• Immediately after the death has been verified:
  • Close the eyes of the deceased.
  • Ensure mouth and jaws are tied gently with broad bands or pieces of cloth so.
  • Similarly tie the legs.
  • The body should be covered and must remain covered, preferably with a white sheet of cloth.
  • Invoke Allah and say: “إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ‎” (To Allah we belong and to Him is we return).
  • Crying with no wailing is permitted. The Prophet ﷺ wept on the death of his son, Ibrahim and said: “The eyes shed tears and the heart feels pain, but we utter only what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim! We are aggrieved at your demise.
• Collect the following information:
  • Check to see if the decedent (the person who has passed away) left funeral and burial instructions.
  • Check to see if the decedent wanted to make an anatomical gift.
  • Check to see if the decedent had any funeral agreement.
  • Check to see if the decedent had a burial plot pre-purchased.
  • Contact MCA Funeral Home for funeral and burial arrangements.
• Collect the following information for the document processing:
  • Age and place of birth
  • SSN
  • Cause of death
  • Doctor Contact information
  • Occupation
  • Education
  • Military service
  • Survivors name

If deceased lived alone:

• Make sure the residence is closed and secure and notify the landlord.
• Remove valuables and important documents to a safe place.
• Contact utility companies to discontinue service
• Arrange for forwarding of mail

DOCUMENTS

• Obtain a certified copy of the Death Certificate.
• Contact the attorney who prepared the Living Trust or Will and obtain instructions.
• Assemble important papers
  • Bank books
  • Stock certificates
  • Real estate deeds
  • Insurance policies
• Check to see if the deceased had mortgage insurance policy, which repays the outstanding mortgage upon the death of the policyholder.
• Locate evidence of indebtedness due by the estate by careful search. Examine all check books, tax returns and other financial records for this purpose.
• Current installment loans, service contracts and credit card bills should be gathered together, since some may be covered by credit life insurance, which pays off all or part of the outstanding balance on the death of a customer.
• Make a list of any claims against the estate.
• Contact the attorney if any of the claims are disputed.

TAXES

• State and Federal income tax returns still have to be filed and taxes paid.
• Income taxes are not excused by death. A surviving spouse may still file a joint return for the year of death of the deceased spouse.

NOTIFICATIONS

• Contact the deceased’s employer and, if applicable, union or professional group
• If the deceased was a veteran, an application should be made for VeteransAdministration Benefits.
• Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles and banks to terminate joint tenancies.
• If credit cards were in joint names, remove the deceased’s name from the credit cards. If credit cards were in the deceased’s name alone, cancel the credit cards.
• Contact the nearest Social Security Office for benefits. Benefits vary according to number of and ages of surviving children, and the age of the surviving spouse.

INSURANCE

• Each insurance company should be provided with a Statement of Claim and Death Certificate.
• Notify automobile insurance companies for immediate cancellation and refund of unused portions of policy.
• Change any casualty insurance policies to eliminate the deceased’s name as beneficiary.

TRUST

• Change title deceased’s assets to co-trustee, successor trustee or successor Beneficiary as applicable. An attorney should be used to transfer title to real estate, but most other transfers can be done without the B trusts.
• Contact your accountant. If you have an A-B trust, assets have to be allocated to the appropriate trust and tax I.D. # will have to be obtained for the B trusts.