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Preparing For A Funeral: A Guide to Making Arrangements For Your Loved One

As anyone who’s experienced the passing of a loved one, it is often a difficult and painful time in our lives. We are typically overwhelmed with the emotional burden of this somber event, and having the ability to make a clear and organized checklist for funeral arrangements can become stressful – even confusing.

At FuneralAgent.com, our 135 years of compassionate experience can provide you with the assistance you and your family require. Our mission is to make the arrangements as seamless and stress-free as possible so that you can focus on what’s truly important – your family and loved ones.

Developing a Funeral Checklist

There are certain important steps you will want to follow when preparing for a funeral and subsequently managing the deceased’s affairs, including their finances, important documents, health insurance, and other essential paperwork that needs to be finalized. Below, we’ve prepared a funeral guide checklist that will help you remain organized during this difficult time:

  • Call the funeral home you have selected. If you have not chosen a funeral home ahead of time, your local Funeral Directors' Association can give you information on funeral homes in your area. You may also ask a friend, family member, or clergy for a reference to a local funeral home.
  • If your loved one was a veteran, you may be able to get assistance with the funeral, burial plot, or other benefits. For information on benefits call the Veterans Administration at 800-827-1000. Also, the phone number for your local VA is usually listed under Town Offices. You will need a copy of your loved one's discharge papers.
  • Obtain 10-15 copies of the Death Certificatefrom your funeral director.
  • If your loved one was receiving Social Security benefits, notify your local Social Security office of the death, since these benefits will stop. Overpayments will result in a difficult process of repayment. If you are a surviving spouse, ask about your eligibility for increased benefits. Also, check on benefits that any minor children may be entitled to receive.
  • Contact the deceased’s health insurance company or employer regarding terminating coverage for the deceased while continuing coverage for others covered through the policy.
  • Contact the insurance company for all life insurance policies. You will need to provide the policy number and a certified copy of the death certificate and fill out a claim form. If the deceased is listed as the beneficiary on any other policy, arrange to have the name removed.
  • If the deceased was working, contact the employer for information on pension plans, credit unions and union death benefits. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate for each claim.
  • Return credit cards of the deceased with a certified copy of the death certificate, or notify the credit card company if you, as the survivor, want to retain use of the card.
  • Seek the advice of an accountant or tax advisor about filing the deceased's tax return for the year of the death. Keep monthly bank statements on all individual and joint accounts that show the account balance on the day of death, since you will need this information for the estate tax return.
  • Arrange to change any joint bank accounts into your name. If the deceased's estate is in trust, check with the Trust Department or Customer Service at the bank.
  • If the deceased owned a car, transfer the automobile title into your name at the Secretary of State's Office, or if the estate is probated, through Probate Court.
  • Arrange to change stocks and bonds into your name. Your bank or stockbroker will have the forms.
  • Make sure that important bills, such as mortgage payments, continue to be paid.

 

Documents you may need to complete the tasks:

Once you have gone through this list, you and your family may decide that you need the assistance of professionals to make the final arrangements for your loved one’s funeral. With over a century of experience, FuneralAgent.com provides a one-stop solution for all of your funeral arrangement needs – all with the dignity, respect and care that you would expect from a family-owned and operated business.Through our vast network of partners in the funeral industry, we are able to offer a full nationwide service, including:

  • Coordinating between all service providers to deliver all funeral arrangements specified by the customer
  • Pickup & transportation (both locally and internationally)
  • Funeral services – (including all preparations such as embalming, washing, storing, refrigerating etc.)
  • Burial/Cremation services
  • Issuing all necessary documentation – including Death Certificate, Obituary Notice, obtaining necessary authorizations from doctors/hospital, etc.
  • Ceremonial Items – Caskets, Religious Items (Crosses, etc.), Flags, Memorial Cards, clothing for the deceased, flower arrangements, etc.

What is FuneralAgent.com?

FuneralAgent.com provides a valuable service to our customers nationwide, acting as a coordinator between an established network of service providers – from the pick-up and transportation of the deceased, to processing documentations and making funeral plans, we attend to all of the arrangements so that the bereaved family doesn’t have to.

We are here to assist you through live chat or phone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – if you need assistance, please reach out to us today – our warm, attentive and knowledgeable staff of Funeral Agents is here to help now!