A. SECURE VITAL STATISTICS (Required For Documents)

• Full name, complete address, telephone number
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Marital status
• Educational attainment
• Citizenship (US/Canadian/Other)
• Father's name
• Father's birthplace
• Mother's maiden name
• Mother's birthplace
• Social Security Number
• Veteran's Serial/Service Number
• Date & place of service, date of discharge
• How long at current residence/former residence(s)
• Occupation, job title, nature of work & history
• Location of workplace, telephone number
• Family origin
  
  

B. PAY SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING

• Estate / Inheritance taxes
• Funeral expenses
• Purchase of family burial estate, mausoleum crypt, cremation niche, opening & closing costs
• Permanent memorialization
• Monument/Marker engraving charges
• Clergy
• Organist and vocalist
• Florist
• Obituary Fees
• Clothing for burial, entombment or cremation
• Long distance telephone
• Food for visiting relatives
• Transportation costs
• Doctors
• Nurses
  
• Other medical practitioners
• Ambulance
• Hospital/Nursing Home
• Medications & drugs
• Current & urgent bills (mortgage/rent, taxes, installment payments, etc.)
  
  

C. COLLECT DOCUMENTS AND PAPERWORK

• Birth certificate/legal proof of age
• Citizenship papers
• Social Security card or number
• Marriage license
• Veteran's discharge certificate
• Insurance policies (life, health, accident, property, auto)
• Disability claims
• Bank books and listing of accounts
• Other financial accounts
• Cemetery deed or proof of ownership
• Auto titles or bill of sale
• Income tax returns, receipts & canceled checks
  
  

D. DECIDE AND ARRANGE WITHIN A FEW HOURS

• Exact location of burial/disposition and which space to open
• Location of service
• Service type (religious, fraternal, military)
• Time for visitation and funeral service
• Arrange for special religious services
• Provide information for eulogy
• Determine if casket is open or closed
• Burial Vault
• Provide vital statistics about deceased for newspaper
• Clothing and jewelry for deceased
• Selection of scripture & readings (poems etc.)
• Selection of clergy
• Funeral Home preference
• Marking of grave (either temporary or permanent)
• Charitable contributions for memorials in memory of deceased
• Register book, memorial/prayer cards
• Select Pallbearers
• Select floral arrangements
• Musical selections
• Select Organist/Vocalist
• Clothing for you & minor children
• Decide who will look after minor children/pets
• House cleaning
• Extra chairs
• Decide if transportation is needed for family & guests, including funeral procession lineup
• Reviewing & signing all paperwork
• Answering innumerable phone calls, messages and letters
• Necessary meetings with funeral director, lawyer, clergy, cemetery, etc.
• Arrange lodging for out-of-town guests
• Acknowledging those who help in a special way (contributors of flowers, food, donations, etc.)
• Order certified copies of death certificate
• Items for memento display
• Review deceased's will regarding special wishes
  
  

E. PLAN TO NOTIFY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

• All relatives
• All friends
• Minister and church
• Funeral director
• Pallbearers
• Cemetery
• Doctor
  
• Employer of deceased
• Employers of relatives not going to work
• Organist, other musicians & vocalists
• Newspapers regarding notices
• Social Security Administration
• Veterans Administration
• Insurance agents
• Religious, fraternal, civic organizations & unions
• Attorney, accountant, financial planner & executor of estate
• Credit card companies