When a family member dies, the surviving members of the family must make a number of important decisions under difficult circumstances. Knowing in advance who must be contacted and what important documents must be located may help you through a trying time.

Who to contact
• Funeral director
• Family clergy
• Legal advisor
• Social Security Administration
• Deceased family member's employer
• Life insurance agent
• Unions, service organizations, and professional organizations
• Financial advisors

Important documents to locate
(If these documents are currently in a safe deposit box, you may have trouble retrieving them at a family member's death)
• Insurance policies
• Will
• Bank books
• Tax returns
• Investment records
• Business agreements
• Social Security number
• Earnings record
• Auto registration
• Military discharge papers
• Birth and marriage certificates

Take just a moment now to review these two lists again. Do you know the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of those who would need to be contacted?

Do you know where to find your family's important documents? If not, how about doing a little bit of homework today? You may thank yourself for it later.

The information provided here is for general knowledge only and is not legal or tax advice. Please consult with the appropriate experts for your specific circumstances.