Who is the person responsible for making decisions after someone dies?

After a loved one dies, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Who is responsible for making decisions about the deceased person's belongings and estate? It is important to understand the different roles that people play in this process so that you can make the best decisions for your family.

What does next of kin mean legally?

If someone dies without a will, the state laws define who are the legal next of kin and who is an heir. If you are the next of kin, you will be legally responsible for managing the person's estate and making decisions about its assets.

Who is the executor of an estate?

A person who is named in a will as the executor of an estate becomes the executor of the deceased person's estate. This means that they are responsible for handling the estate and all financial decisions that pertain to it. If you are a beneficiary of a will, your loved one may have named another person as the executor of his or her estate.

Here is a list of institutions that will need proof of death, such as a license, in order for the next of kin to manage their accounts. 

• Requesting payouts from insurance agencies

• Filing final tax returns

• Transferring human remains

• Transferring titles between owners

• Financial accounts

• Retirement plans, military benefits, and pensions

If You Need One, How Many Death Certificate Copies Should You Get?

Although some people's estates are very simple, with only one retirement account and one bank, most people have a variety of credit cards, insurance policies, and more. A person with a simple estate may only need an order of 8 or 9 death certificate copies to close everything out. If your loved one has a lot of accounts, tally up all the accounts that fall into the "needs a death certificate" category. Take that number and then add at least two additional certificates. One is for creating photocopies, faxes, and scans, and another is an emergency copy if you discover an immediate need.