Indiana University Foundation
Office of Gift Planning Services
Post Office Box 500
Bloomington, IN 47402
812-855-8311 or 800-558-8311
iufoundation.planmylegacy.org
© The Stelter Company
The information in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples
are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state
law may impact your results.
Finding Important Documents
After the funeral, determine whether your loved
one had a will. It's wise to check safe-deposit boxes,
home safes or files of important papers. When you
find the original will (not a photocopy), contact an
attorney experienced in probating wills. The attorney
will then read the will and work with the executor
to file it with the local probate court. If you cannot
locate the will, contact the deceased's attorney.
Other Documents You Should Locate
1
]
Trust documents
2
]
Property deeds
3
]
Bank and brokerage account statements
4
]
Insurance policies, annuities and retirement accounts
5
]
Recent income tax returns
6
]
Birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce
decree and military discharge paperwork
7
]
The most recent bills, such as credit card,
mortgage and utility statements
8
]
Vehicle titles and registrations
9
]
Safe-deposit boxes and keys
Are You Eligible for Benefits?
If you are the next of kin, chances are you are a
beneficiary, and benefits are due to you. Be sure to
contact the following:
• Social Security. The funeral home will generally
assist a surviving spouse or, in a few cases, a
child in applying for Social Security's $255 death
benefit payable on behalf of the deceased. Social
Security also needs notification to discontinue
any benefits the deceased may have been
receiving. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov for more
information.
• Veteran's Administration. If your loved one
was a veteran, visit www.va.gov/opa/persona to
learn about benefits.
• Life Insurance. You'll need to determine
whether your loved one owned any insurance
policies. Contact the agent or the home office
of the insurance company to file a claim. One
method to determine if any policies may exist
is to check bank records for any life insurance
premiums paid in the last year or so.
Take Time to Grieve
A well-known and important rule to follow
is to postpone any major decisions until
at least a year has passed since your
loved one's death. After a year, you'll
have a clearer state of mind when making
choices about your life, your residence
and your finances.
