How to Avoid Costly Mistakes After a Death

Losing someone you love is hard enough. Figuring out what to do next can feel overwhelming. In this episode, estate planning attorney Jill Mastroianni sits down with estate administration expert Mollie Lacher to discuss the practical realities of settling someone's affairs after death. From securing a vacant home and locating hidden assets to navigating customer service, digital accounts, and the responsibilities of serving as executor during probate, this conversation offers practical guidance for anyone facing the loss of a loved one or preparing to ease the administrative burden for their own family. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why the first things you should do after a death probably aren't what you expect  How to secure a vacant home and avoid costly insurance mistakes  Why paying bills immediately isn't always the best first step  How to gather financial information before making important decisions  The “breadcrumb” clues that can help uncover forgotten assets  Why estate planning documents alone don't tell the whole story  How organized records can save your family countless hours of stress  Strategies for talking with banks, utilities, and customer service representatives  Why transferring utilities can become surprisingly complicated  How to protect a loved one's digital accounts and avoid accidentally locking yourself out  Steps to reduce the risk of identity theft after someone dies  What it really means to serve as an executor  Resources & Links Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AvkGEQNcMNY Learn more about Mollie Lacher and Sunny Care Services: https://sunnycareservices.com/ Mollie's course, What to Do After Losing a Loved One: https://sunnycareservices.thinkific.com/order?ct=e2fc8f07-c0fe-46b6-a9ee-5ad3b4302916 Set up your Google Inactive Account Manager: https://myaccount.google.com/inactive Add a Legacy Contact to your Apple Account: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102631 Add, change or remove your Legacy Contact on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/help/1070665206293088?helpref=faq_content Listen to Jill's previous interview with Mollie Lacher, Episode 6: What to Know Before Choosing an Executor or Agreeing to Serve as One: https://www.deathreadiness.com/podcast/what-to-know-before-choosing-an-executor-or-agreeing-to-serve-as-one Connect with Jill: Website: DeathReadiness.com Email: [email protected] Learn more about Jill’s solutions Subscribe to the Death Readiness Dispatch! Ask a question for Tuesday Triage Did you enjoy this episode? Share it with someone you care about. This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy. Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents. Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state.