Kim Kubsch
Clearing a home after someone passes away can be an emotional and challenging task. Here are the first five steps to help you through the process. The last five steps will follow in next month’s column. Clearing an estate can be a very long process that requires diligent time and effort.
1. Gather Necessary Documents
• Death Certificate: Expedite this, since you need them (original and copies) for legal and financial matters. Financial access and settlements are limited until the death certificate is secured. Allow 7 to 21 days for your state to process once the paperwork is filed. Consider completing the Arizona death registration worksheet in advance of one’s death to help expedite processing the death certificate upon death.
• Will and Estate Documents: These dictate the distribution of belongings.
• Financial Documents: Look for bank statements, insurance policies, etc.
2. Notify Relevant Parties
• Family Members: Inform close relatives and ask for their input or assistance.
• Lawyers/Executors: If there’s a will, coordinate with the executor to ensure you’re following the decedent’s wishes.
• Utility Companies: Cancel or transfer accounts for electricity, water, etc.
3. Secure the Property
• Change Locks: If necessary, especially if keys are missing or if there are concerns about unauthorized access.
• Forward Mail: Contact the post office to have mail forwarded to a designated address.
4. Sort Through Belongings
• Categorize Items: Divide items into categories such as Keep, Donate, Sell, and Discard.
• Sentimental Items: Be sensitive to family members who may want to keep certain things.
• Valuables: Identify items of financial value (e.g., jewelry, antiques) that may need appraisal, and search carefully for “hidden treasures.”
• When sorting through books, bibles, album jackets, and the like, be sure to look through every page, because often we find cash, keys, or jewelry inside book pockets.
• Clothing: Check all pockets and remove clothing from hangars to be sure a “hangar safe” is not given away.
• Purses: Check all pockets and zippered compartments.
• Hairbrush: Be sure to twist the end of the brush barrel to be sure valuables are not stashed inside.
• Freezers are a typical hiding place for trusts and wills. Also watch for credit cards, coins, etc., to be stored inside containers that appear to be food items.
• Pantry: Check for stashed treasures inside food boxes and containers.
• Chests and trunks are often a good place to stash valuables.
• Business card files often include gift cards with remaining credit for use by anyone who presents the card. Search for gift cards or credits from places like Amazon, consignment stores, and online shopping sites.
• Legal and important documents like deeds and medical records, plus seven years of full tax returns.
5. Distribute Personal Belongings
• Follow the Will: Distribute items according to the deceased’s wishes.
• Family Distribution: If a will does not exist, discuss distribution with family members.
• Donations: Consider donating items that are in good condition to your loved one’s favorite charities.
My goal as a downsizing professional is to ensure you are prepared for your expiration date. Clients often express their intent not to be a burden on their children and loved ones, but they are a burden if they have not prepared for their demise.
Stay tuned for monthly articles about decluttering, downsizing, organizing, making transitions, and clearing of estates.
Call me at 480-720-8566 to learn about my free 30-minute consultation or to speak to your group or event.
To purchase my book Getting Your Life Together Organizer, purchase on Amazon or via my website www.JoyfulDOWNSIZING.com.