This article outlines some tips to help get through this difficult time and ensure that the surviving family members are prepared to handle any future legal and business issues, quickly and efficiently.

Uncover any last requests:

If you're lucky, your loved one will have left a detailed, legally certified will outlining burial requirements and distribution of assets. Check with the deceased's lawyer if you're unsure whether a will exists. If it doesn't, talk with family members to see if any last wishes were mentioned.

Set up a financial plan:

Even the most generous of insurance policies and estate settlements are unlikely to last forever, so meet with a financial planner to set up a long-term budget and discuss restructuring any investments to satisfy your financial goals.

Get several copies of the death certificate:

You should get a copy of the death certificate for documentation purposes. There will be several instances in the coming days and weeks in which having a copy of the death certificate will be required. Ensure you have more than one copy of the death record; various institutions will require such documentation for settling an estate and you'll find maintaining additional copies will help you speed up paperwork.

Below are four examples when providing a death certificate is required:

1. Transporting the body:

In most states, the funeral director will need a copy of the death certificate to legally transport the body to the funeral home and will file the death certificate with the courthouse for legal proof of death. The funeral director will also need a copy of the death record to apply with the health department for a burial transit permit.

2. Claiming a life insurance policy:

If your loved one had life insurance, the life insurance company will require an official certified death certificate as proof of death when a primary or secondary beneficiary submits a claim. Generally speaking, a secondary beneficiary is only allowed to make a claim if the person listed as the primary beneficiary has also died. In either situation, photocopies are considered unacceptable.

If the death was found not to be from natural causes (such as an accident or a homicide), you will also need a copy of the investigative report to be eligible for additional accidental death benefits. Check the fine print of the policy to see if this sort of coverage was provided.

3. Closing bank accounts:

Any existing checking and savings accounts will remain open and any applicable fees will continue to be charged as long as there is money in them?unless you formally close the bank accounts. You will need to bring in a certified death certificate and fill out a Death Notification Form as supplied by the bank to officially close the account and withdraw or transfer any remaining funds.

If the account was a joint account with your name on it, the death notice is more of a formality to make the bank aware that no more deposits will come in under the deceased's name beyond any related insurance settlements.

4. Transferring retirement benefits:

If you are named as a primary beneficiary on a 401(k), individual retirement account or company retirement plan, supply a certified death certificate to roll the benefits over to a retirement account in your name. If you decide to withdraw the money and place it into a checking or savings account, be aware that you may face a significant tax penalty.

The days and weeks following the death of a loved one can be very stressful. Settling an estate requires the submission of paperwork to each individual institution where an account is held by the deceased. You'll also need to provide paperwork when requesting a death-related service or benefit. Part of the paperwork requires providing documentation of the death. Death record policies vary, so be prepared to provide an official certified death certificate copy available by mail or in person from the state or county vital records agency where the death occurred. Government-certified copies of a death certificate can also be obtained on an expedited basis through authorized online service providers such as VitalChek.com

Since multiple copies are generally required, you should determine the number of certificates you will need before you place your order and avoid having to duplicate your order or pay separate order processing fees.