Veterans Estates Probate Texas

If the decedent was a military veteran, it's a good idea for you as the executor to look into death-related benefits for veterans immediately upon their death. Veterans are entitled to a number of death-related benefits, some of which relate to the actual burial service itself.

Notifications

If the decedent was a veteran receiving retirement pay, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service should be notified of the death as soon as possible since there are likely funeral and burial benefits available. Any ongoing retirement pay officially ends on the date of death, so payments made past that date will likely have to be returned. The executor (or anyone) can make this notification online or by calling 1-800-321-1080.

If the veteran was receiving disability compensation or a disability pension, call the Veterans Benefits Administration at 1-800-827-1000.

Regardless of pension status, you may also want to reach out to the VA Office of Survivor's Assistance to learn about possible benefits and get various processes underway.

Proof of Military Service

Veterans include people who have honorably served in the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard.

To obtain veteran benefits, you will likely need proof of the veteran's service, usually via a copy of the veteran's DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), or for National Guard members, their NGB-22 (Report of Separation and Military Service).

If you cannot find a copy of the veteran's DD Form 214, you can order a copy from the National Personnel Records Center using Form 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records). Fax the form to 314-801-9195 or mail it to: National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63138.

If you need an NGB-22, contact the state headquarters of the veteran's final service branch (see National Guard state website list).

Burial in a National VA Cemetery

Most veterans (as long as they did not receive a dishonorable discharge) are eligible for burial in a national VA cemetery, which includes the following benefits:

A gravesite in a national cemetery that has available space Opening and closing of the grave A burial liner provided by the government A headstone or marker provided by the government Perpetual (ongoing) care of the gravesite

The VA provides detailed instructions for scheduling a burial, or you can call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117. Many executors simply have the funeral director handle these things (even if the decedent will be buried in a national VA cemetery, a funeral director still provides numerous helpful services).

Burial Allowance

Regardless of whether the veteran will be interred in a national VA cemetery, the estate is also likely eligible for a burial allowance, which can help cover burial and funeral costs, including transportation of the decedent's remains. This allowance generally ranges from $300 - $2000 for most veterans, depending on specific circumstances.

You will need to provide proof of expenses you wish to cover, and the cost of funeral director services, including cremation, cannot be covered by this allowance. You can apply for a burial allowance online or by mail; there is a two-year time limit from the decedent's death if the death was not service-connected.

Memorial Items

Veterans are also entitled to a burial flag and a Presidential memorial certificate. Each item has specific eligibility requirements (primarily that the decedent did not receive a dishonorable discharge), and you can apply for them by mail, fax, or in person at a regional VA office.

If the veteran will not be buried in a national VA cemetery, you may still wish to obtain the government-supplied headstone (or grave marker or medallion). If you use a private funeral director, they can help you obtain any of these items, which is usually the easiest approach.

Military Honors Ceremony

Veterans are also usually eligible to receive a military funeral honors ceremony, which includes folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. Two or more uniformed military persons will attend the ceremony, with at least one being a member of the Veteran's parent service of the armed forces. You can ask your funeral director to arrange for this ceremony, or you can ask the VA directly if the decedent will be interred in a national VA cemetery.

Questions concerning probate and real estate?

Serving as an executor can be all-consuming. Certain aspects of settling an estate require significant time and effort, like handling an estate’s real estate holdings.

EstateExec is an online service that helps estate executors perform their duties. Every year, more than 3M people die in the US and Canada, and by law their estates must be settled, with this responsibility often falling to a family member. Although the primary user of EstateExec is the estate executor, it's also common for the original estate owner to purchase a license in advance of his or her death, to make the executor's job easier.

If you have questions concerning probate and real estate in Tarrant, Parker, Wise, Collin, Denton, or Dallas County, contact David Pannell and Cities Real Estate. David has extensive experience helping families with their real estate needs before, during, and after the probate process.

David has been an agent/realtor since 2005. He has served as a United States Marines, City of Arlington police officer, and is a dedicated family man. You can trust him to put your interests first in any and all situations.

Call David today at (817) 797-9047 for help with your real estate and probate needs. You will be treated respectfully, and your requirements will be met efficiently and confidentially.

Why Hire Cities Real Estate & David Pannell

We help Families going through Probate with all the tasks that the attorneys don’t do. We find that most people need help with cleaning out the houses, assisting the executors in finding the right estate sale companies in the area, and helping with donating personal property the family doesn’t want. We even educate you with small recommendations that will improve the property to get a better price; because so many investors are trying to buy estate properties for 40-50% of their value. Some of our best clients have come from the Probate Estates. with understanding the family’s goals then offering you some options to choose from.

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Let us help you gain complete control of the probate process. Working with the Probate Services team will reduce the stress of dealing with this major g this life transition

Rely On A Probate Estate Expert

Cities Real Estate agent David Pannell has been helping families with their real estate needs for over fifteen years. David is a former United States Marine and City of Arlington police officer. Contact David today at (817) 797-9047.