My dh has declined some more. I am trying to tie up loose ends so when he does cross over, I have many of the decisions already reached. One thing I am not certain of is how many death certificates to request. It seems I've read somewhere that a good number to ask for is 25. What could you recommend? I have pre-arranged cremation arrangements, and they have to know the number of certificates to put on their form.
I needed 12. Changing utilities to my name only required copies. Now here's where it got really strange-because of privacy laws some places needed the certificate with no cause of death and others insisted they needed it. The funeral director I worked with guided me through the process and filed SS for me. He sat with me and explained that I would forget everything he was telling me and not be be too hard on myself. He was right-I did forget most everything. You will probably need your marriage license when you file for your husband's SS benifits.
I ordered 25 and have since ordered more. Financial and insurance companies require certified copies.. and recently I was asked for one that was 'less than 3 months old'. ODD!! I had to order another one and it cost $20. When you order a lot initially, the cost is about $20 for one and $3.00 for each additional. So, it's less expensive to get extras at the beginning.
A few people accepted copies. It depends on how many institutions you have to notify... A few will ask for a certified copy, and then return it later.
When I made our funeral arrangements, the funeral director said 5 was a good number. They aren't free and he told me he could get more down the road if I needed them. They are available from the Health Dept. in the city where people have passed.
If you were married before, your benefits will be from which ever is the most. Of course, depending on how long you were married. They will need the original marriage license, but will return it to you.
Get more than you think you need. A few years after my father died I got a call from a title company that was involved in the sale of the house that my father sold 10 years before. It seems that my father didn't sign the settlement document back then and they needed it signed before they could sell the house, settlement was the next day. I said, "sorry, he's dead." They then demanded a death certificate. I asked if they would return it since it was my last copy. Of course they said.
They never returned it.
But the point was that I needed a copy immediately for an unforeseen circumstance. So get at least 1 more than you think you need.
Please also make sure you notify the Dept. of Transportation or whatever place issues drivers license (if he still has one); and passports. You will need copies for these, too. Almost any place you have to contact regarding the death will require either an original or a copy and some will require one that states the cause of death and some want the one that doesn't state the cause of death. After the death of my so, I ordered 15 - turned out I needed at least 10 more!
I never really thought about needing copies of the death certificate..I thought one for the bank would be all I'd need, so thank you for bringimg this up... I will also make sure I have copies. Things here in Australia can be different than there in the states, but I want to be prepared for anything that might arise. I have already started having anything new we buy have receipts put in my name..
Because husband's body was a donation to an out of state medical research facility, they could only provide 3 certified copies; one specified for SSA use only which I know would not apply to you.
Just in case, I ordered 5 additional copies from a service. They charged the same state fee, their fee for processing and then would only send UPS overnight air. The entire charge was about $75 and the certificates arrived within 48 hours. I am though, only just starting with this. It seems like some entities are quite willing to accept their own scanned copies. They say that since everything is transmitted electronically all documents will show as copies once scanned. Another local concern insisted on a certified copy for the amount owed (by me of less than one dollar).
Julia, aside from SSA the most specific seem to be financial especially those with whom you may not have a POA or they will not accept POA only guardianship or, what is is called "payee representative".
Anyway, if those I ordered are not enough I can order more through the service. They will only process 5 per order so it is not a gain or loss for me to order more or order them at another time.
Hb donated body to IU Anatomical Research; they filed the death cert and said ss could access it on line; I went to local health dept for copies. 1 free because hb was in military, bought 4 more @ $10 each and still have them. Hb had no pension or assets. SS interview on phone; no problems. Received SS "death check." My ss is more than his; so that was easy. Utilities were already in my name because when we moved here 8 yrs ago, he wasn't able to do "financial" things. Every situation is unique for each of us it seems; just like every human: seen one; seen one, not just dementia victims.
Good point, Zibby*. I have changed everything I think possible into my name, so I won't have to deal with changing it 'later'. My SS is also more than his, so that's not a problem. I am the owner and beneficiary of his life insurance policy. Do anythiing now to make it easier after.
I ordered 10 for both my dw and for Murray....but there are 2 types of certificates (which most of us are not aware of). One lists the cause of death, and the other does not. Some institutions will not accept it without the cause of death, and some will not accept it if the cause of death is on it....weird, but there is no limit on stupidity. Never argue with idiots.,...they will win because of their vast experience. I feel a safe number is 10, and it is easier and cheaper to get them now then to need them and have to order them and find out where to pick them up. I have only used 2 of them and still have the remainder. I doubt I will ever use them, but I can always buy a bird and use them to line the cage if I have to...
Well, doncha KNOW? I replied to this post earlier, and TODAY learned that the Harris county Toll Road Authority wants a copy of his death certificate (2009) in order to transfer the account into my name. There is a $50+ balance in that account and the only way they can transfer that is if I fill out a form and send his death certificate in. (It can be a copy, not certified). So there you go. Widows probably require more because more accounts are in the husband's name than the other way around. Point here is that you never know how many you will need, and as Brother Phranque said, it's always better if you can just reach into the file and pull one out than have to re-order another one. AND, for the record, they cost $21 each from Harris County. (I just checked.) Initially, it was $21 for the first one and $3.00 for ANY NUMBER after that.
Thanks Abby*...I need to have all the utilities gas, electric etc...accounts changed to my name. I have POA and Guardianship , letters from our lawyer to hand out stating dh has AD and is not fit to sign or make any descions
Julia, remember your POA is worthless the minute he dies. You are smart to get as much changed to your name now as you possibly can. Remember to LEAVE his name on the bank account for at least a year after he dies, just in case a check for a deposit refund, etc., should drift in. It will be addressed to him, . and you can deposit it easily if he is still on the bank account.
I still get a small dividend 4 x a year addressed to my late husband. It would cost me over $600 to get the stock changed to my name now, and the dividends are only around $60 each. I'm just leaving it as it is, because it is not worth spending $600 to change it.
Continue to put as much as you can in your name now. Smart!
What I did was make me a list of anything that had to do with insurance, income, and banking if your name is not on accounts as co-owner. Also any credit cards even if your name is on them you will need a certificate to remove his. But I was surprised by Discover card. I never notified them. I just received a bill without his name. Don't know how they got their info but they changed it without contacting me. When I finished my list I added 5 extra. SS returned my certificate in just a few days. Also there was another thread here about getting utilities in your name before they passed on. What I did was call the companies and had my name added to the account. Only one tried to stop me. They told be I didn't have to add my name. I told them my lawyer told me too so they put my name on the account. I would like to thank all my lawyers here for their advice. The bills still come in both our names and the phone is still listed in his name.
I was told that if we move, and the utilities were in our own name at the former residence, we may not have to pay a deposit for services at the new address. Is that true? Considering it is usually US who paid the bills for years, wouldn't it be sad if they were to say:, "You have no history of service at your former address?"
Thank you for the advice Nancy B*....Our two bank accounts are in joint names. I need to get the telephone account in my name, as each time I make a query, they want to talk to DH...well you can just imagine how that conversation goes!
Husband actually executed a poa that specifically said it did not expire with his death as he knew that several matters would present within a short period after he died. We still have a mortgage and car loans, for example.
As said above, the utilities: gas, water, electric, telephone, internet, cable, refuse, etc are deducted from the checking account that are in both names, not "and", but "or".
I have no intention to close out that account. As long as the charges are paid, why should they care?
When I move, and I hope to move it will likely be out of state so I think deposits will be required anyway.
I think some of these companies, such as utilities can get a little carried away by themselves. What are they going to do? Cut off paying customers with payment histories?
However, I have very recently discovered that companies that use demographic data, like insurance, will bump your rate up if you are a "single" because they view married couples as more stable.
Our car was in both names with "OR" rather than "AND", but I felt better changing it to just my name. Peace of mind cost $120, but thought it was worth it. That's good advice about leaving his name on the bank accts. for awhile. It's the not knowing when the end will come that's so hard.
Nancy, something sounds wrong about having to pay $600 to change the name on the stock. My FIL has spent the past few years removing his late wife's name from all of his stocks. Since he refuses to allow his broker to hold his stocks for him his choices were to do it himself or pay thousands of dollars to have the broker do it. He contacted each company individually and then sent in the requested paperwork. As long as he did this himself there were no charges.
Paula, part of that fee goes toward a NEW stock certificate because I cannot find the original. He had it in his files and I fear he may have shredded it when he got a new shredder a few years before actual dx.
I have declared that Office Supply Companys should not be allowed to sell shredders to anyone over 70 without a doctor's prescription. My DH decided it was a good thing to shred old documents, and he had a garage filled with trash bags of shredded paper. He shredded many old docs and files and records from 30 years ago and forward.. but then also shredded important papers such as his old divorce decree from 1st wife,..(I was his 3rd) Would you believe his children sued me for his insurance based on an agreement (they said) that was in his divorce decree. I had no way of obtaining a copy of that document, only a statement that there WAS a divorce granted. They did not prevail, of course, but created so much stress and worry - within months of his death - and needless to say, a large attorney fee, that I should not have had to pay.
I'm sure that he shredded that stock certificate with his old deeds, and old DuPont papers.
I'm sorry that this is such a mess. I can see that not having the stock certificate being a problem, these days brokers usually hold the certificates, actually, there usually is are no paper certificates these days. Except for people like my FIL who is worried about brokers who borrow against their clients' stocks (this has happened int he past).
Which is too bad because some stock certificates used to be pieces of art. My BIL has a printed certificate for his share in the Green Bay Packers, but that is a case where people invested just to get the paper certificate and to frame it.
I believe that his children sued you only because I have heard of stuff just as bad.