When a loved one dies, in addition to the emotional strain, arrangements need to be made and people need to be contacted. All of these things need to be done in the shortest amount of time. Many of these details can be planned ahead of time. By making these important decisions now, you can minimize the emotional strain that will be placed on your survivors. Don’t leave your loved ones guessing…guide them now. Secure Vital Statistics (required for burial permit)
- Name, address and phone number
- How long in state
- Name of business, address and phone
- Occupation and title
- Social Security number
- War Veterans Serial Number
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- US Citizen
- Father’s name
- Father’s birthplace
- Mother’s maiden name
- Mother’s birthplace
- Religions name (if any)
Pay some or all of the following:
- Family burial estate
- Memorials
- Funeral director
- Interment Service
- Clergy
- Florist
- Clothing
- Transportation
- Telephone and telegraph
- Food
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Hospitals and ambulance
- Medicine and drugs
- Other current and urgent bills (mortgage or rent, taxes, installment payments)
Collect Documents (required to establish rights for insurance, pensions, social security, ownership, relationship, etc.)
- Will
- Legal proof of age or birth certificate
- Social Security card or number
- Marriage license
- Citizenship papers
- Insurance policies (life, health and accident, property)
- Bank books and credit cards
- Deeds to property
- Bill of sale of car
- Income tax returns, receipts or cancelled checks
- Veterans discharge certificate
- Disability claims
- Memorial park certificate of ownership
Decide and Arrange Within a Few Hours
- Burial estate location and space
- Memorial type inscription
- Casket type
- Clothing for deceased
- Vault or sectional crypt
- Type of service (religious, military, fraternal)
- Special selection from scriptures
- Clergy to officiate
- Name of funeral director
- Place where service is to be held
- Time for funeral service
- Name of charitable organization to which donations are suggested in memory of deceased
- Providing information for eulogy
- Select names for pallbearers
- Music
- Clothing for you and children
- Preparation at home, including food for family and guests
- Extra chairs
- Transportation for family and guests, including planning funeral car list
- Checking and signing necessary papers for burial permit
- Providing vital statistics about deceased to newspapers.
- Providing addresses and telephone numbers for all interested people
- Answering innumerable sympathetic phone calls, messages, wires and letters
- Meeting and talking with funeral director, cemetery representative clergy, about all details.
- Greeting all friends and relatives who call
- Arranging for meeting relatives who call
- Arranging for meeting relatives who arrive from out of state at airport or railroad/bus station
- Providing lodging for out-of-town relatives
- Arranging for special religious services
- Check the Will regarding special wishes
- Order death certificate (multiple copies)
- Look after minor children
Notify as soon as possible
- The doctor or doctors
- The funeral director
- The memorial park
- All relatives
- All friends (email?)
- Employer of deceased
- Employers of relatives not going to work
- Casket bearers
- Insurance agents (life, health and accident)
- Religious, fraternal, civic, veterans organizations, unions
- Newspapers regarding notices
- Attorney, accountant, or executor of estate
Additional Advice
- Business online – user names, passwords
- Banking online – user names, passwords
- Friends online – email, passwords
- Distribution of personal property
- Advise who they can trust to advise in their absence
- Tell about loans receivable/bartering
- Know where stock certificates are located
- Locate “free” insurance policies from banks, credit cards, AAA
- Complete an Advance Directive, Do Not Resuscitate
- Who has access to Safe Deposit? Where are keys?
- PINs for bank and other accounts
- Record information in something portable
- Discuss directions with your family
- Review it regularly.
Copyright Joyce Moseley Pierce 2010. This list has been provided by Emerson Publications. Visit http://www.emersonpublications.com or http://www.preparedineveryway.com for more information on being prepared for life and its surprises.