What Should You Bring to the Funeral Home?
What Do I Need For Funeral Arrangements?
Handling the death of a loved one is always going to be challenging. If you’re also responsible for arranging that person’s funeral, then it can become all the more difficult. The funeral home you choose will help you through this process as much as possible and may even provide emotional support services.
To make sure you’re prepared before that initial meeting with the funeral home, here are the essential documents and information you need to have at the ready when arranging a funeral.
Pre-arrangements
Your loved one may or may not have been through a pre-planning process before their death. This is especially likely if the death was expected, as in the case of lengthy illnesses. If they did so, make sure you have all their pre-arrangement documents with you. These will outline specific details of how they wanted to be sent off, which will help you and the funeral directors honor their wishes. If they have a will, then this may also include relevant information for planning their funeral.
Filing a death certificate
In order to legally process the death of your loved one and to continue with the funeral planning, a death certificate needs to be filed. If this has already occurred, then you can bring a copy of the certificate with you to speed the process along. If not, then the funeral director can file one for you, but they will require various pieces of information about the deceased. You should prepare for this and bring as many documents with you as you have access to that may contain important information. These may include:
Birth certificate
Marriage certificate
Last will and testament
Power of attorney
Military discharge papers
Insurance information
Social security card
Content for an obituary
Some people decide to write a eulogy or obituary for their loved one while others leave this task to the funeral director. If you would like the director to write your loved one’s obituary, then make sure you bring in any relevant information that you would like mentioning in this. Writing out notes to hand to them is sufficient.
Obviously, paperwork is the last thing you want to be worrying about right now, but it’s important that you bring these documents with you to the funeral home to make the arrangement process go as smoothly as possible. If you need any support during this period, please get in touch with us at Hayworth Miller.
