Memorial
PhotoHD/Restore Memorial
VideoAI Motion Tribute
Video3-5min Slideshow Pet
MemorialAI Portrait Pet
FarewellWhat the law allows GraceNote
Occasion WriterObituary/Invite/Thanks StoryKeep
Parents' WordsFree Questions & Memoir Will
CheckFree · 5 requirements Sangju
GuideWhat to do, and by when Belongings
GuideWhat not to throw away Jibang
& ChukmunSpirit tablet for the rite
PhotoHD/Restore Memorial
VideoAI Motion Tribute
Video3-5min Slideshow Pet
MemorialAI Portrait Pet
FarewellWhat the law allows GraceNote
Occasion WriterObituary/Invite/Thanks StoryKeep
Parents' WordsFree Questions & Memoir Will
CheckFree · 5 requirements Sangju
GuideWhat to do, and by when Belongings
GuideWhat not to throw away Jibang
& ChukmunSpirit tablet for the rite
Before you throw anything away.
Insurance policies have a three-year claim window. A handwritten will must be opened by the family court, not by you. Debt papers are how you decide whether to renounce the inheritance within three months. And photographs cannot be undone. The checklist below is free.
You do not have to do this quickly. Many families wait until after the 49th-day rite.
Do not throw these away FREE
📜Will (유언장), including handwritten ones
must keep
★ Whoever finds a handwritten will must not open it on their own; it must go through court inspection (검인) at the family court (가정법원). Leave it sealed and submit it to the court. Opening it without authority leads to disputes.
🏦Bankbooks · personal seals (도장) · seal certificates (인감증명)
must keep
This is the starting point for identifying the estate. Accounts can be looked up through the one-stop inheritance inquiry service (안심상속 원스톱) even if you do not know them, but having the actual items makes it much faster. Keep them until the inheritance procedures are finished.
📄Insurance policies · mutual-aid (공제) documents
must keep
★ The time limit for claiming an insurance payout is 3 years. It really does happen often that a policy is thrown away and the payout can no longer be claimed. If you do not know which policies exist, you can also check at the insurance lookup service 내보험찾아줌 (cont.insure.or.kr).
🏠Property title certificates (등기권리증) · contracts
must keep
Used for the inheritance registration (상속등기) and the acquisition tax (취득세) filing. A jeonse or monthly-rent lease contract (전월세 계약서) is essential for getting the deposit back.
💳Loan, card and debt documents
must keep
★ You need to know how much debt there is in order to decide within 3 months whether to renounce the inheritance (상속포기). Do not throw away payment demand letters or IOUs (차용증) either. If the decision is difficult, consult the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (대한법률구조공단, 132).
🚗Vehicle registration certificate (자동차 등록증) · insurance papers
keep
Needed for the transfer registration of the inherited vehicle (within 6 months).
🏥Medical records · medical certificates (진단서) · receipts
keep
Used for insurance claims and settling medical costs. Especially needed if there is indemnity health insurance (실손보험).
🧾Funeral expense receipts
keep
They are deducted when inheritance tax (상속세) is calculated. Even if the funeral is already over, gather them.
📷Photos · letters · handwriting
irreversible
★ Once thrown away, they cannot be brought back. They may be hard to look at now, but these are what people look for most later. If you cannot decide, put them in a box for now. You do not have to decide in a hurry.
Restore faded photos →🎖️Medals · certificates · letters of appointment
irreversible
They are sometimes used to confirm eligibility for a survivor pension (유족연금) or veterans benefits (보훈), and above all they are evidence of the life that person lived.
Please read: general guidance, not legal advice. If there may be debt, or a will exists, speak to a lawyer before disposing of anything. Korea Legal Aid Corporation 132.
Where is it?
🏡Owned home
No time pressure
🔑Jeonse lease (전세)
Must be vacated before the lease ends
📅Monthly rent (월세)
★ Rent keeps being charged until it is vacated
🏥Care home · hospital
Fewer belongings; there is a separate removal procedure
Do these first
First: you do not have to hurry
Many families sort the belongings after the 49th-day rite (49재). It is fine to do it once you feel a little more settled.
However, if a monthly-rent or jeonse lease (월세·전세) is ending, you will have to work to that schedule, so start by checking the contract.
However, if a monthly-rent or jeonse lease (월세·전세) is ending, you will have to work to that schedule, so start by checking the contract.
★ First set aside what must not be thrown away
📍 One box is enough
Before you start sorting in earnest, put just the documents and photos in a box first.
Judgement gets blurred as you sort, and once a company comes in, everything goes out at once. Use the list above.
Judgement gets blurred as you sort, and once a company comes in, everything goes out at once. Use the list above.
Talk with the family first
If someone later says "Why did you throw that away?", relationships are hurt.
Ask in advance whether anyone wants to take particular items, and take photos to share; this reduces disputes.
Ask in advance whether anyone wants to take particular items, and take photos to share; this reduces disputes.
Sorting
Sort into three boxes
Use only three groups: ① keep ② throw away ③ not sure.
Having box ③ makes it much easier. It is fine not to decide now. Do not try to do it all at once.
Having box ③ makes it much easier. It is fine not to decide now. Do not try to do it all at once.
Consider donating or selling
📍 Beautiful Store (아름다운가게), Goodwill Store (굿윌스토어), etc.
Clean clothes, appliances and furniture can be donated, and some places issue a donation receipt.
If there is jewellery or antiques, have them appraised separately before handing them over to a company.
If there is jewellery or antiques, have them appraised separately before handing them over to a company.
Digital belongings
📍 Mobile carrier · each service
Mobile phone and subscription services keep charging unless they are cancelled.
But back up photos and messages first. Once cancelled, they cannot be recovered. If you tell the mobile carrier about the death, they will explain the cancellation procedure.
But back up photos and messages first. Once cancelled, they cannot be recovered. If you tell the mobile carrier about the death, they will explain the cancellation procedure.
If you hire a company
★ What to check when choosing an estate clearance company (유품정리업체)
· Check that the company has a waste disposal permit (폐기물 처리 허가). If waste is dumped illegally, you as the client may also be held responsible.
· Always get an on-site estimate, and get it in writing. It often happens that a company quotes by phone and then raises the price on site.
· Write the settlement method for any belongings that are sold into the contract. Disputes in which valuable items are disposed of without settling with the family are common.
· Ask them to record the clearing with photos or video.
· A solitary death (고독사) or specialist cleaning (특수청소) needs separate qualifications and equipment. Do not leave it to an ordinary moving company.
· Always get an on-site estimate, and get it in writing. It often happens that a company quotes by phone and then raises the price on site.
· Write the settlement method for any belongings that are sold into the contract. Disputes in which valuable items are disposed of without settling with the family are common.
· Ask them to record the clearing with photos or video.
· A solitary death (고독사) or specialist cleaning (특수청소) needs separate qualifications and equipment. Do not leave it to an ordinary moving company.
Getting a sense of the cost
For an ordinary clearance, the price depends on the floor area (평수) and the amount of belongings. If specialist cleaning is needed, it rises a lot.
Prices vary widely between companies, so compare estimates from at least 2–3. Choose by permits and contract terms, not by the lowest price.
Prices vary widely between companies, so compare estimates from at least 2–3. Choose by permits and contract terms, not by the lowest price.
Finishing up
Settling utility bills and maintenance fees, and the account holder name
📍 Building management office (관리사무소) · each utility company
Electricity, water, gas and maintenance fees need to be settled and then cancelled or transferred to a new account holder. Automatic payments often keep going out.
Preserve the photos that were left
Photos that turn up while sorting: scan them or take pictures of them now. It is hard to get them out again later.
Faded or damaged photos can also be restored.
Restore old photos → Faded or damaged photos can also be restored.
📦 A plan for your situation: tell us the housing type and any deadline, and we lay out what to do in order — with a short note written for you. First use is free.