The death of a loved one is always overwhelming. Even in instances when you might have seen it coming, the reality of losing someone you care about always comes as a shock. While it may be impossible to feel prepared for the grief you will experience, there are ways to be ready for the necessary steps you must take afterward. Knowing exactly what you must do about your loved one’s estate will give you and your family space to mourn without too much unnecessary stress.
Get a Legal Pronouncement of DeathÂ
Depending on how and where your loved one dies, the legal pronouncement can come from hospital staff, a hospice nurse, emergency medical services, a primary care physician, or a county coroner.
Determine Whether They Had an Estate PlanÂ
If your loved one had documents that outlined their final wishes, you would need to locate these papers so that you can find out what kind of end-of-life services they wanted. This will help you to begin the process of making arrangements. If they have not left behind any instructions on this matter, you will have to choose these arrangements yourself.
Ideally, they have left a will behind as well, so that you can know what they wanted to happen to their estate. If not, the probate courts will need to settle this question.
Secure Assets
 Unfortunately, a person’s possessions become vulnerable to theft right after they pass away, even by members of their family. It may be necessary to change the locks on your loved one’s home and to store valuables in a safe place. This will help their assets stay safe until they can be distributed properly.
Obtain a Death Certificate
 A death certificate will be necessary for a number of things in the days and weeks to come, including allowing you to access your loved one’s financial accounts and claim a life insurance payout. You can generally obtain these from the funeral home. You may want up to ten copies in case multiple businesses or state offices need to see them at the same time.
Contact Public Offices and Companies
 Tying up legal loose ends involves contacting several institutions to let them know that your loved one has passed. These include:
- Social Security Administration and Veteran’s Administration (if applicable) – To stop the benefits or to transfer them to the decedent’s spouse
- Life insurance companies – To claim the payout
- Financial institutions – To access accounts
- Credit agencies – To submit a formal letter that will allow the estate to take care of unpaid debts
- Post office – To request that the decedent’s mail is forwarded to the executor of the will
Contact a Tampa Probate Lawyer
 A Tampa Probate Lawyer can help make all the above steps more straightforward. They can also help you with the probate process, which has its own set of deadlines and requirements. Knowing that a seasoned professional is by your side to assist you with these things at this difficult time can give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re not missing any important steps. If you have questions or need assistance getting started, our Tampa probate attorneys are here to help. Simply call our law firm at (813) 438-8503 to schedule an appointment.