The Indian American

- Notify life insurance companies: If your loved one had life insurance, appropriate claim forms need to be filed. You will need to provide the poli- cy numbers and a death certificate. If the deceased was listed as a beneficiary on a policy, arrange to have the name removed. - Terminate other insurance policies: Contact insurance providers such as homeowner's, automobile and so forth. Claim forms will require a copy of the death certificate. - Meet with a probate attorney: The executor should choose the attorney. If there is a Will, the executor named in it and the attorney will have the docu- ment admitted into probate court. If there isn't a Will, the probate court judge will name an administrator in place of an executor. The probate process starts with an inventory of all assets (personal property, bank accounts, house, car, brokerage account, furniture, jewelry, etc.) which will need to be filed in the probate court. - Make a list of important bills: Share the list with the executor or estate administrator so that bills can be paid promptly. - Contact financial advisers, stockbro- kers: Determine the beneficiary listed on these accounts. Depending on the type of asset, the beneficiary may get access to the account or benefit by sim- ply filling out appropriate forms and providing a copy of the death certifi- cate. If that's the case, the executor wouldn't need to be involved. If there are complications, the executor could be called upon to help out. - Notify mortgage companies and banks: It helps if your loved one left a list of accounts, including online pass- words. Otherwise, take a death certifi- cate to the bank for assistance. Change ownership of joint bank accounts. Did the deceased have a safe deposit box? If a password or key isn't available, the executor would most likely need a court order to open and inventory the safe deposit box. Most probate courts have administrative rules about steps to access the box of any decedent. - Close credit card accounts: For each account, call the customer service phone number on the credit card, monthly statement or issuer's website and close the deceased’s account. Upon request, submit a copy of the death cer- tificate by fax or email. If that's not possible, send the document by regis- tered mail with return receipt request- ed. Once the credit card company receives the certificate, it will close the account as of the date of death. If an agent doesn't offer to waive interest or fees after that date, be sure to ask. Keep records of the accounts you close and notify the executor of the estate about outstanding debts. - Notify credit reporting agencies: To minimize the chance of identity theft, provide copies of the death certificate to the three major firms— Equifax, Experian and TransUn ion — as soon as possible so that the account is flagged. Four to six weeks later, check the deceased's credit histo- ry to ensure no fraudulent accounts have been opened. 13 THE INDIAN AMERICAN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2018