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

  • my parents passed away when i was really young, and i have no birth records. what can i do to get a birth certifacate?
  • Does the 13 yr old chose who to live with
  • 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.
  • 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
  • I have taken care of my father for many years and he finally passed away in 2013. He put my name on the house deed in 2011 but kept the mortgage in his and my late mother's names. Now that they are both deceased what do I do about the mortgage that is in his and my mother's name? There was no probate as I took over the mortgage payment and the one bill he still owed on. I simple have no clue what to do about the mortgage because I only have $730.00 per month in Social security disability and know that banks won't lend to anyone with that low an income. What can I do?
  • 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
  • need time limit in years to file medical malpractice in the state. need list of attorneys that can file for me
  • My mother recently passed, leaving an estate of around 100 K, plus her house. Would a probate filing be required for an estate of this size? I am named as executor, and am one of 3 children. Can I handle the paperwork without an attorney?
  • My father is 94 and is in critical condition. We checked his will for the first time and we have some concerns. His will was made out in 1988 when he was a widower and had 4 adult live children. He since has remarried and lost two children. Is this will null because of the change circumstances?
  • 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???

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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