Someone Has Died? Don't Call Everyone Right Away
Someone has passed away. Your world temporarily comes to a standstill, but the world around you keeps turning. Because while the funeral needs to be arranged and all kinds of things need to be sorted out, bills from the deceased continue to arrive, subscriptions continue to run, and mail keeps landing on the doormat as if nothing has happened. My advice when dealing with all this paperwork: above all, don't let yourself be rushed.
Many organisations will automatically find you
Fortunately, you don't have to notify everyone yourself. Once a death has been registered with the municipality, the death is reported via the Personal Records Database (BRP) to various government organisations. These include the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst), the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), and the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). This means you don't have to immediately spend time on the phone with all these organisations yourself. But first, an important question needs to be answered:
Who is actually authorised to act on behalf of the deceased?
After someone has died, you are not automatically authorised to arrange all of the deceased's financial and legal affairs. This depends, among other things, on the will, the heirs, and whether an executor has been appointed. You will therefore often contact the notary's office first. Especially if there are several heirs or the situation is complicated, it is advisable to first discuss with a notary how the estate should be settled. For example, a certificate of inheritance may be required to demonstrate who the heirs are and who is authorised to act on their behalf. By the way, do your loved ones know which notary you have arranged your affairs with?
Also be careful about what you think you can arrange straight away
As long as it is not yet clear whether and how you will accept the estate, it is advisable to be cautious with the deceased's belongings. For example, don't simply start dividing up or selling possessions. Paying bills can also have implications for the way in which you accept the estate. Unsure about this? Ask the notary for advice first.
Then start by mapping out the relevant information
See what is present in the house, collect administrative information, and, for example, review the bank statements — of course, only once you have access to them and are authorised to do so. What insurance policies are there? Which subscriptions are still active? Are there loans, a mortgage, or other financial obligations?
What is often the biggest challenge? It is frequently the deceased's digital life. A phone, laptop, and email address can contain important information. There may be photos in the cloud or documents in an inbox. Or messages may still be coming in that you need to deal with outstanding matters. The deceased's smartphone may also contain important contacts who need to be informed. My tip: don't immediately cancel a phone number or email address. First check what is linked to it and what information is important for settling the estate.
Divide the work
When someone has died, there is a lot to do. Divide the work, don't do it alone, and agree among yourselves who will do what. One person can contact organisations, another can focus on the funeral, while someone else deals with the administration. Also agree on who will keep track of everything and record what has already been arranged. This brings peace of mind during an emotional period. Moreover, it prevents everyone from trying to arrange the same things at the same time, or important matters from being overlooked.
Not everything you can cancel needs to be cancelled immediately
This brings us to the heart of this blog. A death is not an administrative checklist that you need to work through as quickly as possible. Some matters require immediate attention, while others can wait. Making that distinction is precisely what helps prevent unnecessary problems. Of course, organisations need to be informed. A bank needs to know that someone has died. However, if it is not clear who is authorised to handle the financial affairs, the bank may block the account. An insurer needs to be able to assess what the death means for paying out a policy. An energy supplier will eventually need to know that the customer has died.
But informing an organisation is not the same as cancelling something immediately. Why would you have the energy supply disconnected if the property still needs to be cleared? A phone subscription does not necessarily need to be cancelled immediately if you may still need it to access an account. And you don't want to cancel an insurance policy before you have established whether there is still a payout or other entitlement. In short, a decision to cancel something that seems logical at first glance can actually create extra work afterwards.
It actually starts during your lifetime
Perhaps that is ultimately the most important lesson: the better you document what is important during your lifetime, the less your loved ones will have to search for after your death. That is exactly what Life After Me helps with. During your lifetime, you can already store important financial and legal documents, insurance policies, passwords, reminders, and other important information in an organised and secure way.
You can also arrange the division of responsibilities in advance. This means, for example, that there is at least one person who knows that a will has been drawn up and can access it. With Life After Me, you can designate up to five trusted appointees who can help with settling your estate and carrying out your final wishes.
Do you want to prevent your loved ones from not knowing where to start if something happens to you? Then my final tip is to create a trial account today. [Add link]
In short, document what is important, who you trust, and where your loved ones can find information. That way, they won't later have to figure out how your life is organised administratively and digitally, but will know who to call, what is important, and where to start.
Ronald Ostendorf – Head of Customer Success Life After Me
5 Questions About What You Need to Arrange After Someone Dies
1: Do I have to report a death to the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration myself?
No. After a death has been registered with the municipality, this information is passed on via the Personal Records Database (BRP) to various government organisations.
The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration therefore receives this information automatically. However, action may still be required afterwards, for example to file the deceased's final income tax return or deal with inheritance tax.
2: Do I need to inform the bank immediately after someone dies?
Yes, it is advisable to inform the bank as soon as possible. But informing the bank is not the same as closing the bank account. The bank can explain what will happen to the account and which documents are required to deal with the financial affairs.
3: Do I always need a certificate of inheritance?
No. It depends on the situation. A certificate of inheritance can demonstrate who the heirs are and who is authorised to act on their behalf. A bank or other organisation may ask for one, but a certificate is not necessary for every estate. A notary can explain what is required in your situation.
4: Which organisations are automatically informed after someone dies?
The municipality reports the death to various government organisations.
Examples include the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration, the SVB, and the UWV. You generally need to inform other organisations yourself. These include banks, insurers, energy suppliers, landlords, and companies with which subscriptions are held.
5: Why should I be careful about immediately cancelling subscriptions and accounts?
Because you may still need information or access. A phone number or email address, for example, may be linked to other accounts. There may also still be important documents, photos, or other data stored in a digital environment. Creating an overview first prevents you from closing something before you know what the consequences will be.
