The death of a loved one is an emotional time.It's also a time when people are looking to you to help cover funeral costs that you can't afford.You may be able to get the estate to pay for those costs if there's money in it.You'll have to wait for the estate to go through the process, which can take months or even years.If the deceased set up a pre-paid plan for their funeral, you should pay for it yourself.If you don't have a plan, you have to cover the expenses yourself.
Step 1: Find out who is in charge of the estate.
Asking around among family members is the easiest way to find out who is in charge.The person probably already knows who they are since the deceased talked to them before naming them.The personal representative is the person who is in charge of closing out the affairs of the deceased.The funeral arrangements are made by the executor.If the deceased had a will, they should have listed the person who would take care of it.If the deceased did not have a will, the court will usually appoint an administrator.In the meantime, funeral arrangements and other end-of-life issues are typically handled by the next of kin or another close relative who is willing to handle it.
Step 2: Ask if the deceased had a funeral plan.
Many people use a pre-paid funeral plan to cover their funeral expenses.The deceased might have made these arrangements.If there isn't an administrator, ask the surviving spouse or next of kin.The funeral was planned and paid for in advance by the deceased.The funeral director will usually sign a contract detailing how the funeral will take place.Someone invested money to pay for a funeral.No specific plans have been made before.You have money to go towards funeral expenses if you die at a current value.The premiums were paid by the dead.A named beneficiary is the beneficiary of the policy.The money goes towards funeral expenses.
Step 3: To find out what's covered, you need the paperwork for the plan.
The plan documents the deceased left behind should be looked at if you discover a funeral plan.The plans will likely be in the same place if they had a will.Look through their papers if not.It is necessary to find the paperwork you need.The terms of the plan outline what you and other family members will be responsible for so you can budget accordingly.Depending on how long ago the deceased purchased the plan, there could be some products that are no longer available.The funeral director will have suggestions for replacements.If the plan was set up with a specific funeral home, you should plan the funeral services there.There are specific funeral homes that set up pre-paid arrangements.
Step 4: An agreement can be reached with a funeral director.
You should talk to the funeral director about your plans and what you need.A good funeral director understands what you're going through, even if you don't know what to do.They will give you an estimate of the funeral costs and explain the options that are available.If you want to avoid hassles later, get the approval of the executor.It's a good idea to have an attorney look over the contract before you sign it.If the deceased hasn't already picked out a specific funeral home, talk to funeral directors at 2 or 3 places so you can compare costs and choose the best deal.Pay attention to the atmosphere of the funeral home and the area where the ceremony will take place.The funeral director can show you what will happen on the day of the funeral.Family and friends of the deceased will be comfortable in this place.
Step 5: Find out how much you have to pay.
You don't have to pay the full costs of the funeral upfront.It can take some time to access the money from the estate.Expenses the funeral director has to pay to other companies and services, such as flowers, obituary notices, and clergy, will still be paid for by you.When certain amounts are due, ask for a schedule of dates.Make sure the funeral director is aware of the situation if you have to wait for funds through an insurance policy.
Step 6: If possible, use the death certificate to access the bank account.
If you are the administrator of a deceased person's estate, many banks will allow you to access their bank account.You may be able to use the money to cover funeral expenses.Call a local branch of the bank that the deceased used and ask what you need to access the account.The death certificate is usually applied for by the funeral director.They'll make certified copies when it's ready.If you had a joint account with the deceased, you can use it for funeral expenses.
Step 7: If you're the beneficiary, sign over the life insurance policy at the funeral home.
You may be able to use the proceeds of a life insurance policy to cover funeral expenses if you are the executor of the estate.This only works for policies that are paid into the estate.If you are named as the beneficiary, you can use the life insurance policy.You might need to pay the funeral home and use the life insurance proceeds for reimbursement since it can take up to 8 weeks to get a life InsurancePayout.The funeral director can tell you if you're the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.You might be able to wait until you get the insurance money.
Step 8: Talk to the person in charge of funeral expenses.
It can take a long time for the executor to know how much money is in the estate and what will be left after debts are paid.If they have a basic idea, they can help you make planning decisions that are within the means of the estate to cover.The person who died may have left instructions for the funeral service they wanted.If there isn't any, try to plan a service that the other loved ones will find meaningful.If the funeral expenses are too high, the beneficiaries might object to it.If the estate is valued at $40,000 and you spend $25,000 on funeral expenses, it would be considered unreasonable.You wouldn't be able to get all of the expenses reimbursed by the estate.
Step 9: There are receipts for funeral expenses to be submitted.
If you can prove that you paid for the funeral expenses, the estate will reimburse them.All you have to do is give the receipts to the person who will take care of it.The debts of the dead need to be paid off before funeral expenses can be reimbursed.If you want to know how long it will take for you to get a reimbursement, you can ask the executor.It will take a long time to get your money back.
Step 10: If it seems like you won't get paid, file a claim against the estate.
Write down exactly what the expenses were in your claim.Most courts have forms for this.Attach your receipts to your claim.If the estate has already been admitted to probate, send it to the clerk of court using certified or registered mail.If you're close to the executor, this can put you in an uncomfortable situation.If you don't want to do it, explain that it's not personal.You can file a claim in some courts.Ask the clerk of the court where the deceased lived if there is a form you can use.