N.Y. Elder Law § 226
Guide to actions when someone close dies
Redline — January 1, 2026 → current.View current text →
Current — June 29, 2026
As of January 1, 2026
§ 226. Guide to actions when someone close dies. 1. The office shall\npublish a "Guide to Actions When Someone Close Dies". This guide shall\nbe made publicly available on the official website of the office and the\noffice may produce a paper format within one year of the effective date\nof this section.\n 2. The guide shall provide information in at least the following\ndomains:\n (a) Economic security, including but not limited to, pensions, social\nsecurity, life insurance, health insurance, death benefits as well as\ntax implications of a death.\n (b) Legal, including how to access death certificates, wills, trust\ndocuments and other legal information needed to plan for the future.\n (c) Mental health assistance, including information on the grieving\nprocess, triggers and symptoms associated with grief, effective coping\nstrategies, the impact on family dynamics in relation to the loss of\nsomeone close, and other mental health concerns correlated with grief.\n (d) Disposition of remains including funeral and service arrangements\nand burials. This information shall include average costs by region and\nrefer to the resources provided by the department of health's bureau of\nfuneral directing.\n (e) Other information as determined by the office in consultation with\nthe special advisory committee established pursuant to this section.\n 3. The director shall establish a special advisory committee to help\nfulfill the requirements of this section. The committee shall be\ntemporary and dissolve thirty days after the guide is posted and\ndistributed. The members of the special advisory committee shall receive\nno compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for actual\nand necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, to\nthe extent funds are appropriated for such purpose. The committee shall\ncontain representatives from the following professions as well as any\nstate agency representatives that are needed at the discretion of the\ndirector:\n (a) Funeral directors;\n (b) Cemeteries;\n (c) Mental health professionals with specific knowledge of grief\ncounseling;\n (d) Attorneys specialized in estate planning, including the New York\nstate bar association; and\n (e) Clergy.\n
§ 226. Guide to actions when someone close dies. 1. The office shall\npublish a "Guide to Actions When Someone Close Dies". Within one year of\nthe effective date of this section, this guide shall be made publicly\navailable on the official website of the office and the office may also\nproduce a paper format.\n 2. The guide shall provide information in at least the following\ndomains:\n (a) Economic security, including but not limited to, pensions, social\nsecurity, life insurance, health insurance, and death benefits. This\ninformation shall also refer to the resources provided by the department\nof taxation and finance regarding estate taxes.\n (b) Legal, including how to access death certificates, wills, trust\ndocuments and other legal information needed to plan for the future.\n (c) Mental health assistance, including information on the grieving\nprocess, triggers and symptoms associated with grief, effective coping\nstrategies, the impact on family dynamics in relation to the loss of\nsomeone close, and other mental health concerns correlated with grief.\n (d) Disposition of remains including funeral and service arrangements\nand burials. This information shall refer to the resources provided by\nthe department of health's bureau of funeral directing.\n (e) Other information as determined by the office.\n 3. The office may choose to seek consultation with and advice from\nrepresentatives from the following professions as well as any state\nagency representatives, which may include:\n (a) Funeral directors;\n (b) Cemeteries;\n (c) Mental health professionals with specific knowledge of grief\ncounseling;\n (d) Attorneys specialized in estate planning, including the New York\nstate bar association;\n (e) Tax professionals; and\n (f) Clergy.\n
Official source: NYS Open Legislation (New York State Senate). Reproduced from public-domain New York statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.