This is a sponsored guest post.
The death of a family member can leave your world in turmoil. Whether it was expected or not, death inevitably causes great disruption in your life, both mentally and practically. Despite having to handle the devastation that you feel, as a family member you are likely to be tasked with registering the death and making funeral arrangements. It can be difficult to get your head around how to handle such things when facing the initial shock of a death, so here is some advice on the steps that you will need to take.
Registration
As with birth, death also must be registered in order to comply with the law and ensure that official records are up to date. Funeral parlours will require the official certification of death in order to proceed with their arrangements, which is why this is the first step that you will need to complete following a death. Likewise, it will not be possible to handle legal aspects such as the execution of their will until the registration is complete. Whether your loved one died in a hospital or at home, a doctor will need to be called upon to complete the certification and, in cases where the death was sudden or unexpected, an inspection may be required. Once you have certification from the doctor, you will be able to present it to your local registry office in order to obtain the official certificate of death.
Planning the Funeral
Once you have the official certification, you will need to begin making plans for the funeral. There are many elements to consider, including whether the body will be cremated or buried, where the funeral will take place, and who will conduct it. On top of this, you will need to arrange for a coffin, flowers, ceremony, memorial, speeches and the wake. You can check online for hardwood funeral coffins and other things that will be required. With so much to think about, it is common to enlist the help of local funeral directors, who will have the right contacts in place to carry out your wishes. This can be invaluable in helping you to organise such a difficult ceremony whilst you are grieving.
Informing Others
Once you have the date set for the funeral, it is important to let friends and other family members know about the death. Whilst there may be some people whom you wish to speak with personally, it often helps to reduce this burden by asking others to pass it on. When speaking with people, it may be useful to ask whether anyone would like to make a speech at the funeral or share a story.
Settling Assets
Whether your loved one left a whole estate behind or just some simple belongings, it is important to settle their assets soon after the death to ensure that all is in order. If they have left a will, then there will be someone such as lawyer assigned to make sure that the process goes smoothly. If they have not written a will, then you should seek the advice of a lawyer to find out who is legally entitled to what.
At this time, you may feel like you are going through the motions like clockwork, or you may feel paralysed. By getting the right help from friends, family, and professionals, such as lawyers and funeral directors, you can make it through this difficult initial period.
