Email Michael Email
Other
Sep 1, 2020

Guidance For A Surviving Spouse

Sponsored Content provided by Michael Higgins - Family Service Manager, Dignity Memorial



Navigating the process of executing an estate can be complex. If this task falls on you, it’s likely that you are still grieving from your recent loss and the task of administration seems overwhelming. Managing what needs to be done before, during, and after a death has occurred requires many details to be considered, but it’s a process that can be made easier if you know where to turn for help.

One of the most significant sources of help will be a funeral planner. And while funeral planners can help you with an immediate need, pre-planning a funeral makes the process easier and is a better value than paying for services on an immediate-need basis. The professionals at Dignity Memorial are always available to help guide you through pre-planning options and explain the details. Your funeral director will take a burden off you by overseeing the logistics of the funeral service and memorialization. The team at Dignity is also available to help you with any questions or concerns you might have in the days, weeks, and years following the service.

Aside from the immediate needs associated with a funeral, ongoing legal support can be obtained from an estate attorney. While it’s not essential to have a family estate attorney on hand, doing so will make distributing assets simpler for you and will avoid complications associated with navigating unknown legal territory alone. Similarly, a comprehensive support team would also include a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Your CPA will help file the final tax return for the decedent and, along with the estate attorney, provide guidance on handling any trusts, stocks, or bonds.

A task that both the estate attorney and CPA may need your help with is managing recurring bills or subscriptions maintained by you or your loved one. Make a list of expenses like a mortgage, utilities, insurance, and credit card payments, and be sure that the name of the decedent is removed from the accounts and that they remain current or are canceled. Think about any subscriptions that were in use, but that may not be needed anymore – smartphone applications, online streaming services, printed publications, and gym memberships, for example. These will all need to be considered for cancelation or transfer to a new name.

Deleting or memorializing social media accounts should be completed by contacting the specific company directly. Finalizing these accounts, as well as any electronic mail accounts, will likely need to be performed by the Executor or Administrator of the estate, and may require documents such as a death certificate. Ensuring these details are not overlooked will help you avoid any hassle associated with identify theft in the future.

Dignity Memorial offers resources to help prepare and support families with end of life plans. To receive a free planning guide, call 910-791-4444. Even after attending a funeral service at Dignity Memorial, the care continues with The Compassion Helpline® which offers over the phone counseling services 24 hours a day. 

 
Michael Higgins is Sales Manager for Dignity Memorial®, which cares for more than 300,000 families each year through its network of more than 2,000 providers throughout North America. Learn more at www.dignitymemorial.com or call Greenlawn Memorial Park, Oleander Memorial Gardens and Coble Funeral and Cremation Services at Greenlawn Memorial Park, (910) 799-1686. 

Dignity logo  web 62518112557
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Jane

It’s Child’s Play

Jane Morrow - Smart Start of New Hanover County
Untitleddesign12 11724100328

The Endowment’s Rainbow of Possibilities

Daniel B Winslow - New Hanover Community Endowment
Untitleddesign14

Efforts Underway to Address Healthcare Workforce Shortages

Jack Watson - University of North Carolina Wilmington, College of Health and Human Services

Trending News

Tech Wilmington: Upcoming Events Calendar

Staff Reports - Feb 12, 2025

Pet Pampering Options Grow

Samantha Kupiainen - Feb 12, 2025

Small Business Spotlight: Bookstore Fans Romantasy Flame

Staff Reports - Feb 12, 2025

Publix Confirms Upcoming Leland Store

Staff Reports - Feb 12, 2025

OPINION: Seeing Green: A Case For Community Collaboration On Parks And Green Space

Luke Waddell - Feb 12, 2025

In The Current Issue

Pirate-inspired Bar Perseveres

Early on, thirsty welders, pipefitters and sailors from the nearby North Carolina Shipbuilding Company found cold beer – and wartime solace....


Leland Copes With Growing Up

The area was named Leland way back in 1897, but it only had between 1,000 and 2,000 residents on its official birthday in 1989, the year it...


Small Business Spotlight: Bookstore Fans Romantasy Flame

"I think people want something that is far from reality to escape to, a story they can be fully immersed in, fall in love with characters, c...

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2024 Power Breakfast: The Next Season