Many people find that having a checklist of decisions to be made and tasks to be done when a death occurs helps them to be better organized and, thus, reduces some of the anxiety associated with an emotional time. We hope you find this checklist helpful.
- Decide who will do what tasks
- Contact those who will take on responsibilities
- Have someone write down every decision made and every action taken
Deceased’s basic personal information
- Full legal name
- Legal residence
- Length of time at current address
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Citizenship
- Health insurance information
- Social Security Number
- Occupation
- Employment or business history
- Marital history
- Spouse’s full name
- Father’s name
- Father’s birthplace
- Mother’s name
- Mother’s birthplace
- Next of kin, addresses, and relationship
- Executor’s name and contact information
- Attorney’s name and contact information
- Doctor’s name and contact information
Deceased’s obituary informationĀ
- High school attended
- University attended
- Military record
- Family history
- Work or professional history
- Religious activities and affiliations
- Civic activities
- Special awards and accomplishments
- Hobbies, activities and interests
- Charities and other special requests
Contacts before disposition
- Relatives and friends
- Religious groups
- Organizations of which deceased was
a member:- Professional groups
- Unions
- Civic groups
- Political groups
- Professionals that were close to deceased
- Places of prior employment
Disposition choices
- If deceased was a veteran, determine eligibility for Veterans burial benefits
- Determine if deceased had a prepaid funeral contract
- Who will make disposition arrangements?
- Choose burial or cremation or body donation
- Choose type of service (funeral with or without a visitation), memorial service, graveside service)
- Decide on funeral home or those who will act as funeral director
- Set time and date of service
Disposition choices (continued)
- Choose location of service
- Discuss need for preparation/ refrigeration/embalming
- Decide on viewing (none, family only, public)
- Decide on visitation with family
- Discuss casket or cremation container
- Discuss grave liner/burial vault or cremation urn, if desired
- Choose a cemetery or place of burial, if needed
- Arrange for burial plot or columbarium niche (unless ashes are to be scattered)
- Purchase grave marker (this can wait until later)
- Discuss other funeral needs, such as:
- Guest register
- Funeral or memorial service programs
- Acknowledgement cards
- Floral arrangement (if desired for casket)
- Determine whether any personal items are to be buried or cremated with deceased
- Supply clothing for deceased
- Select photographs and memorabilia to be displayed
- Make musical selections for any services
- Determine content of any services (readings, scripture, comments, etc.)
- Determine whether donations are to be suggested
- Locate religious or associational items to be used in services, if any
- Make arrangements for reception, if any
- Determine need for:
- Hearse
- Clergy car
- Family limousine
- Pallbearer limousine
- Flower car
Documents that may be needed
- Title to burial plot
- Prepaid funeral contract, if any
- Will
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Insurance policies
- Bank records
- Deeds to property
- Vehicle ownership records
- Military discharge papers
- Citizenship papers
- Tax returns
Contacts after disposition
- Doctors (primary care and specialists)
- Dentist
- Employer
- Accountant
- Lawyer
- Banks and credit unions
- Insurance agent
- Financial/investor advisors and agents
- Creditors
- Those who owed money to the deceased
- Pension plan administrator
- Social Security Office
- FCA of Central Texas if deceased was a member
- Department of Veterans Affairs, if deceased was a veteran
