After a loved one’s passing, you may need to deal with items such as driver’s licenses, license plates, and handicap placards that have specific rules governing how they are discarded. Because some of these items can be used toward identity theft, it is important you follow these rules.

We’ve written instructions for how to deal with a variety of different situations, including medical malpractice, immigration, and crime victims’ compensation.

If the deceased owned one or more vehicles in their name, you’ll need to take care of any payments as well as managing the title transfer. Every state handles this process differently, but we’ve taken the time to research and find the relevant forms and information that you’ll need.

The Social Security Administration offers a one-time death benefit of $255 to surviving spouses or those who were living on the benefits of a Social Security recipient.

While there are many different steps that go into administering a trust, this guide aims to cover the more general steps.

Here are the first and most important tasks to complete in the wake of a spouse’s passing.

After a death, the real estate may be inherited by an individual or sold. Here’s how to handle the process.

You will need to switch the insurance policies over to continue to be protected. If no one is using the insurance anymore, you can cancel the policy to save money. You usually have 30 days to do this.

If real estate is held in a trust and you are the trustee, you can transfer ownership before or after the sale.

Here are five key steps to ensure the process runs more smoothly and that major mistakes are avoided.

States provide compensation to families of homicide victims to pay the medical bills and funeral or burial expenses, crime scene clean up, and to pay for counseling and loss of income. The amount that is paid can be between $10,000 to $100,000.

If your loved one passed as a result of a work-related injury or illness, a workers' compensation policy may cover medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and provide financial support to the family.

You will need to fund the estate account with all of the deceased person's accounts. You will want to add all of the funds besides "payable on death" and joint tenancy accounts to the estate account.

Losing a loved one can create urgent financial issues and raise many questions. You may want to consult a professional financial advisor to understand your financial picture, resolve issues, and come up with a financial plan for the future.

If the home is worth more than you owe on it, the difference will go to the beneficiaries. You can kick off the process of selling the home by finding a real estate agent

An estate sale company can help you make more money for your loved one’s personal belongings while taking the work off of your hands.

If you cannot find all of your loved one’s accounts and properties with the other methods (tax report, credit report, talking to others who knew your loved one), you may want to get a professional asset search.

In many cases, the surviving loved ones are not obligated to pay your debt when you pass.

It takes an average of 500 hours over up to two years to wrap up the average estate. And when it is your spouse, you have to face the additional toll of having lost a life partner, often in the face of insensitive questions.

Though rare, some unions offer a death benefit and payout to surviving family members.

If you are a retired veteran or receive an annuity, upon notification of death, DFAS will stop monthly payments to prevent overpayment. Depending on your plan, this may also initiate the process for survivor benefits.

If the person who passed away is a retired or former federal civil service employee, you will need to notify the Office of Personnel Management which may have been paying an annuity.

Which debts the estate needs to pay, and in which order, depend on the state and whether the estate has more money than is owed or not. You are likely not personally liable.

Usually, funeral home bills are the second thing that you are required to pay from the estate. If there isn't enough money, the funeral home may make you agree to pay it yourself.

Usually, medical bills are the first that you are required to pay. We know this can be really frustrating.

Ever wondered if you should consider setting up the power of attorney for yourself? Read here to find out more about this legal authorization.

The United States first collected death certificates beginning in the early 1900s. Since then, how has it left its mark in the post-mortem industry? For the basics and beyond, here’s what you should know:

As you enter the later years of your life, it’s important to begin planning for retirement if you haven’t already. The average American lives 20 years past retirement, creating the possibility you outlive your savings. Accordingly, proper planning and saving are paramount to ensuring the quality of life in your older years.

Did you know the Social Security program provides benefits to qualifying family members of deceased relatives? Widows, widowers, dependents of deceased individuals, and other relatives are entitled to receive Social Security Survivor benefits after the death of a loved one—provided the deceased individual meets the qualifying requirements for the program.

If you or your relatives are suffering through the loss of a veteran in your family, you may be eligible for veteran funeral benefits to help ease the cost of an end-of-life ceremony. The Department of Veteran Affairs provides these benefits to help families pay.

Annuities are one of the most effective yet least-known ways to save for retirement and ensure financial stability in your later years. This article will cover how annuities function, and how you can use them to help yourself in retirement.

How you go about shutting down a business depends on what kind of business it is. In this article we’ll break down the process into manageable steps.

Every situation is unique, and everyone experiences grief differently. If you are considering making a move—or are forced into doing so involuntarily—this article helps you to think through and manage your situation.

Ultimately, ghosting is a preventable crime. Follow these steps to ensure your loved one’s identity and assets are protected from theft.

Here is a guide to help you identify resources available to you when you or a loved one no longer needs durable medical equipment, supplies, or medications.