Notifying Next-of-Kin of Death

When a loved one dies, you will want to notify next-of-kin and friends. For one, they will want to know. Most will also want to offer help. Lastly, next-of-kin is entitled to know.

The best notification methods minimize your time. If possible, they should also be gentle. The most traditional and personalized method is to set up a phone tree. You can either ask specific people to contact specific people. This task is easier if the decedent leaves a list or address book. Or you can use a loose approach and ask specific people to contact whoever they think would like to be notified. There are also web sites that will distribute death care notifications on your behalf. However, you will need to supply contact information.

The second most traditional approach is to post an obituary. However, be aware of the declining readership of printed media. When printed media has a website, obituaries may not be posted automatically. And while there are obituary websites, it is questionable whether people read them on a regular basis.

With the popularity of networking sites, you can post a death notice to your current network. Also, if you have access to the decedent’s social network accounts, you can post a message.

Finally, if the deceased was employed, it is important to notify the employer so that necessary paperwork can be processed (termination, benefits, etc.).

Lisa S.
August 1, 2010