Whether expected or unexpected, a death in the family is always an emotionally charged event that involves a considerable amount of last minute arrangements, both logistical and legal, that family members must attend to.
For example, you may wonder if there is a prescribed time to dispose of a body or who should you first notify of your loved one’s death? Is an autopsy automatically performed? What is the coroner’s role in this situation? Also, you may be wondering how to honor a loved one’s wish to donate their organs to science. Answers to all of these questions and more are now available in a comprehensive wikibook, A Death in Your Family, published by the People’s Law School. This resource was first published in 2007 and was available in PDF format until its wikibook release. For more information on wikibook features, see Clicklaw Wikibooks.
Clicklaw features a Common Question that also addresses this topic – What legal issues do I need to attend to when a family member dies? It includes links to resources on making funeral arrangements, obtaining death certificates as well as guidelines on some of the costs involved.
