Losing a parent might be one of the most overwhelming losses you’ll experience in life, filled with uncertainty and understandable grief. It’s always a good idea to have a plan in place of what to do after your parent passes away, which will make the immediate days after their passing greatly easier to navigate through.
What is the first thing to do when a parent dies?
> Ensure that someone has contacted the authorities to declare your loved one’s death in order to obtain a death certificate.
> If your parent was an organ donor, this should be one of your first priorities to honour your parent’s wishes. Get in touch with the Organ Donation Foundation if you need advice.
> If you can, you should establish with your parents while they are still alive whether they have a funeral cover policy, which will make the process much easier for you. If they didn’t have funeral cover, you and your family should choose a funeral home or crematorium where the staff will guide you through the process.
What to do within a few days of a parent’s death
> Let family and friends know.
> If your parent was still employed, phone their employer to notify them and to get information on possible benefits your parent may have had
> Take care of your parent’s pets and home if there is no one else to do so, until you manage to make further arrangements.
> If your parent had life or funeral insurance, get in touch with the companies to determine the policy payout information.
What to do In the weeks after a parent’s death
> Get copies of your parent’s death certificate or follow-up with the Department of Home Affairs if you have not received it yet.
> If there is no one to take control of your parent’s administrative tasks, you should phone all companies they may have had insurance or service accounts with to cancel their services.
> Get in touch with your parent’s financial adviser, lawyer, or bank to establish where your parent’s will might be if you are uncertain of its whereabouts or existence.
> Manage your parent’s credit accounts by notifying them of your parent’s passing to avoid any fraudulent activity on their accounts
Total Risk Administrators knows that the period after losing a parent can be tumultuous in having to deal with grief and administrative headaches, which is why we want to help make it easier for you and your family. If you would like to discuss our funeral cover policy to get your loved ones covered, contact us today.
