the BYG blog

For immediate attention

• Call other next of kin, family, and friends to inform them.

• If death was due to unnatural causes (accident, assault, etc.), call the police. They will investigate and remove the body.

• If death was due to natural causes (illness, age, etc.), call the funeral director of your choice. They will collect the body.

• Make sure the house and pets are cared for.

In the first week

• Make arrangements for the funeral or cremation.

• Register the death with the Department of Home Affairs.

• Obtain a death certificate as soon as possible and make enough certified copies (at least 10). The funeral director can issue a temporary one.

• Locate the will and other important documents (ID, marriage certificate, antenuptial contract, funeral policy if applicable, and insurance policies).

• Meet with the executor of the estate.

In the following weeks

• Arrange for a memorial service.

• Log into the deceased’s online bank accounts and transfer all funds from all accounts to your own account, including any overdraft facility in the cheque account and credit facility in the credit card. This is important, firstly to have cash for what lies ahead, but also to reduce the size of the estate (and therefore pay less estate duty). Once the bank is notified of the death, all the deceased’s accounts will be frozen and it will be too late to transfer funds.

• Then notify the deceased’s bank, pension fund (if applicable), insurers, SARS, and creditors. A death certificate will be required.

• Arrange for all essential debit orders and deductions to be transferred to someone who will pay them in the future. See list. Some may be reduced, e.g. medical aid contributions. Cancel others.

• Decide which monthly direct electronic payments (EFTs) should continue. See list. Arrange for these to be paid.

• Contact insurers and arrange for policies to be paid out. This includes pension and provident funds, as well as any annuities. Check whether short-term insurance has a death benefit. A death certificate will be required.

• Contact the financial advisor to take care of the above, if applicable.

• Go to the offices of the local municipality to arrange for the transfer of the rates and taxes account.

• Handle the social media accounts. See list.

Managing the estate

• Make an inventory of all assets and debts.

• Hand this to the executor for submission to the Master of the High Court.

• The executor will distribute assets according to the will after all debts are settled.

Final thoughts

Remember: There is no rush to grieve — take your time. Reach out for support from family, friends, or professional help.

Honouring someone’s final wishes is an act of love.