In addition to the emotional toll that comes after the passing of a loved one, death also has a number of legal and financial implications. These legal and financial matters are often complex, vary by state, and change frequently based on local and federal tax law. You may need to contact an estate lawyer and accountant to guide you through this process. Below you will find resources that can help you get started.
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Financial & Legal Overview
The following resources provide a helpful introduction to some of the legal and financial issues that can arise after the death of a loved one. In addition to the resources listed, some academic institutions also offer free legal advice through their associated law schools, and you can check with your institution to see if these or similar services are available to you.
Kansas Bar Association: Legal definitions for estate planning
Federal Trade Commission: Legal rights and guidance for buying funeral goods and services
Caring.com: A brief summary of legal process that follows a death
The Balance: Important paperwork to locate after a death
LegalVoice.org (Spanish): A comprehensive checklist of tasks to complete after a death
Fair Share Lawyers: Tips for navigating the legal process that follows a death
RocketLawyer.com: Free legal services organized by state
IRS.gov: Not all tax accountants know how to file a deceased person’s taxes. The IRS can guide you through this process.
Organ Donations
The choice of if or when to donate a deceased person’s organs can be difficult and is made all the more challenging by how quickly these decisions need to be made after a loved one has passed. Following are several resources to guide you through the process.
TransWeb.org: 37-item Q&A on the topic of organ donation
Organdonor.gov: Personal stories from tissue recipients, donors, and advocates
Item Donations
The choice of if or when to donate a deceased person’s belongings can be challenging and emotionally charged. While many people would prefer to defer these decision to a later date, some decisions need to be made shortly after a loved one has passed. The decision to donate can vary from person to person and item to item, but it can be helpful to have some resources to guide you through the process.
What’s Your Grief - Sorting Through Belongings: What to consider while going through a loved one’s things
What’s Your Grief - Selling & Donating Old Items: What to do with belongings you don’t want to keep
Travel
Several airlines continue to offer discounted “bereavement fares” in the event of a family member’s death or imminent death. While some airlines restrict these fares to future travel, others may reimburse you for flights that you have already taken or waive refund fees for flights that were cancelled due to bereavement. Check individual airline policies to book your ticket appropriately.
Airlines that do not offer discounts for bereavement include the following: Allegiant Air, American Airlines, British Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Republic Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines.