Centerbridge Law Group, PLLC | Law & Tax

Your Parent Just Died: The First 30 Days Checklist

A free one-page checklist of the legal and tax steps, in order.

If your mom or dad just died, I'm sorry. You're dealing with grief and a pile of paperwork at the same time. This checklist puts the paperwork in order so you can take it one step at a time.

What's on the checklist

  • The first 48 hours: secure the property, order death certificates, find the documents, and notify the right people.
  • Who has authority: why a power of attorney ends at death, and what a named executor or successor trustee can and can't do yet.
  • What the documents control: which assets pass by beneficiary form, by the trust, and by the will.
  • The tax setup: the EIN, Form 56, an estate or trust account, date-of-death values, and the returns that come due.

Get the checklist

You'll get the checklist by email, plus occasional emails from Centerbridge Law Group, PLLC on estates, trusts, and tax. Unsubscribe anytime.

Prepared by Centerbridge Law Group, PLLC. Presented by Edward J. Barton, attorney, CPA, and CFA charterholder.

Attorney advertising. This checklist is general education, not legal, tax, or financial advice for your situation. Requesting or using it does not create an attorney-client relationship. State laws differ; Washington law is cited where noted. Please don't send confidential details by reply email.

Responsible attorney: Edward J. Barton, Centerbridge Law Group, PLLC, 1610 Commercial Ave, Suite 203, Anacortes, WA 98221.

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