Steps To Take When A Loved One Dies In Texas
The death of a loved one is a difficult time. Dealing with grief while trying to figure out the right steps to take when a loved one dies can be overwhelming. A Texas probate attorney will work hard to minimize the stress of this process on the loved ones of the deceased.
The steps to take when a loved one dies in Texas are different depending on each person’s life and circumstances. This list will give you a good idea of where to start.
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1. Make Funeral Arrangements.
In the first few days after a loved one passes away, the first major step is handling the funeral arrangements. As estate planning has become more common in recent years, it’s important to check for pre-paid funeral contracts that your loved one might have or instructions they may have left about the type of services they wanted.
When making arrangements, keep all receipts of the expenditures so that these may be recovered from the deceased’s estate when the probate process is completed.
2. Make Notifications
If your loved one worked, then you should contact their employer to let them know of the death and also to determine whether your loved one had any work-related death benefits. It’s also important to notify the Social Security Administration, as well as Veterans Affairs if the deceased ever served in the military.
If creditors contact you regarding your loved one’s accounts, let them know of the death. Do not agree to pay anything for your loved one or sign anything related to the accounts before speaking to an attorney.
3. Look For Life Insurance Policies
In some cases, a loved one will have told beneficiaries about a life insurance policy they would receive. This isn’t always the case, though. Look for any policies your loved one may have had and, if you are the beneficiary, contact the insurance company to request a claim form.
4. Look For A Will
There are many safe places where people keep their wills. If you aren’t able to find it in their home, try checking with the deceased’s banks to find out if they had a safe deposit box. While this is an important step, it’s not urgent to complete in the immediate aftermath of the loss of a loved one. Generally, the will must be submitted for probate within four years of a person’s death.
5. Contact A Probate Attorney
One of the best steps to take when a loved one dies is to contact a probate attorney after you’ve located the will or if you know your loved one didn’t have a will. An experienced attorney can help make the process of probating an estate as quick and painless as possible.
Get Help Going Through The Steps To Take When A Loved One Dies In Texas
Attorneys Keith Morris & Stacy Kelly offer experienced probate services in all Texas counties. They can guide you throughout the probate process and ensure that your loved one’s estate is handled in the manner they laid out in their will. Get in touch today for assistance.
Success that Speaks for Itself
Case Results
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Dispute Resolved Estate Administration & Division of Assets
Resolved highly contentious ongoing dispute over father’s estate and division of assets between son and daughter.
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Dispute Resolved Estate Administration Case
Successfully resolved case between two siblings fighting over cash and personal property of their father.
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Hearing Won Evidentiary Hearing
Won lengthy evidentiary hearing to prove client was not in contempt of court to avoid sanction or jail time.
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Case Won Guardianship Case
Won trial to exclude wife to serve as guardian of gentleman she married that was at least twice her age.
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Six-Figure Settlement Reached Multi-Million Dollar Estate Case
Obtained six-figure settlement after jury was seated for adopted child in multi-million dollar estate case after adoption was disputed.
Why Choose Attorneys Keith Morris & Stacy Kelly?
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Extensive Experience
With over 40+ years of combined legal experience, Keith Morris & Stacy Kelly devoted their efforts to sharpening their skills in probate, trust, and estate planning and litigation.
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Keith Morris & Stacy Kelly are proud to be the litigators that takes on the most complicated and difficult cases to court and getting their clients optimal results.
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Free ConsultationsYour first free case evaluation with us can be done through video conference, phone call, or an in-person meeting.
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Personalized Attention
If you call our firm, we will personally pick up the phone and handle your case with the attention it deserves.
Contact the firm today to discuss your case during a free consultation and explore your options.