[WSBAPT] help navigating aftermath of a suicide

[Jen Doehne]

Hello everyone,

I could use some guidance – a brother of a friend of mine committed suicide in their Mother’s apartment over the weekend.  He had no assets at all and is leaving no estate.  Mother is elderly and does not have funds to cover the expenses.  I would like to help them but this is not an area I have ever ventured before.

I have been researching and I see the first step is to contact the apartment owner to see if the apartment complex insurance will cover the hazmat clean-up costs.  If they don’t cover it, I will check to see if Mother’s renter’s insurance will cover it.  If neither covers it, what is the next step? (The cost was over $13,000!)  I doubt Mother will resume living there after the incident but she cannot afford any trouble from apartment owner.

Next, Mother wants son to be cremated.  There are no estate assets to pay for this.  It is my impression that he was not receiving state assistance at the time of his death.  Is there any possible outlet for mother to receive help paying for last expenses?

Finally, Mother is concerned that estranged ex-husband (Father) will fight for the cremains. I don’t see anything in the RCWs prohibiting them from giving instruction to have the cremains split into two separate urns. Anything I should be aware of here?

Anything else I can make Mother be aware of in this situation?  I have arranged for grief counseling with the local church (free) and she is currently staying with my friend (Daughter) to get her out of the apartment…but any other thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!
Jen
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