Who you call on the first day

The first day after a death is a day of calling, not of filing things away. A short list keeps someone from searching through a full address book. On that list belong the partner, the children, the family doctor, the funeral director, the employer and the closest friend. Those are the people who must hear the news or who must do something at once. Other names may be added if they are really needed that day, such as a brother or sister who collects the children or a neighbour who has a key. A name without a role makes the list longer and not more useful. Ten names is a ceiling, not a duty.

With each name go a telephone number and a short role. Partner, family doctor, employer: no more than that word is needed. The number is the number that works now, not an old number from an address book that has been lying around for years. In the life file those lines stand with the contacts. A trusted person who may read along can take the list without first understanding the rest of the file. Put it in a place that stands out at once, or with the question of who must be the first to know what is going on. A list hidden behind policies is not found on that day.

Go through the list once a year. People change number, job and role. A family doctor stops, a friend moves, an employer matters only for as long as there is work. Once a year is often enough. Add a date on which you last checked the list. That date is upkeep of the file, not a statutory deadline. There is no sanction for a missed month. An outdated number is harder on the first day than a short list that is right. If someone changes role, you rewrite the role, instead of leaving the old sentence standing.

The call list is not a map of the heirs. A child you call is not an heir because of that, and a friend you call usually is not. The circle follows from the will or from intestate succession (versterferfrecht), later, with the notary if that is needed. On the first day you call whoever must hear it. In the estate you invite whoever has a position. Keep those lists apart. The call list stays as the history of the life file. The heirs are added after the date of death, with their relationship for the exemption, not with only a telephone number. A number is not a group for inheritance tax.

The first day calls for names and telephone numbers of the partner, the children, the family doctor, the funeral director, the employer and a close friend. That list stands in the life file and is checked once a year. It does not point out who inherits and it replaces no will. This is not legal advice and not tax advice. Who inherits, and whether a return must be filed, follows from the deed, the relationship and the exemptions of the Belastingdienst for the year of death. The call list is only the start of the day, not the return and not the division.