Losing Spouse/Parent Article


Losing a Spouse or Parent

You may be overwhelmed with grief right now. You may want to leave the administrative matters for a later day. But there are notifications and legal steps that should not be postponed.

  • Make funeral and burial arrangements.
  • Obtain several copies of the death certificate.
  • Gather relevant documents, such as the will, insurance policies, trusts, and stock, bank account and annuity statements.
  • Contact the Social Security Administration (if the deceased was an eligible recipient).
  • Send a notification and death certificate to the director of health services (if the deceased was a AHCCCS recipient) within 90 days after the death.
  • Notify any life insurance companies of the death.
  • Contact the trustee of any trust and/or the attorney who prepared it.
  • Contact the executor of the will and/or the attorney who prepared it.
  • Call the administrator of the decedent’s pension plan.
  • Notify the decedent’s banks and financial institutions.
  • Contact credit card companies.
  • Be sure that insurance or Medicare claims have been processed before paying any medical bills.

Comments:

On 4/11/07
MARY said
WHERE DO I GO TO GET AN AFFIDAVIT OF SUCCESSORS RIGHTS PURSUANT TO A.R.S. 14-3901

On 1/18/07
Stew  said
Could you add link to self service forms for property transfer.

QUESTIONS

  • need time limit in years to file medical malpractice in the state. need list of attorneys that can file for me
  • Myself & 3 other sisters are named in our mother's will equally(AZ resident when died). Our oldest sister, executor, gave all our mother's home furnishings, etc. to her grown children. Is there something we can do without engaging an attorney? Thank you for your assistance.
  • If an elderly person gets ill and a family member moves them to a hospital in another state, are they be considered a resident of the new state?
  • My father passed away in Sept. He left no will. He has a lien on a condo for 75k, had paid almost 30k. Lots of Credit Card bills, maybe 30k. I am 3rd child, 2 older, 3 younger. I will be taking over Condo. I am on death certificate too. Am I responsible for any of the bills? I have started probate process in Pima County by filling out Affidavit of Succession to Real Prop, is this correct? I was told ALL my siblings need to sign n notarize? Correct? And on this form, am I the Affiant, or is that each of my siblings filling out the form? 5. The interest of the decedent in the property is _______, who, me? 9. Which do I choose there? First option, since there's NO WILL? Please help. Thanks!!!
  • My husband passed away im not executor of his will. His sister has the title to our home and I belive she has transfered the title to her name and rhey plan on sell my hpuse after April 15th do I have any rights???
  • My widowed mother disinherited my sister who is my only sibling. Her will states that she has 2 children and my sister and I are named. She states that "I am making no distribution to (sister's name inserted) in this will." I am the executor and I am the sole inheritor of her entire estate. Am I required to notify my sister of our mother's' passing? Am I required to post a notice in the local paper here or, if public notice is required and I post it online? Where? The sister is in Florida. My mother and I live in Arizona.
  • My mother passed away September 14m 2009. In her will she designated that I was to receive 75%, my sister the remaining 25%, upon the sale of her home. I need to transfer title to me, how? I reside in Pima county.
  • Aunt was AZ resident and died in AZ. Using small estate affidavit to obtain balance in checking account from AZ bank (large national bank). I live in FL. If financial institution wants the affidavit certified by the court, would I have to appear in person or could it be done via mail? Thank you
  • My father (73) was diagnosed with lung cancer few months ago. I do not know how much time he has left. He owns a house in Mesa, and my sister lives with him. The house is under his name and he has a will that divides evrything he owns 50-50 between my sister and me. Now, when he passes away, can my sister still be in the house and assume mortgage payment? If my sister and I want to sell the house after my father's departure, can we do that? If so, how does that work?
  • My father is on his death bed in bullhead city. All past wills have included #1 I want to be buried in the nearest VA cemetary. His current wife of 3 years has paid for a cremation. She has a new will and will not produce it to any of 3 children. She has power of atty. We also believe she requested he be taken off cardiac meds when going into hospice, and believe this was negligent?? When does she need to produce a will?? Please help

STORIES

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FIND LEGAL HELP

  • Please select your county of residence below.

    County:
     

OTHER LEGAL RESOURCES

  • State Bar of Arizona
    www.azbar.org
  • Maricopa County Bar
    www.maricopabar.org
    Referral number 602-257-4434
  • Pima County Bar
    www.pimacountybar.org
    Referral number 520-623-4625
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline
    800-799-7233
  • Bankruptcy Court Self Help Center
    866-553-0893
  • Certified Legal Document Preparer Program
    Link

ORGANIZATIONS

RELATED ARTICLES

ARIZONA PROBATE FUNDAMENTALS

LINKS

Area Agency on Aging

Maricopa County Judicial Branch Self-Service Center Online

Arizona 2-1-1

Pima County Courts Self Service Center

LeadingAgeAZ

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