What To Do When A Loved One Dies
A Practical Guide For Florida Families
Learn what to do when a loved one dies in Florida. Download our free guide for families and get legal tips on probate, estate planning, and more.
Finding Peace After Loss
Losing a loved one is one of life’s most heartbreaking experiences. During this time, it’s easy to feel lost, not just emotionally, but practically. What steps should you take first? Who do you need to contact? What legal matters require your attention? That’s why we’ve created this free resource: Finding Peace After Loss: A Practical Guide to Help Florida Families Move Forward
This downloadable guide was written by our team at Nuñez Estate Law & Title to support individuals who are grieving while trying to manage legal and financial responsibilities. Whether you’re dealing with a parent’s passing, a spouse, or another loved one, this guide provides calm, clear direction at a time when everything feels uncertain.
Inside the Guide: What You’ll Learn
Our guide walks you through what to do in the first few days, the first few weeks, and the legal issues to avoid when someone dies in Florida. Some of the key topics include:
- How to secure the deceased’s home and care for their pets
- What to do about funeral arrangements and death certificates
- The importance of gathering essential legal documents (like wills, bank statements, insurance policies, and Social Security records)
- When to contact a Florida probate attorney to determine if you need to open a court case
- How to inventory property and debts such as real estate, credit cards, or valuables
- Notifying financial institutions and government agencies to stop payments and avoid fraud
- How to forward mail, check for safe deposit boxes, and avoid common mistakes
Each step is clearly explained in plain English, without legal jargon, and includes tips to help you stay organized, protect your loved one’s legacy, and avoid costly errors.
Why Legal Guidance Matters, and When to Ask for Help
Even if your loved one had a will, you may still need to go through the Florida probate process to transfer property and settle debts. Probate can be straightforward, or very complex, depending on the size of the estate, how assets were titled, and whether there are any disputes among heirs.
If you’re not sure whether you need to open probate, or you’ve been told you must act as the personal representative (executor), we encourage you to learn more on our Probate Administration page. There you’ll find helpful information on timelines, costs, and your legal obligations.
How to Prevent Future Headaches with Estate Planning
One of the most important lessons from this guide is that many future probate problems can be avoided entirely. By creating a will, setting up a trust, or making your wishes legally binding through advance directives, you can save your family from legal confusion, conflict, and stress.
If your loved one died without a plan, or you’re now realizing the importance of preparing one for yourself or an aging relative, we invite you to read our page on Estate Planning in Florida. It’s never too early or too late to protect your family, your property, and your peace of mind.
Download Your Free Guide and Take the First Step Forward
This free guide is more than just a checklist. It’s a source of comfort and clarity during one of life’s most difficult moments. Whether you’re handling everything alone or working with other family members, having a roadmap can make all the difference. If you have questions or need personalized support, the team at Nuñez Estate Law & Title is here to help. We offer compassionate, professional legal guidance for families throughout Florida navigating probate, wills, trusts, and estate matters.
You don’t have to do this alone. Let us walk with you.