It can be a difficult time to think about collecting documents, but it’s important to have an understanding of all your loved one’s affairs. Use this brief list as a guide for the most important information you may need.
Death certificate
Financial institutions and probate courts use the death certificate as proof of death. To obtain certified copies of the death certificate, contact your state's vital records office. A good rule of thumb is to obtain at least 10 certified copies for various organizations that might need to be contacted during this process. The death certificate will also have the Social Security number of the deceased, which will be required to update any accounts.
Probate documents
If no beneficiary is listed on an account, the estate representative or executor must provide probate documents, such as letters of testamentary, to change ownership of the account. These documents prove appointment of the representative to the estate. They must bear an original stamp, seal or signature of the probate court and must be dated within the last 12 months. However, if a beneficiary is listed on the Janus Henderson account, then no probate documents will be needed. Only the beneficiary or estate representative may initiate the change of ownership process.
Inheritance tax waiver
If the deceased individual's state of residence was Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico or Tennessee, you may need an inheritance tax waiver depending on the state’s requirements. If you think this may apply to your situation, please contact a Janus Henderson Representative for details.
Trust documents
Trust documents help clearly identify the successor trustee(s) of the trust. To change the trustee(s), you may need to provide a photocopy of the pages identifying the trust, the successor trustee pages and the signature page of the trust document under which the trust was established.
