What to do after a death

Even if you've prepared, when faced with the death of a family member or loved one, you may find you're at a loss as to what to do first.

 It may be hard to think at all and to know what actions to take or that may be necessary to suit legal requirements, even if you've given it some thought and prepared. There are many tasks to do, both legally and to do with the death and funeral. When the death is unexpected, you may feel shocked and overwhelmed, and doubly at a loss.  

In this section we include guidance/links, mostly to official or professional bodies providing advice and information on what is required in your locality. 

Funeral Guidance

Saying Goodbye: Even if you've prepared, when faced with the death of a family member or loved one, you may find you're at a loss as to what to do first. In this section, you'll find links to legal and professional organizations with information on what needs to be done and checklists, and guidance to where to find companies and how to proceed. 

Click for info re Canada

Click for info re the US

Planning and Legalities

Business, Professional & Personal Affairs: In this section, you'll find background and links to legal and professional organizations with information on actions to take and how to proceed after a death or when pre-planning. 

Loss and Grieving

However prepared we may think we are, the shock can be overwhelming and the grief everlasting. We all have different ways of facing grief—and information is provided here in the hope that it will be of comfort or assistance. Onward links and connections to community and other organizations are provided from time to time/. Some individuals find contact with others coping with grief is helpful at such a difficult time.

Health and Wellness

Our health tends to suffer when we're faced with bereavement and grief or coping with illness—our own or for a loved one.. Included here are articles and helpful leads on how to maintain your own physical and mental strength during this time. Or you may be face with ill health or those close to you may have physical/wellness concerns or wish to avoid them for as long as possible. Many more of us are also caregivers as parents and relatives age. Information on maintaining your own wellness and coping with the demands of grief and aging, for example, are included here.

Advice and Guidance

Articles of general interest or guidance when contemplating future life change or facing loss, or coping with its after affects, will be featured in this section.

The Bucket List

This section covers things you may want to do or plan for or to look forward to. If you're visiting this site for general information or to plan ahead, or to help enhance the days—whether it's being an armchair traveler or getting on a plane and ticking another item off your bucket list—this page is designed to focus on more than what's on your To Do list...