getting unwanted marketing calls and mail for someone who has passed away can be even more stressful. Luckily, there is something that can help you stop receiving these unwanted calls, emails, letters, and t

After losing a loved one, it's up to the executor, family (or those close to the deceased) to ensure that their affairs are in order, to the best of their ability. While many of these tasks are handled by an executor or appointed administrator, some of the tasks can be handled by friends and family

Performing a home check after someone dies might not seem like an urgent task (especially when you're considering the large list of things to do when someone dies), but it is important to ensure that the home is safe and clean. Performing a home check

When someone dies, their pets are often left alone and confused. This can be a difficult time for the pet, in addition to all the people who knew and loved the owner. Dogs, cats and other pets may not understand what has happened, and they may become anxious. It is important to take care of pets aft

Filing taxes after someone dies can be complicated and confusing. There are a lot of things to consider, such as estate taxes, final tax returns, and what to do if the deceased person owed money to the IRS. Here's what you need to know when it comes to filing taxes after a death and answers to commo

When you inherit a house, there are a lot of things to think about. What do you do with the property? Do you keep it, sell it, or rent it out? What if there are siblings involved? And what if there is a mortgage on the property? Here are some important questions to ask and steps to take if you’ve in

Closing a bank account is another task in a long list of tasks you may find yourself responsible for after losing a loved one. Handling and closing a deceased person’s bank account can help you settle the estate and prevent any fraudulent behavior from

When someone dies and leaves behind investment accounts, it can be confusing to know how to handle them. The good news is that most brokerage firms prepare for this situation by offering ways for someone to transfer their investment accounts to someone else when they die. The process isn’t as compli

When someone dies, their loved ones are often left with a lot of questions about what to do next. One question that often comes up is what to do with insurance policies. Do you keep them? Cancel them? Transfer them to another person? What if a car insurance policyholder dies? Here's an overview of w