A Guide to the Legal Procedures Surrounding the Death of a Loved One

Far too many people of my friends loved ones are passing away unexpectedly this year so I felt I had to share with you some this post which has some of the simple things that you need to do and complete follow a death.

If someone you love has recently passed away, then there will be a huge amount of emotion for you to be currently dealing with. Alongside the practical planning and organisation that comes along with death, such as making funeral arrangements, this can be a highly overwhelming time. Despite this, there are certain legalities which need to be sorted out in response to death that cannot be avoided or delayed, no matter the emotional burdens you are now carrying. To help with that, the below guide will walk you through some of the essential information you need to get through, and some of the most important legal procedures so that you can sort things out quickly and do not have to divert too much time away from dealing with your grief.

Registering the death

Before anything else, you need to find out the essential information about registering a death, as you cannot move forward with sorting out anything else until this is done. A death certificate is arguably the most important of all legal documents as it is the only proof that someone has actually passed away and the only way the pensions and security payments can end. It is also a vital document used to settle all the deceased’s affairs and plan the funeral.

Coping with an inquest

Sometimes, if the cause of death is unclear, an inquest might be open where a coroner will be tasked with determining how your loved one died, to make sure there was no foul play. This can be extremely difficult for families and friends as you would hope this person you cared for passed away in peace. A good place to get advice and support is Minton Morrill Solicitors, so that you can have some peace of mind about the proceedings and why they are happening.

What to do with the will

If you are reading this, it is most likely that either you or your partner is the executor of the will for the deceased and you need to know what things you need to do as the executor of a will, so you don’t get into any legal trouble. The first priority for you is to handle dependents such as pets and find them somewhere temporary to live until the will is heard, when you may find out the pets, for example, have been left in the care of a specific person. Something you also need to make a priority is keeping a close eye on the home of your loved one. It can be hard to believe, but you can be surprised at how greedy people can become when they think they may be able to get their hands on some money. To avoid anyone not getting what was left to them specifically before the will is heard, do not give away or throw away any of the deceased’s personal property, and should you think there is a real risk, have the locks changed on the house so that you can be sure that you are the only person with access.

Losing someone you deeply cared for is a difficult time in your life, but now that you know some of the legal implications, you can make the process go smoothly.