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February 17, 2025
A Step-by-step Guide on What to Do When a Loved One Passes Away
Discover the essential steps to take when a loved one passes away, including funeral arrangements, legal procedures, financial matters, and estate distribution for a smoother process.
The death of a loved one is never easy. Grief, a sense of loss, and emotional turmoil are just some of the things we’ll experience when a loved one passes away. And, to add to that stress, we may find ourselves responsible for handling their affairs too – making funeral arrangements, informing friends and family, managing their accounts and wills, etc. Dealing with this while we’re in an emotional state can get overwhelming. To help, we’ve created a list to guide you through the process of what to do when a loved one passes away.
The First Steps
IMPORTANT: If your loved one passes away at home or outside of a medical facility, avoid moving the body. Malaysian law requires an investigation by the proper authorities (the police or authorised medical personnel/hospital) to determine cause of death.1 Moving the body may tamper with the investigation and cause delays. The deceased should only be moved by official personnel until investigations are completed.
- Inform all important parties: immediate family, loved ones, employer, best friend, personal physician (if applicable), etc.
- Report the death to the nearest police station, hospital or clinic to obtain a death registration and burial permit (JPN.LM02). Bring the deceased’s identification documents along with medical records if relevant. An official personnel will be dispatched to verify the death, and a post-mortem may be required if the cause of death is not apparent, e.g. a healthy young person who passes away in their sleep.
Note: If the deceased passes away at a healthcare facility, they will handle this step for you. - Prepare a notice announcing the death with funeral information to follow.
- If necessary, arrange care for the deceased’s dependents, e.g. young children and pets. Secure their property and belongings, e.g. jewellery, cash, credit cards, bank books, etc., especially if their home will be empty.
- Within 5 working days, submit JPN.LM02 to the nearest National Registration Department along with the ID of deceased and the person submitting the documents to obtain the death certificate2, which is usually issued within 24 hours.
Funeral Arrangements & Notifying Others
Muslims | Non-Muslims |
|---|---|
Contact the nearest mosque/surau for burial preparations and arrangements. They can also contact the nearest burial ground and assist with transport arrangements. | Contact a funeral service provider or chosen burial ground. A funeral director will usually be appointed to help with funeral preparations, services and burial arrangements. |
Provide them with a copy of JPN.LM02. | |
Select a suitable package and let the experts guide you. Payment will be required in full. To help with this, check to see if the deceased has any burial benefits in their protection packages. | |
Notify others of the funeral arrangements through any possible platforms, such as phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, social media, or newspaper announcements.
Note: If you have a lot on your hands, get others to help you with this, especially when notifying those close to the deceased. | |
Funeral expenses vary. Etiqa’s RAHMAH PA Insurance and RAHMAH PA Takaful includes an RM1,000 lump sum cash payout to help cover funeral costs.
Financial, Legal & Administrative Tasks
Once you have the deceased’s death certificate, proceed with managing any financial, legal and administrative matters.
- Distribution of assets & payment of debts
Did the deceased leave instructions for asset distribution? | Yes | Muslim | Locate the relevant documents, or contact the deceased’s lawyer or estate planning agency. | The nominated executor/wasi will first use the assets to cover debts and funeral expenses. The remaining assets will be distributed according to the wasiat, unless any entitled beneficiaries challenge it, in which case distribution will follow faraid. Hibah instructions will also be followed if any. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-muslims | The nominated executor will carry out the instructions accordingly. | |||
No | Muslim | All assets will be frozen until an administrator is appointed. | Debts and funeral expenses will be paid for first, before the balance is distributed according to faraid. | |
Non-muslims | Priority is given to funeral expenses, followed by outstanding debt. The balance is distributed according to Distribution Act 1958 (Peninsular Malaysia & Sarawak) or Intestate Succession Ordinance 1968 (Sabah). | |||
Did the deceased leave instructions for asset distribution? (Muslim) | ||
|---|---|---|
Yes | No | |
Locate the relevant documents, or contact the deceased’s lawyer or estate planning agency. | All assets will be frozen until an administrator is appointed. | |
The nominated executor/wasi will first use the assets to cover debts and funeral expenses. The remaining assets will be distributed according to the wasiat, unless any entitled beneficiaries challenge it, in which case distribution will follow faraid. Hibah instructions will also be followed if any. | Debts and funeral expenses will be paid for first, before the balance is distributed according to faraid. | |
Did the deceased leave instructions for asset distribution? (Non-muslims) | ||
|---|---|---|
Yes | No | |
Locate the relevant documents, or contact the deceased’s lawyer or estate planning agency. | All assets will be frozen until an administrator is appointed. | |
The nominated executor will carry out the instructions accordingly. | Priority is given to funeral expenses, followed by outstanding debt. The balance is distributed according to Distribution Act 1958 (Peninsular Malaysia & Sarawak) or Intestate Succession Ordinance 1968 (Sabah). | |
The distribution of assets, especially without instructions, can be complex and take several years to resolve. We recommend seeking the advice of a well-versed lawyer or estate distribution agency, and encourage immediate family members to amicably discuss asset distribution, especially to those the deceased deemed important.
- Closing accounts & managing financesThe deceased is likely to have accounts under their name and it’s important to close or transfer these accounts to ensure their finances are not compromised. Make a list to help you, but don’t worry if there are accounts you only think of later. Focus on those linked to the deceased’s finances first.
- Accounts to close:
- Financial institutions: savings accounts, credit cards, investment accounts, KWSP, etc.
- Services: email, subscriptions (music, entertainment, gym, country clubs, etc.), social media accounts, etc. If you’d like to leave the deceased’s social media accounts active as a way to remember them, please be aware of potential hacks.
- Accounts to transfer or close:
- Utility services: electricity, internet, water, local council, mobile phone services, etc.
- Note: if a property is being transferred, any linked utility services may require a completion of this transfer before it can be closed or transferred accordingly. Continue making payments to ensure these services are not disrupted, especially if someone is still living there. If uncertain, call the utility provider to enquire.
- If the deceased has takaful or insurance, don’t forget to claim their death benefits if any. If you are an existing Etiqa customer, see the infographics below for a step-by-step guide on submitting a death claim via Etiqa+ mobile app.
- Accounts to close:
Submitting a Death Claim via Etiqa+
Checking a Death Claim Status on Etiqa+
Personal and Practical Matters
- Give yourself the time and space to grieve
- There will, eventually, be other matters you’ll need to settle for the deceased, including cleaning their home/room and removing any personal belongings. Seek help from others if you find this difficult or engage packers. Ask those close to them if they would like a keepsake, and don’t forget to keep a memento or two for yourself. Donate anything that is still in good and usable condition, and don’t forget to file and keep any important documents.
It’s important to remember that handling the affairs of a loved one who has passed away will take time and, in certain circumstances, may even stretch for several years. Don’t pressure yourself to complete all the tasks above within a week or two.
A PRACTICAL TIP: If your loved one is close to departing, it’s ok to make initial preparations to help ease the process later:
- Locate their ID
- Prepare medical records
- Get contact information of mosque/surau and funeral services
- Select burial outfit or prepare burial shroud
- Compile a list of family and friends
- Secure property, etc.
Ease The Process For Our Loved Ones By Planning Ahead
Life is unpredictable, so it’s always a good idea to organise your affairs to help ease the journey for your loved ones when you pass.
- Plan your estate by preparing a will/wasiat, nominate an executor, or engage a lawyer or estate planning agency to manage the distribution of your assets.
- Ensure your loved ones know where your will/wasiat is or who to contact, and where they can find your important documents (ID, bank books, login information, insurance/takaful documents, etc.) It’s best to let more than one person know.
- Keep your list of nominees updated (EPF, KWSP, bank accounts, insurance/takaful etc.).
- Compile a list of your assets and debtors.
- Prepare an “in the event of death” folio. It can be digital or physical, and make it as detailed as you want. Information you can compile includes chosen funeral services provider, preferred burial ground, a list of people to contact, and so on. The more detailed it is, the smoother this process will be for your loved ones.
- Don’t leave it until the last minute. Whether you’re 20 or 80, it’s never too early to put a plan in place.
- Subscribe to a life insurance policy/takaful certificate to financially support your family upon your passing. Insurance/takaful plans with funeral benefits can also be helpful. Visit etiqa.com.my to discover our range of products to suit various needs.
Note: The guide above focuses on steps for reporting a loved one’s death in Malaysia. Additionally, funeral procedures may vary according to circumstances, religious beliefs and local customs. If you live outside of Malaysia, we recommend consulting your local authority for specific guidelines and regulations. To know more about our product offerings in your country, please reach out to your local Etiqa branch or website.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or religious advice. Legal and Islamic processes, including inheritance and asset distribution, may vary based on individual circumstances. Readers are advised to consult qualified professionals, such as lawyers or Shariah experts, for specific advice tailored to their situation.
References
Laws of Malaysia Act 593 Criminal Procedure Code. See page 184, Part VIII Special Proceedings *Chapter XXXII Inquiries of Deaths
