If you’ve recently lost a loved one, you might be going through the difficult process of wrapping up their affairs—some of which are all too easy to overlook while you’re mourning your loss. Unfortunately, this can lead to unnecessary expenses or, for some services, significant financial consequences. With that in mind, here’s a checklist of the bills and services you’ll probably need to cancel.
Utilities
Be sure to transfer utility services, such as water, electricity, and natural gas, to another family member to ensure that services continue until you can sell or transfer the property (or terminate the lease if your loved one rented their home). Failing to keep utility bills current can result in the utility company shutting off services, potentially leading to property damage. Once you have disposed of the property, you should cancel the accounts for the property with the utility companies as necessary to ensure you don’t get stuck with the bill for continued services.
Telecommunications Services
Remember to cancel your loved one’s telecom services, including landline telephone services, cell phone accounts, and cable/internet, to avoid unnecessary costs from continued service.
Digital Services and Social Media
Next, cancel your loved one’s digital services accounts, such as subscription content services like Netflix, Disney Plus, or Spotify. Don’t forget about subscription periodicals like newspapers and magazines. Also, secure access to your loved one’s social media accounts to prevent hackers from attempting to seize and use the account for nefarious purposes. Securing access to social media accounts also allows your family to preserve posts, photos, and videos that your loved one created.
Insurance Policies
Settle your loved ones’ insurance policies, remembering to file a claim with any life insurance policy of which you are a beneficiary. Cancel other insurance policies as they become unnecessary, such as a homeowner’s or renter’s policy, once you have transferred your loved one’s residence. Once you’ve retitled and registered their automobile, cancel the old auto policy. Remember, the law prohibits operating motor vehicles on public roads without registration and insurance.
Financial Accounts
Now, identify and secure your loved one’s bank, brokerage, or annuity accounts as part of the estate administration process. Be sure to cancel any unneeded accounts, such as credit cards, which could otherwise fall victim to identity thieves.
Government Benefits
Remember to terminate your loved one’s government benefits, including Social Security checks or Medicare/Medicaid benefits, especially as some government benefit programs directly deposit funds into recipients’ bank accounts. Failing to cancel a deceased loved one’s government benefits promptly may leave you liable to reimburse the government for overpaid benefits and other penalties.
Relatedly, be sure to cancel a loved one’s driver’s license and contact the local election supervisor to remove them from the voter rolls.
Miscellaneous Services
Finally, try to make a list of all other miscellaneous services your loved one received so that you can contact service providers and cancel accounts as necessary. For example, you can contact your loved one’s healthcare providers, including doctors, dentists, physical therapists, or home health aides, to inform them of your loved one’s passing so the providers’ offices can close the file, transfer records to your family as needed, and cancel upcoming appointments.
Other miscellaneous services that you may need to cancel include:
- Housekeeping services
- Lawn/pool maintenance services
- Pet sitting/walking services
- Newspaper/magazine deliveries
- Food/consumer product subscriptions
Contact a Caring Probate Attorney Today for Support After a Loved One’s Passing
Have you recently lost a loved one? Let an experienced estate and probate lawyer help you and your family resolve your loved one’s affairs and avoid unpleasant surprises down the road. Contact The Law Office of Angela Siegel today for an initial consultation to discuss the steps your family should take to settle your loved one’s estate after their passing.