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Is embalming required?
In Pennsylvania, embalming is not required
by law except in certain cases.
Must I buy an "outside
container"?
Pennsylvania law does not require an "outside
container". However, most cemeteries
require that one is used. We provide "outside
containers" at many price levels.
What is a "Statement
of Goods and Services Selected"?
This is a form that must be completed by
a licensed funeral director and signed by
the person responsible for making the arrangements
and payment of the expenses.
Is an urn or an urn vault
required?
No, unless a cemetery requires one or the
other. We can provide quality urns and urn
vaults at reasonable prices.
Is embalming required for
cremation?
Not in Pennsylvania except for certain situations.
A salesman showed me caskets,
vaults, and a pre need payment schedule.
What should I do?
Proceed with caution. Insist on seeing a
funeral director license.
What is a GPL?
A General Price List is required to be given
to every person before any arrangements
or pre-arrangements are discussed. Insist
on taking (and keeping) one.
How do I get a death certificate
for a relative of mine who passed away?
Death certificates are issued through the
Department of Vital Statistics. To have
an application sent to you call (800) 842-5040
or write to Pennsylvania Department of Health,
Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1528,
New Castle, PA 16103-1528.
Traditionally, life insurance
companies require only two documents to
establish proof of claim: a claim statement
(provided by the insurance company) and
a certified copy of the death certificate.
Your insurance company, however, may request
further information or proof if they deem
it necessary.
When filing claims, you may
be required to provide the following information:
the original policy or signed
statement stating the policy has been lost
or destroyed
the policy number and face amount
the full name and address of the deceased
his/her occupation and date last worked
his/her date and place of birth and the
source of birth information
date, place, and cause of death
claimant's name, age, relationship to the
deceased, address, and Social Security number.
There are several ways of settling insurance
claims. You may opt for a lump-sum benefit,
or you may choose to have the money paid
to you over an extended period of time.
In the latter case, the bulk of money remains
with the insurance company and generally
gains interest. Check with your insurance
agent, financial advisor, or attorney to
find out which method is right for you.
Before you can file for various benefits
and take care of other financial matters,
you will need to collect a variety of documents:
Death certificate. Available
from your funeral director or county health
department. Purchase at least a dozen certified
copies of the death certificate. Most companies
will want a certified copy, but use a photocopy
when you can to save money.
Marriage certificate. Available
from the county clerk where the marriage
license was issued.
Birth certificates. For
the deceased and any dependent children.
Available at either the state or county
public records offices where the person
was born.
Social Security numbers.
For the deceased, spouse, and dependent
children.
Discharge papers. If the
deceased was a veteran, you will need a
copy of the discharge certificate. If you
cannot find a copy, contact National Personnel
Records Center, 9700 Page Boulevard, St.
Louis, MO 63132-5200 (Send it to the attention
of the branch in which the deceased served).
Original Will. The lawyer
who wrote the will may have it. Or, it may
be with the personal belongings of the deceased
or in a safe deposit box. Some banks have
special procedures before letting anyone
into the safe deposit box.
List of property. A complete
list of what the deceased owned including
real estate, stocks, bonds, bank accounts,
deeds, and personal property.
Recent income tax returns.
If you cannot locate a copy of the most
recent income tax return, you need to fill
out IRS Form 4506. You will need to attach
documentation that you are authorized to
act on behalf of the deceased, such as letters
from the probate court.
Perhaps one of the most important
tasks you now face is the disposition of
a loved one's estate. Whether or not the
deceased had a will can make a greater difference
in the time and effort involved in the proper
disposition. It is suggested that you obtain
legal advice on the array of different matters
such as the disbursement or conversion of
assets, changing of property deeds and titles,
the disposition of bank accounts, stocks
and bonds, and the disposition of business
assets.
If you do not have an attorney,
now is a good time to find one. The best
methods of finding an attorney are through
friends and relatives, or by calling your
local bar association. If your loved one
had a will, it will need to be probated.
Probate is the legal procedure for the orderly
distribution of estates. In most cases,
probating a will is a simple process. Only
in the instances where the will is being
contested or the deceased had numerous holdings
will the action be more complex. There is
usually a specific time within which a will
must be probated, so it is important to
check carefully.
If there is no will, the
estate will be disposed of according to
the state laws governing descent and distribution.
Preparation and or review
of your own will is also an important consideration
at this time. It is the best way to assure
that your estate is handled according to
your desires.
Life Insurance Information
Traditionally, life insurance
companies require only two forms to establish
proof for a claim; (1) a statement of claim,
and (2) a certified copy of a death certificate.
Please remember that this is a general statement.
Your insurance companies reserve the right
to request further information or proof
that they deem necessary.
When filing a claim form,
you should have available the following
information:
1. The policy number(s) and
the face amount.
2. The full name and address of the deceased.
3. His or Her occupation and the last date
worked.
4. His or her date and place of birth and
the source of the birth information.
5. Date, place, and cause of death.
6. Claimant's name, age, address, Social
Security Number, and date of birth.
Financial and Credit Obligations
You will want to gather all
the bills together and make sure you are
aware of all the credit obligations of the
deceased. Many installment loans, service
contracts, and credit cards accounts are
covered by credit life insurance, which
pays off the account balance in the event
of the death of a customer.
You should contact any financial
institution where the deceased had a loan,
and inform them of the death. They will
be able to inform you if the loan was covered
by credit life, and what needs to be done
to file the appropriate claim. A certified
copy of the death certificate is often required
to file a claim.
You will also want to contact
credit card companies to notify them of
the death. If the card is jointly held,
find out what documentation is required
to change cards into the survivor's name.
Ask the credit bureau to assist you in transferring
your loved one's credit into your name.
They may be able to assist you in determining
any outstanding obligations of the deceased.
Make a prompt request for
the release from each bank in which the
deceased and you held a joint account. This
is necessary before you can withdraw funds
from that account. A bank will usually stop
payment on all checks as soon as a death
notice is published. The bank must also
have the account cleared by the state tax
authorities. |
