Page 21 - Successor Trustee Handbook

Notify the Trustor’s financial counselor and accountant or tax preparer,
or use your own or obtain a new financial professional to assist you as Trustee.
Decisions may need to be made soon regarding sales and/or repositioning of
financial assets and tax planning, and estimated tax payments and tax returns
may become due. A new taxpayer identification number may need to be
obtained, particularly if Exemption (“B”) and/or Marital (“C”) Trusts will be
established under the terms of the Trust (See below, plus the Chapters,
“Income Taxes” and “Estate Taxes”).

Telephone the Trustor’s employee benefits office (whether or not he or she
was retired) with the following information: name, Social Security number, and
your name and address. The company will also likely require you to send in a
death certificate so it can then begin to immediately research and process
any benefits to which the Trustor and his or her surviving spouse may be
entitled.

Notify your Social Security office of the death. You may have a claim for
survivor’s benefits. Claims may be expedited if you go in person to the nearest
office. Look for the address under U.S. Government in the phone book.

Notify the government agencies which provided any federal or state
benefits to the Trustor, such as Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), state
disability income (“SDI”), Medicare and Medicaid. Contact the local program
office and provide the same information as to the Trustor’s employee benefits
office above. You may be asked to return the last payment and/or to
reimburse the benefits previously paid; if so, you should seek the assistance of
an attorney who is an “Elder Law” specialist, such as the attorneys at the
Family First Firm to assist you. If the Trustor was ever in the military, he or she
and the surviving spouse may have certain benefits available through the
Veteran’s Administration. You should check into these possible benefits.

Notify appropriate accident and/or life insurance companies. Give the
same information as with the Trustor’s employee benefits office above and ask
what further information is needed to process your claim. It may be important
to make insurance claims as soon as possible, so you will then have immediate
cash to pay various expenses. If the Trustor’s death is a result of an accident
where a third-party was involved, such as an auto accident, you may wish to
consult with an attorney about possibly pursuing a legal claim on the Trustor’s
behalf.

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