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

If your loved one died due to medical malpractice or other wrongful death, there are legal remedies you should consider taking to try and recover damages.

If your loved one left a will and a trust, there are a few ways to proceed.

Legally speaking, your primary goal may be to avoid probate, which can prove arduous and carry a hefty estate tax. It is possible that your loved one wrote a will that covered everything and/or did what was necessary to avoid probate.

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

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.

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.

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.

Most states automatically update their election records. However, to be sure, you can contact your state election board directly.

If you are not a US citizen and were seeking an immigration benefit through a deceased qualifying relative and you meet certain eligibility criteria, you can still get a visa/refugee/asylee petition approved. You will need to make an adjustment application and related application.

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

You should notify dental insurance to see if you need to change the beneficiary name and to avoid continuing to pay for unneeded dental insurance

You should notify long term care insurance to see if you need to change the beneficiary name and to avoid continuing to pay for unneeded insurance.

Active duty service members all have life insurance. The unit should help. Veterans may also have life insurance through the VA.

You may be eligible for the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program or Survivors Pension benefit. The DIC provides monthly benefits to surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent's parents in recognition of the economic loss caused by a Servicemember’s death during military service, or by the death of a Veteran as a result of a service-connected disability. The Survivors Pension benefit is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and/or unmarried child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.

You have 30 days after death to change or cancel the health insurance policy. This can save you from continuing to need to pay for health insurance.

This means compiling a list of real estate, personal property, bank accounts and debts as line items with a detailed description of each item and its fair market value.

Avoid additional charges, get refunds, and let people know.

This may be required if the death is unexpected, traumatic, suspicious, or the cause of death is unknown.

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

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.