Funeral
Planning Checklist
The following list is designed to assist in funeral planning, whether
you are preplanning or planning at the time of death. We hope this list
is helpful and will make difficult decisions easier. We hope the result
will be a funeral that celebrates life.
Documents and items to locate
___ Deed to cemetery plot
___ Insurance papers
___ Birth certificate
___ Marriage certificate
___ All deeds and titles
___ Mortgages and notes
___ Automobile records, titles and registrations
___ Tax records
___ Bank account information
___ Credit card information
___ Safe deposit box location and key
___ Social Security benefits information
___ Benefits from any fraternal, veteran or union organizations
___ Veteran discharge papers
___ Citizenship papers
Personal information to prepare for family
___ Information regarding the will (attorney, executor)
___ Name of medical power of attorney, if one exists
___ Names of accountant, stockbroker or banker
___ Information about any real estate, stocks or bonds
___ Plans for any pets
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Funeral service preparations
___ Select funeral home
___ Select casket or urn
___ Prepare death certificate
___ Select pallbearers
___ Choose a family viewing or a visitation
___ Select flowers
___ Select music
___ Select where to send memorial contributions
___ Arrange transportation
___ Select clothing/jewelry
___ Select which newspapers to notify
___ Prepare information for obituary (family history, education, professional
history, activities, etc.)
___ Arrange reception (location and food)
___ List family and friends to notify
Church or Memorial Service Plans
___ Location of a church or memorial service
___ Select clergy
___ Name any family or friends that should deliver eulogy or participate
in service
___ Select scripture or literature to read
___ Select photographs to display
___ Burial Preparations
___ Select cemetery plot
___ Select grave marker and inscription
After the Funeral
Thank yous
___ Send acknowledgement cards for flowers, donations, food, or any significant
gestures of kindness
Real Estate
___ Transfer of Real Estate properties
___ Apply for widowed person exemption
___ Apply for Homestead & Disabilities Exemption
Notify Insurance Companies and File Claims
___ Contact Funeral Director to arrange for Death Certificates for every
claim and several extras
___ Life insurance
___ Medical, Health, Disability, Travel & Accident
___ Retirement Benefits & Annuities
___ Homeowners
___ Car insurance
___ Change Survivors Beneficiary
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Apply for Appropriate Benefits
___ Social Secuirty Survivors Benefits
___ Veterans Burial & Survivors Benefits
___ Pension Benefits (contact place of employment)
___ Workmen’s Compensation Benefits
___ Civil Service
___ Railroad Retirement
Notify Stockbroker
___ Change ownership of jointly or solely owned stocks
___ IRA and retirement accounts
___ Transfer bonds
___ Mutual or other funds
Notify Banks
___ Change all jointly held accounts
___ Cancel direct deposit benefits payments
___ Reestablish safe deposit box
___ Reestablish all outstanding mortgages, personal notes, etc
___ Apply for life insurance which may exist on loans, credit card and
mortgages
___ Certificates of deposit
___ IRA accounts
Notify Department of Motor Vehicles
___ Transfer titles of all registered vehicles
___ Cancel driver’s license
___ Cancel voter registration
Notify all credit card account companies
___ Apply for credit life insurance
___ Cancel all individually held credit card accounts
___ Change all jointly held accounts
Notify attorney/accountant/tax consultant
___ If a will must be probated
___ If your will needs to be revised for income tax purposes
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