At Crosley Law, we’ve seen too many of our clients struggle with the challenges of managing an estate and wrapping up a loved one’s affairs after a sudden death.
While nothing can take away your pain after a loved one’s passing, we are always looking for ways to make our clients’ challenges more manageable. That’s why we’ve partnered with Loss of Life Advocates (LOLA) to begin offering free end-of-life planning and counseling sessions for our wrongful death clients.
Keep reading to learn more about this exciting partnership and about the services you can receive.
Most People Struggle With Legal and Financial Matters After a Loved One’s Death
When a loved one dies, either due to illness or a wrongful death, many people are completely unprepared to wrap up the person’s affairs. Often, families aren’t even sure whether their loved one had a will. They also may be in the dark about relevant insurance policies and unpaid debts, and they often have no idea how to find all of this important information.
After someone’s death, you might need to:
- Open an estate with the courts and complete the probate process
- Collect on the estate’s debts and pay its creditors
- Arrange a funeral, burial, or cremation
- Notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of your loved one’s death
- Obtain a copy of the death certificate
- Close your loved one’s accounts on social media platforms and other websites
- Wrap up business operations
- File life insurance claims
- Cancel services and contracts
- Find online passwords that give you access to your loved one’s accounts
During this complicated process, any mistakes — even the simplest and most understandable ones — can quickly lead to delays, unnecessary expenses, and even litigation.
LOLA’s Founder Draws From Her Personal Experiences to Help Others
Esther Cardenas-Pipoly will never forget the struggles she went through after her father and her husband both died within a matter of months. In 2014, while Esther was still reeling from the loss of her father, her 66-year-old husband received a sudden diagnosis of stage 4 multi-organ cancer. Within two months, he had passed away.
While Esther’s husband was alive, the couple rarely discussed his business operations or finances. Suddenly, in the aftermath of his passing, she was left with the responsibility of wrapping up his law practice and administering his estate. Without guidance and support, she made many costly mistakes.
Out of the $300,000 her husband’s former clients owed his law firm, Esther only managed to collect $800. To cut costs, she canceled his legal malpractice insurance policy, only to face a legal claim from one of his clients later on. And she fought her husband’s life insurance company for years to collect benefits before finally getting a settlement. By then, much of the money had already been spent on legal fees and costs.
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The difficult experience of administering her father’s and husband’s estates inspired Esther to serve others. She became certified in grief recovery and behavioral consultation, then founded Loss of Life Advocates in 2018.
LOLA offers a wide variety of services that help guide grieving people through the difficult but necessary process of closing a deceased loved one’s estate and wrapping up their affairs. These services include counseling, corporate training sessions, and webinars. LOLA can also help clients find a qualified estate lawyer or accountant.
“While nothing can take away your pain after a loved one’s passing, we are always looking for ways to make our clients’ challenges more manageable.”
End-of-Life Planning Can Help Everyone, Not Just Wrongful Death Victims
The Crosley Law team quickly realized that LOLA’s services could benefit our staff as well as our wrongful death clients. We know all too well that when you’re grieving a loss, it’s hard to create a comprehensive plan to handle end-of-life matters.
Now, Crosley Law offers its wrongful death clients two complimentary hours of counseling from LOLA. During this time, Esther meets with our clients, helps identify their needs, and works with them to develop a plan. If the family needs further help after the initial two hours, LOLA charges reasonable fees for its services.
Additionally, Crosley Law is providing employees and their family members with a series of “lunch and learn” events, hosted by LOLA. During these lunches, Esther will present information about topics like how to gather important documents before or after a death, how to maximize company benefits and programs (such as FMLA and disability benefits), and the importance of having a will. At the end of the series, employees will receive a binder and USB drive that contain useful resources for the future.
RELATED CLIENT SUCCESS STORY: Family Receives Maximum Settlement in Wrongful Death Case
Crosley Law and LOLA: Coming Together to Help Families Who Have Lost a Loved One
At Crosley Law, we’re committed to our clients’ well-being beyond the resolution of their legal case, which is why we’re proud to partner with LOLA and help offer their important services to our wrongful death clients and staff members. If you’d like more information about LOLA’s services, contact them directly by visiting the LOLA website or by calling 210-802-2224.
If you’ve lost a loved one or suffered injuries because of someone else’s negligence, complete our online form or call Crosley Law at 210-LAW-3000 | 210-529-3000 to get a free assessment of your case and learn more about our cutting-edge approach to personal injury law. Initial consultations are always free and confidential.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
