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Having a loved one pass away is one of the most difficult experiences there is. That is why I’ve written this short guide to help you during such a challenging time. Read on for more.
Picture located at Pixabay – License CC0
Have the death officially declared
What many people do not realize is that in the USA you have to have the death of a loved one officially declared if they pass at home. To do this you will need to call 911 as soon as possible after their passing and let them know what has happened. They will then dispatch an ambulance to your location so your loved one can be taken to the hospital or morgue and have their passing officially declared by a doctor or medical examiner.
You will not need to do this if your loved one passes at the hospital or if they are in a hospice as they will contact the authorities for you. Remember you will not be able to do anything such as book a funeral for your loved one without the proper death declaration.
Organize the funeral
Once you have had their passing officially declared you will be able to begin organizing a funeral. There are many options to consider here including a full service with either a cremation or burial. Alternatively, some people prefer to have a private cremation or burial and then hold a celebration of life to remember their loved ones.
The most important thing here is to honor the wishes of the person who has passed and give an opportunity for those who live on to say goodbye.
Attending the reading of the will
Often, when a loved one passes, some legal details need sorting, such as the reading of the will. A will is a legal document that details how the deceased wanted their estate to be divided.
There are a few things to remember when it comes to wills. The first is that if there is no will according to intestate succession law a person’s estate will be awarded to their relatives. Secondly, an EIN number is required for estates because there are tax implications. This means it’s a good idea to contact the estate EIN filing service as soon as possible after you are made aware of the estate. This then means you will be able to file an IRS Form 1041 without any problems.
Get support for your grief
They say that grief is all the love you feel for a person, that has nowhere to go once they have passed. Yet, grief can be a hard feeling to deal with as it’s often complicated and hits in waves. Indeed, overall western society is not the best at dealing with the huge amounts of grief that come with losing a loved one. Often expecting people to forget or hide their grief even as soon as after the funeral is over.
With that in mind, if you are someone experiencing the grief of losing a loved one, reaching out for some help is a smart choice. Whether it’s the help of a professional, a peer support group or a close friend, it can be very helpful to get additional support during this tricky time.
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