For the initial meeting with an attorney regarding a wrongful death claim, it is helpful to bring a certified copy of the death certificate, a copy of the paid funeral bill and the original Last Will and Testament of your deceased loved one (if they had a will). If an estate representative has already been appointed by a Surrogate Court, the wrongful death attorney will need a copy of the certificate of appointment. The attorney will also need the names, addresses and dates of birth of the spouse and children of the decedent (the loved one who died) or parents if there are no children. If no spouse, no children, or no parent is alive, this same information will be needed for any other distributees (family members). Additionally, if the death was the result of a motor vehicle accident, a copy of the accident report is important. Any other documents or information involving the circumstances of the death can also be helpful.
