What to do in the event of a death.

We recommend that you print this page and keep it in a safe place.

Prior to death, you should keep all of the following in a place that is known to your immediate family members:

• All life insurance/annuity policies
• Telephone numbers of the insurance companies
• Your will
• Any financial instructions
• Your maintained medical history, including doctor's names and dates of visits (An insurance company may ask you for this information.)

After a death has occurred:

• A close family member should request five to ten certified copies of the death certificate from the funeral director. Each life insurance company will request a certified copy of the death certificate. Your bank and Social Security Administration may also need this document.
• If family members are not sure where the deceased may have had life insurance policies, review the checkbook of the deceased to determine if any checks were written to insurance companies.
• Call each insurance company to report the claim. You will be carefully guided through the steps need to settle a life insurance claim.

A close family member of the deceased should not make any immediate, life-changing decisions. Grieving takes time.