Resources

When inquiring about reservations, ask them if they
have bereavement discounts.

Hooper Memorial Home Inc. Bereavement Support Group

We have bereavement support at our funeral home, 3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17109, phone (717) 651-1000. You will enjoy a pleasant environment in which you will feel very comfortable getting together with persons who have experienced what you have and sharing personal experiences in a therapeutic way.

About the Legal Aspects of an Estate

One of the most important tasks you now face is the execution of a loved one's estate. Whether or not the deceased had a will can make a difference in the time and effort involved in the proper disposition. It is suggested that you obtain legal advice on a lot of these matters such as the disbursement of assets, changing of property deeds and titles, the disposition of bank accounts, stocks and bonds, and the disposition of business assets, etc.

An attorney is helpful but not always needed. Talk to our directors and they are sometimes able to save you money on small estates. If your loved one had a will, it will need to be probated. Probate is the orderly way of distributing the estate. In most cases, probating a will is a simple process. Only in certain instances where the will is being contested or the deceased had numerous holdings will the action be more complex. There is a time limit to all of this.

If there isn’t any will, the estate will be disposed of according to state law.

About Life Insurance Information 

Normally life insurance companies only ask for two documents to be submitted when they pay the benefit on the policy: a death certificate and a benefit application, however they do reserve the right to request more.

When filing a claim form, you should have available the following information:

1. The policy number and the face amount.
2. The full name and address of the deceased.
3. His or Her occupation and the last date worked.
4. His or her date and place of birth and the source of the birth information.
5. Death certificate
6. Claimant's name, age, address, Social Security Number, and date of birth.

About Financial Obligations

Gather all the decedent’s bills together and make sure you are aware of all the financial obligations of the deceased. Many loans, service contracts, and credit card accounts are covered by life insurance, which pays off the account balance in the event of the death of a customer.

The family then contacts the financial institutions where the decedent had a loan, and informs them of the death. These institutions will be able to inform you if the loan was covered by credit life, and what needs to be done to file the claim.

Credit card companies also need to be notified. If the card is jointly held, find out what documentation is required to change cards into the survivor's name.

Notify banks as well especially if there is a joint account. This is necessary before you can withdraw funds from that account. A bank will usually stop payment on all checks as soon as a death notice is published.