PEACHTREE LAW - ATLANTA ATTORNEY

PRACTICE
AREAS

Estate and Probate - Checklist

1). Contact the funeral director. Be prepared to give the following information for the death certificate:

Full name of deceased
Date and place of birth
Nationality
Occupation
Social Security number
Marital status
Full name of parents, siblings, and other survivors of deceased (including mother's maiden name)
Full name of previous marriage partner(s)

2). Make funeral arrangements with funeral director:

Specify when family members will be available
Select casket, Select calling hours
Choose cremation, body donation, memorial service, burial service
Select transportation (number of cars, limousines)
Full expenses may include coffin, flowers, clergy, honorariums, newspaper notices, use of church, clothing, and transportation
Also, funeral home space rental, certified death transcripts, opening the grave, cemetery plot, grave marker, cremation, and transportation

3). Contact clergyman:

4). Contact attorney immediately so he or she can:

Locate and probate will
Advise you as to what to sign and what not to sign; regarding record deeds to real property
Disperse estate assets such as stocks, bonds, savings accounts, business assets
Write a will for you or review and update your will
Provide applicable legal advice
Locate cash to take care of immediate needs
Sources of cash include:
- Cash on hand
- Savings accounts
- Checking accounts
- Money market certificates
- Life insurance cash value

5). Likely places to search for important papers are:

6). Obtain copies of these papers:

7). Contact life insurance agents:

File a claim using death certificate or attending physician's statement for proof of death
Supply information including policy number(s) and amount(s), full name and address of deceased, deceased's occupation and date last worked, date and place of birth, date, place and cause of death, claimant's name, age, address, and social security number
Your settlement options are:
- Lump sum: you may immediately be paid a lump sum
- Interest only: principal stays intact, interest paid periodically good temporarily while you decide
what to do with the money:
- Life income or annuity: beneficiary receives stipulated benefit on set dates for the lifetime of the claimant
- Fixed installments: benefits are paid in agreed amounts over a period of time until the money is used up

8). Contact your nearest Social Security office to apply for spouse and dependent benefits. Bring the following information:

Certified copy of death certificate
Deceased's social security number
Proof of age of deceased
Marriage certificate
Approximate earnings of deceased in year of death;
Deceased employer's name
Record of deceased's earnings in year prior to death (use W 2 forms or self employment tax return)
Social security number of spouse and dependent children
Proof of age of spouse and dependents (birth certificate, baptism certificate or grade school records if no birth certificate)