Losing a loved one is one of the most trying times of a person’s life, especially when that person is your partner of multiple decades. After one of your parents has passed, the surviving parent will often be left in a state of limbo, wracked with grief and struggling to move on. For children, even adult children, it can be hard to know exactly how to support your grieving parent through this trying time, possibly leaving you feeling confused and helpless.

Fortunately, with the right strategy and advice, you can help your surviving parent get through this difficult time. Here are some tips to support your grieving parents as well as advice on how to handle the legal matters that follow the death of a loved one.

 

Notifying Authorities and Arranging the Funeral

In the immediate aftermath of a loved one’s death, there are certain things that need to be done right away. Since your surviving parent will mostly be consumed by their grief, it will be up to you to take action so that things are handled in the correct manner.

The first thing that you need to do after your parent has passed is to notify the proper authorities so that the death can be pronounced by a medical professional and the body transported for storage. Once that is done, you must start making funeral arrangements. Contact a local funeral home or mortuary and start making plans for a funeral service as well as the burial.

 

Sending Out Notifications

A factor that many people don’t consider following the death of a loved one, whether it was untimely or unexpected, is notifying people of your loved one’s passing. Sending out notifications will probably be the furthest thing from your surviving parent’s mind, which means a good way to support them is to handle this yourself.

First, you should contact your extended family and notify them of the passing. Secondly, you need to write an obituary and submit it to the paper so that those in the community are aware of the passing and any plans for a memorial service. Finally, if your parents are members of a church or other religious institution, you need to let the leaders know as they usually have protocols for assisting grieving families.

 

Handling Legal Matters

In the midst of your family’s grief, there are several legal matters that need to be taken care of that your living parent may find too difficult in their fragile emotional state. Handling these legal matters on their behalf is a good way to support them in their grief.

Contact any necessary government agencies, such as Social Security, to let them know that your parent has passed. Next, you should file any life insurance claims as soon as possible so that the fulfillment process can begin. If your parent had a will, you should contact the family attorney to see how you should proceed based on your departed loved one’s wishes.

 

Support Your Grieving Parent with Legal Help

The loss of a parent can be difficult, which means you might need expert assistance. Get help supporting your grieving parent from the legal team at the Stano Law Firm. We can help you navigate the legal difficulties following a parent’s death so that you can concentrate on helping your living parent. Learn more about our services today.