Before you need the cremation services offered in Clinton Township, MI, you’ll want to make sure that you have an estate plan done, so all that your affairs are in order. This will make things much easier for your family both in the short-term and in the long-term.

Immediately after you die, your family will be immersed in a flurry of activity as they plan your funeral and deal with all the details and people that swirl in that jam-packed short period of time. When that is over, they will begin to intensely grieve and will need a lot of time to sort through and process their grief as they move toward accepting and healing from your loss and move into that new phase where grief remains, but mostly they’re left with warm and happy members.

During that time immediately after the funeral proceedings, the other thing that your family will need to do is finalize your affairs. Part of this will be handling your estate.

Here’s how you can help them.

The first thing that you need to do is talk to your family about your death. While this may be a very uncomfortable situation for you and then, it is imperative that you be open about the fact that you will die and what you want when you die. This will let you both specify your funeral wishes and it will open the door for you to talk with your family about what you are planning to do with your estate.

One reason this is a good idea is because it eliminates a lot of surprises – that could lead to your family being upset and arguing with each other – when you die because you are there in person telling everyone exactly what your estate plan is.

The next thing you should do is to make sure that you know what the inheritance laws are in Michigan. It’s a mistake to believe that just because you have a will that what you specify will necessarily happen smoothly. State inheritance laws have an impact on estate planning, so you need to make sure that the way you want to settle your estate is in line with Michigan laws.

While many people don’t need to hire an estate attorney, if you do, then hire an attorney who specializes in estate, tax, and probate planning. You’ll want to write down any questions you have. You’ll also need to be prepared to give detailed answers about all your assets, any guardianship decisions, medical preferences, and your end-of-life bequests.

A qualified estate attorney can help you draw up a will or a trust that complies with state inheritance laws while satisfying your wishes for how your estate will be settled.

People often forget to keep beneficiary information current and accurate. Check all insurance policies, annuities, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and IRAs, as well as retirement plans and investment accounts to make sure that the beneficiaries you have listed are correct.

If they are not, make sure you get all of them updated as quickly as possible. Ask for a confirmation letter of the changes and file it with your important papers as proof of the change. To claim these assets, your executor or trustee will need a certified death certificate.

For information about cremation services in Clinton Township, MI, our caring and knowledgeable staff at Lee-Ellena Funeral Home is here to assist you. You can visit our funeral home at 46530 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb, MI 48044, or you can call us today at (586) 412-8999.