My mother just passed away and I don't know what I should do financially?

My mother paid all the bills for my father so he doesn't know how to do any of this and I have no clue of what I should be doing. Can anyone help?

Here's a bit more info: She had a Life Ins policy which we gave to the funeral director last week to pay for her burial. She drew Soc Security and we received a letter for an appt with them (unsure why). My mother was very disorganized and no check register was found so we are unsure of what amount was left in the bank. I do know they had several bills that were automatically withdrawn. We don't know if she had credit cards. What should I do to get my Dads finances straightened out? Is there other things I should be doing? She left no will so everything belongs to my Dad, which isn't much. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

uuchurchlady

To expand on what David said, you will need copies of her death certificate to show the bank before they will tell you anything. Depending on the bank you may have to open a new account with your dad and yourself as the signers, then you transfer what ever is in the existing account to the new account and arrange for the automatic withdrawals and deposits, like SSI to go into the new account.

Get copies of her past bank statements for the last six months and you will be able to see who she was writing checks to and for how much. SS will tell you what her death benefit will be, they will tell you how much more your father will receive as a widower. Depending on the state the fact that she had no will does not necessarily mean that your dad gets what ever there is left.

Some states mandate that the estate, after all bills are paid be divided between the surviving spouse and the children. There is a minimum amount that can be inherited without probate and that can be different from state to state as well. If the estate is worth less than that amount then you do not need to do anything through the courts or with a lawyer. You can research this in brief on your own by going to your state statutes on line and searching for death and probate laws.

Compressed Fart Tycoon

Oh, dear, your mom needs help RIGHT AWAY! There are bad people out there who are skilled at relieving elderly folks of their life savings, and they include funeral directors.

Please find someone who can help. Ask your minister, if you have one, or the lawyer who is handling the estate, or the insurance agent, or your boss, or your teacher--SOMEONE--for some real help. You need someone who knows the system, not just an email instruction.

jamie johnson

sorry to hear your mum passed away :(

sunbathing<3in<3january

I don't know much about this kind of situation but I would suggest contacting a lawyer or attorney and asking them if they can give you some free advice on the topic - they might not straighten it out for you for free, but I think they can tell you how to get started.

David

You go to her bank ..and find out about what payments come out automatically ...
go to all the utilities and change the name if they were in your mothers...
its really just a matter of writing down the monthly ins and outs

go see the SS to arrange any payments they will continue to pay

start opening all the mail ...for unknown accounts

Donna

If she didn't leave a will, and no obvious paper trail as far as bills go, then you pretty much have to sit and wait for the bills to arrive in the following month.

Donna

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