Next Steps After The Memorial Service

Death Certificates:

Order five to ten certified copies of the death certificate from the funeral home, you’ll need a copy for each major asset.

Important Papers:

Locate the deceased's important papers as soon as possible. If necessary, ask close family, friends, or the deceased's lawyer if they know where these papers might be located, including the safe deposit box, if any. When opening a safe deposit box, ensure that another person, such as an adult child, is also granted access. Otherwise, it may be necessary to obtain a court order to allow access.

If there is a will, a personal representative will be named. If there is a trust, a successor trustee will be named. Typically, there is an original and an alternate designation. These individuals are in charge. The personal representative is responsible for taking care of the deceased’s estate and following the terms of the will.

The successor trustee is responsible for managing the Trust assets. If the Trust is properly funded (the appropriate assets have been transferred into the Trust), a probate is not required for the administration of the trust. It is a good idea to work with an attorney to make sure your trust is properly funded at the time it is created. If there is no will or trust, the disposition of property will occur in accordance with the laws of intestacy, governed by RCW 11.04.

Typically, an intestacy is required to go through probate, during which a judge will determine who administers the estate; this person is known as the executor. One benefit of estate planning is that you decide who is in charge after your passing.