Funeral Checklist

If you are planning your funeral, take some time to put your personal affairs in
order so your family and loved ones at least have some chance in finding
personal papers and documents they will need to deal with administrating your
estate after your death.

Additional preparation checklists and everything you need to organize the

funeral you want NOT the funeral you can afford can be found in The Complete
Guide To Funerals

Keep all the original documents and information safe - but somewhere your
executor or partner can easily lay their hands on them when the time comes.

It’s a good idea to have a copied working file on the computer or in a folder as
well, so the originals stay pristine.

So here’s most of the information you need when someone dies - but bear in
mind if there are unusual circumstances, like an accident or crime, far more time
and paperwork may be involved.

Personal information
1. Name
2. Address
3. How long has the deceased lived at the current residence
4. Occupation
5. Employer
6. Social security number
7. Veteran’s serial number
8. Military discharge date
9. Date of birth
10. Place of birth
11. Father’s name
12. Mother’s maiden name
13. Death certificate
14. Information for any eulogy

Funeral and medical expenses

15. Estate/inheritance taxes
16. Funeral expenses
17. Cemetery plot and opening and closing costs
18. Monument and engraving charges
19. Obituary
20. Clothing/dry cleaning
21. Transportation
22. Doctors
23. Nurses
24. Medical practioners
25. Ambulance
26. Hospital/nursing home
27. Medications and drugs
Dealing with personal affairs
28. Paying outstanding bills
29. Will location
30. Birth certificate
31. Marriage license
32. Divorce certificate
33. Insurance policies
34. Bank and savings books
35. Stocks and bonds
36. Property deed
37. Cemetery deed
38. Auto titles
39. Inform the tax authority
40. Inform any pension providers

The big day

41. Exact location of burial or cremation
42. Funeral service location
43. Coffin/casket type
44. Any other burial container
45. Items for memento display
46. Clothing and jewelry for deceased
47. Service type (religious or non-religious)
48. Selection of scripture and readings
49. Clergy to officiate
50. Funeral director preference
51. Time for visitation and service
52. Register book, memorial/prayer cards
53. Casket/pall bearers
54. Flowers
55. Music
56. Transporting family and guests
57. Reviewing and signing all paperwork
58. Answering phone calls, messages, and letters
59. Necessary meetings with funeral director, lawyer, clergy, cemetery, etc.
60. Arrange transportation and lodging for out-of-town guests
61. Acknowledging those who help in a special way
62. Funeral service details and considerations

Informing those that need to know

63. Relatives
64. Friends
65. Cemetery
66. Former employers and work colleagues
67. Newspaper notices and obituaries
68. Religious, fraternal, and civic organizations and unions
69. Lawyer
70. Accountant
71. Executor
72. Credit card companies