Grieving for a loved one or planning ahead, you are not alone during this difficult time. Everything coming at you at once may seem overwhelming, so to help put you back in control, here is some information you may find helpful when planning. 
When Death Occurs

 To help prepare you there are some questions you may be asked when calling:
  •  What is the full name of the deceased?
  • What is the location of the deceased?
  • What is you name, phone number, and address, and that of the next of kin?
  •  Is there a pre-arranged plan? 
An in person appointment will be necessary to set up details.  
The following items and information may be needed:
  • Clothing for the deceased.
  • A recent photograph of the deceased.
  • The social security number, as well as the birthdate, and city and state of birth  of the deceased.
  • The deceased's parent's names, as well as mother's maiden name.
  • Marital Status of the deceased.
  • Pre-arrangement paperwork if applicable.
  • Cemetery lot information if applicable.
Other things to consider:
  • Contacting your clergy, this may have some impact on the time and place for a funeral or memorial service.
  • Make a list of family, friends, and business colleagues. If you plan to notify each by phone you may want to consider making a phone tree, and having to call fewer people and having them call two specific people.
  • Gather obituary information which may include:
     age, place of birth, cause of death, occupation, college degrees, memberships held, military service, outstanding work, a list of survivors in the immediate family, and a photo.
    The funeral home will generally write the obituary, and submit it to the newspapers.
  • Arrange for family members or close friends to take turns answering the phone or door, and to keep a careful record of visitors and flower deliveries to make it easier to thank people later on.  The funeral home provides thank you cards. You may also wish to delegate cleaning, child care, food preparation, and the like during this time. 
  • If applicable select pall bearers, and notify the funeral home.  People with heart or back problems may be named honorarily.
  • What organizations you would like memorial donations to go to.
  • Notify Insurance companies of death.
  • Locate the will, and notify the lawyer and executor. 
  • Carefully look at all life and casualty insurance and death benefits including:
    Social Security, credit union, trade union, fraternal, and military.
  • If the deceased was living alone you may need to notify a landlord, and utility companies as well as the post office to let them know where to send mail.
  • Check on debts, payments, and credit cards. Some may have insurance clauses for cancellation, and others may require a consult with creditors before payments are due. 
  • Notify the deceased's bank of the death.
Pre-Planning

It make take some time to fully develop your plan, but here are some things to  think about to help get you started.

  • Prepare a contact list of individuals who should be notified in a medical emergency or death.
  • The contact details for the funeral home you would like to designate to care for you
  • Jot down information you might like to be included in an obituary.

    Depending on what type of services you would like, including the burial you prefer and make those arrangements. You may need to decide:
  • Cemetery lot location
  • Casket type; cremation urn type
  • Vault or sectional crypt
  • Type of service: religious, military, non-denominational, or fraternal
  • Pallbearers, music, flowers, scripture or other readings
  • Select the speakers and the eulogies that you would want to represent you.
  • Decide what organizations or church will benefit from memorial donations in your name.

    Instructions, and important financial details to consider:
  •  Do not keep your pre-paid funeral information in your safety deposit box. Safety deposit boxes are often opened up during the estate settlement process, long after the funeral. Any funeral planning documents therein can be of no help to your executor.
  • Make sure your representative has a list of important account information or telephone numbers for retirement plans, insurance policies, investments, bank accounts, safe-deposit boxes, properties, preferred law and accountant firms and mortuaries. Remind your personal representative that the Social Security Administration will need to be called and, if you're receiving benefits such as those from the Veteran's Administration, they should be contacted as well.
  •  Designate a power of attorney to ensure that proper information can be accessed in the event of your illness or death. Make sure a durable power of attorney for health care and a durable power of attorney for property are in place so that your wishes are carried out if you are unable to do so.
  •  Make arrangements for telephone and utilities services, and newspaper and magazine deliveries, to be cancelled.

Pay for:
  • Cemetery and memorialization services
  •  Funeral arrangements, including clergy, florist and transportation
  •  Make arrangements for pets to find a new home.