Accessing The Finances Of A Deceased Relation

In a recent article on wills preparation, we discussed how to draw up a valid will which can conveniently distribute our properties when one is no more. We also discussed how the law mediates in the distribution of properties in the case where a loved one dies without a will.

In either case, the property to be distributed may come in the form of money which may be saved in a bank account or on a mobile money wallet. Because these monies are in the possession of a third-party institution (bank or telecommunication network), certain steps must be followed in order to pay the money to the rightful successor.

In the case of a bank or financial institution, the family must submit a notice of death to the bank. This may be an obituary and a death certificate. When these are presented and verified, the account is marked ‘Customer Deceased’. Debit activities on the account are not allowed. However, any investments in the deceased’s name are allowed to run until maturity.

The executors or administrators of the deceased’s estate must present certified true copies of court-issued probate (where there is a will) or letters of administration (in the case of intestacy) to the bank. They must also present these together with their valid ID cards as proof of their identities. When all the documents have been presented and verified, a debit transfer is passed to close the account of the deceased. A payment order will then be issued in favour of the Executors or Administrators. The amount paid must be indicated on the reverse side of the original of the Probate or Letters of Administration which must be given to the Executors or Administrators.

 

Similar documentation is required for retrieving money from the deceased’s mobile wallet. The executors or administrators of the estate must present the death certificate and the probate or letters of administration at the offices of the telecom service provider. Again, the executors or administrators must prove their identity with a valid ID card. Additional documents that prove the death such as an obituary may be presented for the money to be transferred.

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Islamic Burials

Muslims view death as a transition from one state of being to another, not as an end. Funerals in Islam are made up of rituals and practices that are prescribed by Islamic laws. A key principle during Islamic funerals is the avoidance of extravagant gestures and overspending. Also, the body must be buried as soon as possible after death. So, in Islam, the death of a person is immediately announced to all friends and relatives and preparation for interment begins.

PREPARING THE BODY

There are two main things that are done to prepare the body before burial; the body is washed (known as “Ghusl”) and then shrouded (known as “Kafan”).The ghusl is usually given by immediate same-sex family members. However, in the case of spousal death, the spouse may perform the washing. The body is washed three times. If, after the third wash, the body is not entirely clean, it may be washed some more. Though, ultimately the body should be washed an odd number of times. The body is washed in the following order: upper right side, upper left side, lower right side, lower left side. Women’s hair should be washed and braided into three braids. Once clean and prepared, the body is covered in a white sheet.

Three large white sheets of inexpensive should be fabric aid on top of each other during the shrouding. The use of low-cost fabric is in keeping with the need to avoid extravagant gestures.  The body should be placed on top of the sheets. Women should, at this point, be dressed in an ankle-length sleeveless dress and head veil. If possible, the deceased’s left hand should rest on the chest and the right hand should rest on the left hand, as in a position of prayer. The sheets should then be folded over the body, first the right side and then the left side until all three sheets have wrapped the body. The shrouding should be secured with ropes, one tied above the head, two tied around the body, and one tied below the feet. The body should then be transported to the mosque (“masjid”) for funeral prayers, known as “Salat al-Janazah.”

THE FUNERAL PRAYERS

Salāt al-Janāzah is the Islamic funeral prayer; it is a vital part of the Islamic funeral ritual. The prayer is performed in congregation to seek pardon for the deceased and all dead Muslims. The Salat al-Janazah is a collective obligation upon Muslims. The salat is led by an imam and is usually said outside a mosque with all participants facing the “qiblah”— toward Mecca.

INTERMENT

After Salat al-Janazah has been recited, the body is taken to the cemetery for burial. The grave should be dug perpendicular to the qiblah, and the body should be placed in the grave on its right side, facing the qiblah. Prayers are said while the body is being lowered into the grave. Once the body is in the grave, a layer of wood or stones should be placed on top of the body to prevent direct contact between the body and the soil that will fill the grave. Then each mourner present may place three handfuls of soil into the grave. Once the grave has been filled, a small stone or marker may be placed at the grave so that it is recognizable.

In Islam, it is acceptable to express grief over death. Crying and weeping at the time of death, at the funeral, and at the burial are all acceptable forms of expression. However, wailing, screaming, cursing and any excessive behaviours are looked down on. Even in such periods of pain, believers are expected to maintain their faith in Allah by comporting themselves and having faith in Him.

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Cremation vs. Burial: Which Is the Right Choice?

At the end of a loved one’s life, many decisions are made by the family in order to celebrate the deceased and enable those left behind to move on in the face of their loss. Among these decisions is how their loved one will be finally put to rest. Earth burial is one of the most common means of bidding farewell in Ghana. However, cremation, which involves reducing the body of the deceased to ashes, has also become a common option in Ghana. In 2016, the Ghana Cremation Society revealed that Ghanaians opted for cremation 50% of the time as an end-of-life care.

When deciding how to say final goodbyes, the family may want to consider factors such as the budget for the funeral, their belief systems, how they wish to remember their loved one and the wishes of the lost relation.

Burial

Why Burial?

Earth burial is what is traditionally practised in Ghana. This is what is usually done and usually expected when we lose someone. There is always the psychological need for anyone who loses a loved one to ‘send them off’ properly. In Ghana, there is also the social component of putting together a befitting burial for family and friends to mourn the dead. The idea of burning the body of the dead may not always satisfy these psychological and social requirements. A burial enables the family to mourn the dead and get closure as they see the coffin lowered into the earth. Knowing that the remains of your loved ones are available in a location which can be visited, can also be psychologically satisfying. The burial site will forever be marked as their final place of rest and peace. Some religious organisations prescribe earth burial and do not accept cremation or other forms of disposition such as water burial. The family will have to inquire about their religious sect’s position on cremation if they intend to abide by their faith.

Why Cremation?

Despite these aspects of burial, some people may opt for cremation as a rite of passage to honour a religious belief or the wishes of the lost relation. Cremation is often considered the cheaper option for giving our loved ones their final rest. It limits the expense that typically goes into financing items such as caskets, burial vaults, lowering devices, cemetery plot and grave marker services among others. Experts have also described cremation as a more hygienic and environmentally friendly end-of-life choice because it avoids the use of chemicals that could have adverse effects on land resources. Assistant Secretary of the Ghana Cremation Society, Victoria Boi-Doku, explained that,

“The procedure avoids embalming chemicals. The fire disintegrates all diseases that the dead person might be having, and it is environmentally-friendly”.

Cremation helps to conserve our limited land resources. The practice allows people to try creative ways of memorializing their lost relations and maintaining that sense of presence we normally crave for at such a time. Some people who cremate their loved ones keep their ashes in an urn which is placed somewhere symbolic in their home. The urn allows for the lost one to still be a part of the home. Tree-urns are another modern innovation for memorializing a cremated loved one. The ashes of the dead are mixed with soil and used to nourish a grow a plant. The options available after cremation are many and they keep growing.

 

In Ghana, the body of the deceased belongs to the external family. They are also the final decision-makers in everything related to it. Whatever the choice of the family, it must be one that enables those most affected by the loss to go through the final rites with significant ease. The loss of a relative is by itself a challenging period and great consideration must be given to the family’s psychological state.

 

Earth burial is still the most popular means of disposition in Ghana, however, you can contact local funeral homes and cemeteries if you are considering cremating a loved one here in Ghana.

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