After a relative dies in South Carolina: what to do

If the death happened at home and wasn't expected, call 911. If hospice was involved, call the hospice.

Why: A legal pronouncement of death is needed.

Contact a funeral home. Ask for the itemized General Price List; under the FTC Funeral Rule you can choose only the goods and services you want (besides a basic services fee you can't decline).

Why: Funeral homes must give itemized prices, so you can compare and skip what you don't want.

Order several certified copies of the death certificate (the funeral home usually orders them).

Why: Banks, insurers and agencies each want one.

Lock the home, secure the car and valuables, and look for a will, insurance papers and account statements.

Why: Protects the property until someone has legal authority.

Tell Social Security (the funeral home often does this). Ask about survivor benefits.

Why: Social Security can't pay benefits for the month of death, so a payment for that month must be returned; a spouse or children may qualify for survivor benefits.

Call life insurance companies, employers, pension plans and banks about payable-on-death or beneficiary accounts.

Why: These pass directly to the named beneficiary, outside probate.

If you answered “Don't know” to “Roughly what did they own in their name alone (not joint, not with a named beneficiary)?”

Add up what your relative owned in their name alone (not joint accounts or accounts with a named beneficiary) and compare it with your state's small estate limit.

Why: Small estates can often be settled without a full court case.

If you answered “Yes” to “Did your relative leave a will?”

If there is a will, the named executor should file it with the probate court.

Why: Many states require the will to be filed promptly after death.

Do not pay the person's debts from your own money, and don't hand estate money to creditors before you know what's owed.

Why: Debts are paid from the estate in an order set by law; family members usually aren't personally liable.

If you answered “Little: under my state's small estate limit” to “Roughly what did they own in their name alone (not joint, not with a named beneficiary)?”

Use your state's small estate affidavit or process.

Why: A bank or other holder needs legal authority to release the property, and the small estate process gives it without full probate.

If you answered “More, or a house in their name alone” to “Roughly what did they own in their name alone (not joint, not with a named beneficiary)?”

Open probate in the county where your relative lived (the executor if there is a will, or a family member asks to be administrator).

Why: Larger estates and real estate in the person's name alone usually need a court case.

File the final income tax return for the person, and an estate tax return if needed.

Why: The executor or administrator is responsible for the final return.

Search for unclaimed money in every state where your relative lived.

Why: Old accounts, deposits and refunds may be waiting; heirs can claim them.

If you answered “Yes” to “Did they leave a surviving spouse?”

If you are the surviving spouse, check for a surviving spouse property tax break.

Why: Many states continue or add exemptions for surviving spouses.