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It is the sincere desire of the staff of Milward Funeral Directors to offer you our help and guidance not only on the funeral arrangements themselves, but also on the many details you will be faced with following the funeral services.
Fortunately, you are not involved with these arrangements every day. Therefore, you may need assistance with many details following the funeral. As part of our service to you, we are available to help you any way we can, at no additional cost.
Probate Court
Probate Office
150 N. Limestone St. - Room D-109
Phone: (859)246-2242
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Court Convenes 8:30 a.m., 3rd Floor, Courtroom #5, Monday-Friday. It is also suggested to visit the court office with the original copy of the will to file petition and obtain court date. Petitions can be filed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The filing fee is $52.50, payable by cash only.
Examination of contents of a decedent's safe deposit box to find will or funeral arrangements.
If satisfactory proof of the death of the lessee is presented and the interested person possesses a key to the lessee's safe deposit box, a lessor shall permit an interested person to open and examine the contents of a safe deposit box leased by a decedent in the presence of an employee of the lessor for one (1) or both of the following purposes:
- To conduct a will search; and
- To obtain any document purporting to be a deed to a burial plot or to give funeral or burial instructions.
If the safe deposit box is opened for the purpose of conducting a will search, an employee of the lessor shall remove any document that appears to be a will and make a true and correct machine copy thereof, replace the copy in the box, and then deliver the original thereof to the person requesting the search.
If the safe deposit box is opened for the purpose of obtaining any document purporting to be a deed to a burial plot or to give funeral or burial instructions, the employee of the lessor shall make a true and correct machine copy thereof, replace the copy in the box, and then deliver the original thereof to the person requesting the search.
No contents of a safe deposit box other than a will and a document purporting to be a deed to a burial plot or to give funeral or burial instructions may be removed under this section.
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On the court date, it is necessary that you have the original copy of the Will and at least one person who witnessed the deceased’s signature on the Will. A witness is not necessary if the Will is self-proving. When your case is called before the probate judge, you will be asked to come before the bench, at which time the judge will review the Will and appoint the executor/administrator.
The judge needs to know the approximate size and make up of the estate in order to establish a bond value. This should include all personal and real property:
a. value and identity of real estate
b. values and account numbers of checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposit, etc.
c. values of stocks and bonds
d. automobiles, boats, etc.
Once appointed, return to the probate office to obtain a copy of the order appointing the Executor/Administrator at the probate court office. The day of the appointment you must be prepared to pay approximately $50-$100 in cash. The court will not accept checks.
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Insurance and Trust Information
Life Insurance — Individual
We have claimant statements for many different insurance companies available to you in our office. In most cases, we can handle all of the details concerning settlement of your insurance claims, obtaining information and completing claim forms and death certificates.
Funeral Funding Trust
If you have made funeral arrangements prior to the individual’s death with Milward Funeral Directors, either by making a deposit toward funeral services or by paying for the services in full, we will take care of filing for the claim.
If a deposit only was made, then the deposit, plus any interest, will go toward payment of the funeral expenses. If services have been paid in full, no additional monies will be required unless additional equipment, services, or outside expense items are requested.
Pre-Need Insurance
This pertains to funeral arrangements funded through insurance with Milward Funeral Directors. If the deceased has this type of insurance, there is nothing you will need to do. We will order the death certificate for the insurance company and handle the claim processing for you.
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Monuments
Often while making funeral arrangements, we are asked where to go to purchase a monument or grave marker. Who should be called about engraving a headstone with dates and lettering?
Whether you own the marker or not, Milward Funeral Directors will assist you with your monument needs. We work with you at your pace to create a meaningful memorial for your loved one. Our monument services include: cemetery monuments, footstones, markers and bronze markers of any type - including pet memorials. Additionally, we offer monument repair, cleaning and re-setting services.
With the exception of Blue Grass Memorial Gardens and Evergreen Memory Gardens, cemeteries in Fayette County will allow most any type of monument.
Please contact our Memorials department at (859-252-3411) or email us at info@milwardfuneral.com to schedule a consultation to discuss your memorial needs.
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Veterans Administration Benefits
Lexington VA office: 859-281-4947
Louisville regional VA office: 1-800-827-1000
www.va.gov
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Members of U.S. armed forces who died on active duty, or veterans who served during wartime or peacetime, and received anything other than a dishonorable discharge, are entitled to numerous benefits from the Veteran’s Administration. Service beginning after September 9, 1980 requires a minimum of 24 months, a hardship discharge, or a service-connected disability.
1. The Veteran’s Administration may pay up to $300 for burial and funeral expenses if the vet:
a. was entitled at the time of death to pension or compensation, or
b. died while hospitalized or domiciled in a VA facility or other facility at VA expense.
To these veterans, VA also pays a $300 plot allowance (unless buried in a national cemetery).
2. For veterans who die of a service-connected disability, the VA will pay up to $2,000 for burial and funeral expenses, including the cost of transporting the body to the national cemetery nearest their home in which burial space is available.
3. A United States flag to drape the casket will be available upon request. This will be given to the next of kin, close friend or associate of the deceased at the close of the services.
4. A United States grave marker or bronze or gray granite will be furnished by the VA, upon request. It will be inscribed with the appropriate information. This is available regardless of whether or not they are buried in a national cemetery.
5. The interment of a deceased veteran of wartime or peacetime service whose service terminated other than dishonorably will be authorized in any cemetery in the National Cemetery System in which space is available. Arlington National Cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the DOD, not the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. With the exception of cremated remains, burial is limited to specific categories of military personnel and veterans.
6. Deceased spouses, remarried surviving spouses, minor children and certain adult unmarried dependent children are also eligible.
7. Memorial markers may be filed by the next of kin to commemorate any veteran whose remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea or cremated with all ashes scattered, or were donated to science. Memorial markers may be erected in private cemeteries in plots provided by the applicant, or in a memorial section of a national cemetery.
8. Religious counsel with a chaplain of your faith is available at the Lexington V.A. Medical Center.
Claim for any type of burial benefit must be filed within two years of burial or cremation.
V.A. Medical Center 859-233-4511
American Legion 859-252-0022
D. A. V. 859-281-4945
V. F. W. 859-254-8277
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Social Security
If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you need to contact the Social Security Office to report the death. If you think you may be eligible for survivor’s benefits, you should also contact them to apply.
How Social Security Helps Families
Social Security survivor’s benefits help ease the financial burden that follows a worker’s death. Almost all children under age 18 will get monthly benefits if a working parent dies. Other family members may be eligible for benefits, too.
Anyone who has worked and paid Social Security (FICA) taxes has been earning Social Security benefits for his or her family. The amount of work needed to pay survivor’s benefits depends on the worker’s age at the time of death. It may be as little as one and one half years for a young worker; no one needs more than 10 years.
Who can get survivor’s benefits?
This is a list of family members who usually can get benefits:
• Widows and Widowers age 60 or older
• Widows and widowers at any age if caring for the deceased’s child(ren) who are under age 16 or disabled
• Divorced wives and husbands age 60 or older, if married to the deceased 10 years or more
• Widows, widowers, divorced wives, and divorced husbands age 50 or older, if they are disabled
• Children up to age 18
• Children age 18-19, if they attend elementary school or high school full time
• Children over age 18, if they become disabled before age 22
• The deceased worker’s parents age 62 or older, if they were being supported by the worker.
In addition to the monthly benefits for family members, a one-time payment of $255 can be paid to a spouse who was living with the worker at the time of death. If there is none, it can be paid to a spouse who is eligible for benefits, or a child or children eligible for benefits. This payment cannot be made if there is no eligible spouse or child.
How To Apply For Benefits
You can apply for benefits by telephone, or by going to any Social Security office. You may need some of the documents shown on the list below, but don’t delay your application because you don’t have all the information. If you don’t have a document you need, Social Security can help you get it.
The information you need includes:
• Your Social Security number and the deceased worker’s Social Security number
• A death certificate (generally, the funeral director provides a statement that can be used for this purpose)
• Proof of the deceased worker’s earnings for last year (W-2 forms or self-employment tax return)
• Your birth certificate
• A marriage certificate, if you are applying for benefits as a widow, widower, divorced wife, or divorced husband.
• A divorce decree, if you are applying for benefits as a divorced wife or husband
• Children’s birth certificates and Social Security numbers, if applying for children’s benefits
• Your checking or savings account information, if you want direct deposit of your benefits.
You will need to submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing office. You can mail or bring them to the office. Social Security will make photocopies and return your documents.
Supplemental Security Information
If you are 65 or older, disabled, or blind, ask the Social Security representative about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks for people with limited income and resources. If you receive SSI, you may also qualify for Medicaid, food stamps, and other social services.
If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, any checks which arrive after death will need to be returned to the Social Security office. If Social Security checks were being directly deposited into a bank account, the bank needs to be notified of the death, too.
For more information, write or visit the local Social Security Office, Ground Floor, 2260 Executive Drive, Lexington, KY 40505; visit the Social Security Website at (www.socialsecurity.gov) or phone toll-free 1-800-772-1213. You can speak to a representative weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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