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Ask the Funeral Director
At Heritage Funeral Complex we like to offer an opportunity for you to ask us any questions that you may have about funerals, funeral planning or a current / past service that we provided. Your questions will remain confidential and we will only contact you by your preferred method.
You may also feel free to contact us directly, in person or by phone, any time of the day.
Executors
The executor is the personal representative of your estate. He is the person in charge of taking control of your assets, paying off debts, and distributing property to your beneficiaries on the terms and conditions of your will. You can choose anyone to be the executor of your will, but it’s a good idea to choose someone who is both competent and trustworthy. The person you choose to be the executor should be shown in your will. The person you appoint to be the executor of your will has the right to refuse, so you should have a second executor appointed just in case.
Successions
Probate is the legal process that transfers legal title to the property of the deceased’s estate to their beneficiaries. During the probate process the executor of your will goes to court and identifies all the assets you owned, assesses the ownership of it, and pays all debts and taxes, proves that the will is valid and legal, and distributes the property according to the instructions of the will. Probate can be a lengthy legal process if there are no probate plans in place. Just talk to your lawyer to find out what you can do to avoid probate in your area.
Will
Everyone knows they should have a will, but the vast majority – about 70% of us – don’t. Writing a will is easy and inexpensive, and once it’s done, you can rest easy knowing that your hard-earned money and assets will be distributed as you wish. In addition, if you have children, you can indicate who will take care of them when you die in order to avoid this decision being taken by the courts. Making a will is easy, you just need to be at least 18 years of age and be of sound mind when writing the will. To make a legal will, you must
- Make it clear that this is your will.
- Be computer generated or machine generated.
- Be written on a computer or typist, signed and dated.
- Be signed by 2-3 witnesses, these witnesses must be people who are not heirs in the will.
Although you do not need a notary to make a will, it is recommended that you do so with a lawyer as it will avoid all the legal headaches after your death. Once your will is completed, it is recommended that it be kept in a safe and secure location outside of your home. If you have your will made by a notary, most law firms will keep it for you free of charge. Many people keep their wills in a safe deposit box at a bank, but this is not recommended as the contents could be sealed at the time of death. The executor of your will should be aware of its location.
Death Certificate
A certified death certificate is required before doing anything. A death certificate can be obtained from a funeral director. It is a good idea to get multiple copies of a death certificate as most agencies require a certified certificate and not a photocopy.
Bank Account
What needs to be done with bank accounts after death varies by region. In some areas, bank accounts are automatically frozen after a death. To avoid any complications, the bank should be informed immediately, and you should find out the procedures for the release of these funds, and how to set up a new account for funds received after death. It is recommended that the joint account remain open for at least six months to allow you to deposit checks that are made out to the deceased. To remove a name from a joint bank account, banks require a certified copy of the death certificate. If the deceased had a safe deposit box in a bank, the contents can be sealed after death and a certified copy of