By Onyx Watson
Losing a loved one is never easy, regardless of whether their death was natural or not. The realization that you won’t be able to speak to or even see them can be too hard to bear. During this time, it is important to be each other’s strength and comfort each other using kind words and actions. However, family conflict during asset distribution is common.
To reduce tension in the family and ensure everything goes as your loved one would have wanted them to, the Executor or the estate’s Personal Representative is supposed to take a few steps. However, before you do anything, you should speak to a Honolulu estate planning lawyer to receive legal guidance.
Things to do after your loved one passes away
- Make sure the property is safe and secure.
One of the first things that are going to cause conflict and chaos in the family after someone’s death is their property. If not all, some family members will likely want to know how much money or which property they ought to receive from the deceased’s estate. Even though this is a sensitive time, an Executor must handle these conflicts.
Once the property goes into the hands of the wrong entity, it can be difficult to get it back from them. Make sure the deceased’s assets are protected.
- Be cautious about criminals.
One thing many people do not consider is securing the property from criminals. Family members are not the only problem in such situations. Criminals are intelligent and aware of when funerals happen. While everyone is at the funeral, the criminals may break into the deceased’s home and steal valuable items, such as jewelry.
Ensure all the windows and doors are locked before you leave, and assign security guards for a few hours. Check the car’s locks and, if possible, put them in the garage and lock them up.
- Go through the estate plan to check the funeral requirements of the deceased.
Many people have special requirements for how they want their funeral to be executed. If your loved one was one of them, check the estate plan before carrying out the proceedings. Sometimes the family members’ wishes may not match the deceased’s wishes, which can lead to additional conflict. However, if you are the Executor, you have the right to legally carry out their wishes despite what the family members say.
