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Links:
Probate and Estate Home
Page
Heirs and Beneficiaries
Simple Will Questionnaire
For the Georgia Probate
Attorney
Out of the State of
Georgia Probate Issues
Out of the State of Georgia Decedent with Property in Georgia
2006
Contingency Fee Contracts with Minor Clients
1). Contact
the funeral director. Be prepared to give the following information
for the death certificate:
-
Full
name of deceased
-
Date
and place of birth
-
Nationality
-
Occupation
-
Social
Security number
-
Marital
status
-
Full
name of parents, siblings, and other survivors of deceased
(including mother’s maiden name)
-
Full
name of previous marriage partner(s)
2). Make funeral arrangements with funeral director:
-
Specify
when family members will be available
-
Select
casket, Select calling hours
-
Choose
cremation, body donation, memorial service, burial service
-
Select
transportation (number of cars, limousines)
-
Full
expenses may include coffin, flowers, clergy, honorariums,
newspaper notices, use of church, clothing, and transportation
-
Also,
funeral home space rental, certified death transcripts,
opening the grave, cemetery plot, grave marker, cremation,
and transportation
3). Contact clergyman:
-
Specify
when family will arrive
-
Plan
service including hymns and poems
-
Provide
biographical information
-
Ask
his choice of time for services
4). Contact attorney immediately so he or she can:
-
Locate
and probate will
-
Advise
you as to what to sign and what not to sign;
regarding record deeds to real property
-
Disperse
estate assets such as stocks, bonds, savings accounts,
business assets
-
Write
a will for you or review and update your will
-
Provide
applicable legal advice
-
Locate
cash to take care of immediate needs
-
Sources
of cash include:
- Cash
on hand
- Savings
accounts
- Checking
accounts
- Money
market certificates
- Life
insurance cash value
5). Likely places to search for important papers are:
- Safety
deposit boxes
- Brief cases
- Strong boxes
- Office desk
- Lockers
- Safes
- Locate:
- Life insurance
policies
- Accidental death
and health insurance policies
- Homeowner insurance
policies
- Bankbooks
- Notes receivable
and notes payable
- Real estate
deeds
- Security certificates
- Will
- Income tax return
forms W 2 forms and other records of earnings
- Marriage certificate
- Social security
number
- Birth certificates
of all family members to prove ages
- Military discharge
papers
- Veteran’s
Administration claim number
- Automobile registration
- Installment
payment books
6). Obtain copies of these papers:
7). Contact life insurance agents:
- File
a claim using death certificate or attending physician’s
statement for proof of death
- Supply information
including policy number(s) and amount(s), full name and
address of deceased, deceased’s occupation and date
last worked, date and place of birth, date, place and cause
of death, claimant’s name, age, address, and social
security number
- Your settlement
options are:
- Lump sum: you
may immediately be paid a lump sum
- Interest only:
principal stays intact, interest paid periodically good
temporarily while you decide
- what to do with
the money:
- Life income
or annuity: beneficiary receives stipulated benefit
on set dates for the lifetime of the claimant
- Fixed installments:
benefits are paid in agreed amounts over a period of
time until the money is used up
8). Contact your nearest Social Security office to apply
for spouse and dependent benefits. Bring the following information:
-
Certified
copy of death certificate
-
Deceased’s
social security number
-
Proof
of age of deceased
-
Marriage
certificate
-
Approximate
earnings of deceased in year of death;
-
Deceased
employer’s name
-
Record
of deceased’s earnings in year prior to death (use
W 2 forms or self employment tax return)
-
Social
security number of spouse and dependent children
-
Proof
of age of spouse and dependents (birth certificate, baptism
certificate or grade school records if no birth certificate)
Links:
Probate and Estate Home
Page
Heirs and Beneficiaries
Simple Will Questionnaire
For the Georgia Probate
Attorney
Out of the State of
Georgia Probate Issues
Out of the State of Georgia Decedent with Property in Georgia
2006
Contingency Fee Contracts with Minor Clients
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