After the Death
Kathryn Patricelli, MAimage by Jacob Garcia (lic)Once the final goodbyes and death have occurred, it is time to conduct the funeral ritual and handle the person's estate and last wishes.
Autopsy
An autopsy is a procedure that consists of a thorough medical examination of the deceased's body to determine cause of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that was present. The procedure is usually performed by a pathologist (a specialized variety of medical doctor). When a person has died from natural and known causes, an autopsy is generally not required. Elective autopsies are performed when the deceased has given permission to donate organs or serve as a volunteer for medical research.
In cases of a sudden death where a cause is not immediately known, or if there is suspicion that the cause might have been unnatural, the medical examiner or coroner has the state appointed power to mandate an autopsy. In such instances, the family is not able to decline the procedure.
Notifying Others of the Death
Once a death has occurred, there are numerous people that must be notified. Attending to such details can seem an overwhelming proposition for family members who are also freshly coping with emotions of grief and loss, but nevertheless, this communication must occur.
People that may need to be notified include:
- Minister/spiritual advisor - in order to begin planning a funeral and burial
- Employer - if the deceased was still working, the employer will usually help handle benefit issues, such as health and life insurance.
- Health and Life Insurance agents - will help begin the process of terminating the policies and arrange for payouts to beneficiaries.
- Attorney - if the person used legal counsel to set up a will, this lawyer will begin the legal steps necessary to processing the person's will and estate
- Accountant/Executor of the Estate - an executor (the person designated to carry out the wishes of the deceased) will assist the attorney in following the will and dispersing assets to beneficiaries.
- Social Security Office and Internal Revenue Service - the government will terminate benefits (e.g., Medicare and Social Security) and process taxes on the person's estate for the year in which he/she died.
- Bank and Mortgage Companies - the executor of the estate will make arrangements to pay back any loans and/or close out accounts with all relevant banks and mortgage companies. Remaining assets will be distributed per the person's will.
Funeral and Burial
Resources
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Articles
- Introduction to Death & Dying
- Planning for & Dealing with Your Own Imminent Death
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Signs of Approaching Death & Types of Care
- Signs and Symptoms of Approaching Death
- Dealing with the Imminent Death of a Loved One - Caring for a Dying Person
- Types of Care Available to Those Who Are Dying
- Heroic Measures to Prevent Death
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Dealing with a Loved One's Imminent Death
- Making Peace with a Loved One's Imminent Death
- Dealing With Your Loved One's Imminent Death - Preparations and Activities
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After a Death
- After the Death
- Funeral and Burial
- How to Behave at a Service and During the Grieving Period
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Grief & Bereavement Issues
- Grief
- Symptoms of Grief
- Factors Influencing the Grief/Bereavement Process - Unexpected Death Vs. Expected Death
- Factors Influencing the Grief/Bereavement Process - Helping Children Grieve
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Death & Dying Special Issues and Resources
- Special Issues Related To Death And Dying - Euthanasia
- Death and Dying Conclusion and Resources
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Questions and Answers
- Change of Heart After Parent's Death
- General Anxiety
- Longing For My Son
- My Dead Mother Haunts My Dreams
- Sudden Loss
- Trauma/Tragedy
- A Recent Loss
- The Grass is Always Greener...
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Book & Media Reviews
- A Commonsense Book of Death
- At the End of Words
- Before and After Loss
- Before I Die
- Being with Dying
- Beyond Goodbye
- Bodies in Motion and at Rest
- Crispin
- Death
- Death Benefits
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44 more
- Death in the Classroom
- Death Is That Man Taking Names
- Death of a Parent
- Ecstasy
- Erasing Death
- Ethical Wills
- Extreme Measures
- Facing Death: Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
- Going Through Hell Without Help From Above
- Graceful Exits
- Healing Conversations
- I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye
- Immortal Remains
- In Love With Life
- Into the Gray Zone
- Learning to Fall
- Let's Talk About Death
- Liberating Losses
- Losing Mum and Pup
- Loss
- Love, Aubrey
- Michael Rosen's Sad Book
- Mortal Dilemmas
- Murder in the Inn
- Olive's Ocean
- On Life After Death
- Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth
- Planning for Uncertainty
- Saving Grace
- Suffering, Death, and Identity
- Sunset Story
- The Awakening
- The Bright Hour
- The Color of Absence
- The Lovely Bones
- The Miracle
- The Modern Art of Dying
- The Other Side of Sadness
- The Suicide Tourist
- The Travelers
- To Die Well
- What Dying People Want
- When Breath Becomes Air
- Young@Heart
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Links
- [4] Associations
- [8] Information
- [1] Journals
- [1] Services
- [17] Videos
- [1] Blogs
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Videos
- Talking to Our Kids With Autism Spectrum Disorder About Death
- The Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care
- Advance Directives
- Palliative Care Often Misunderstood
- Advanced Directives
- The Importance of Advanced Directives
- How to Set Up an Advance Healthcare Directive
- The Journey of Palliative Care: Putting Quality Back Into Life
- Planning Ahead with Advanced Directives
- Complicated Grief: Q & A with Dr. M. Katherine Shear
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7 more
- Understanding Hospice Care
- Planning for End-of-Life
- Grief through a Child's Eyes
- Palliative Care: Who is it For, What Does it Do, Why Should I Want it and When?
- What Really Matters at the End of Life
- Talking About Death Won’t Kill You
- When to Create a Living Will
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More Information
- Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Irvin Yalom, MD on Death Anxiety
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