Losing a loved one is never an easy thing to experience. Being prepared to handle this, will make matters easier for everyone involved. This guide will help you with the steps to arranging a funeral. We’ll take you through the steps of arranging a funeral
Losing a loved one is never an easy thing to experience. Being prepared to handle this, will make matters easier for everyone involved. This guide will help you with the steps to arranging a funeral. We’ll take you through the steps of arranging a funeral — from making the first call when someone dies to the various matters to be handled following the funeral.
First Call
When a person passes away, the first step is to make the “First Call”. This is needed to make the arrangements for having the deceased transported to a funeral home or morgue. Often this is initiated by a family member, or person who’s responsible for the final arrangements of the deceased. In some situations, a person may need to be flown, or driven to their final resting place. If this extra step is involved, you’ll want to make sure these transportation decisions have been made ahead of time.
Funeral Services
Planning a funeral involves making many important decisions concerning funeral services, funeral products and final disposition of the body. We recommend an individual to plan these important decisions with a Funeral Director. These types of professionals can assist with the various expenses, services, and products. If you properly plan ahead, you can make these decisions, as opposed to having your family members make the decisions on their own.
Cemetery Arrangements
In most situations, it makes sense to have a cemetery property purchased. In the event you do not have a cemetery property purchased, this will create an extra step for your family. The good news is that most Funeral Directors can help your family out, with this process. Or your family can work directly with the cemetery itself, to secure a final resting place.
Funeral and Memorial Products
There are various options for purchasing caskets, grave markers, and other funeral merchandise. These products are available through a funeral home, cemetery, monument company, or other retailers. Every individual has final wishes, so you can decide what’s appropriate in your situation. Another overlooked issue is having your Obituary pre-written. This is something you can do, and have a copy readily available to your loved ones.
Administrative Matters
Following the funeral, it’s important to make sure financial and administrative matters are addressed. . These matters include sending death notices to financial institutions, public utilities, credit reporting agencies, burial insurance companies, and several other entities. It’s always a wise decision to have a list of creditors that would need to be made whole, with your other important financial documents. This give your family an insight of who they’ll need to contact.
Making Funeral Arrangements if Death is Imminent
If a friend or loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, it’s always a good ideal to begin deciding. This allows you a final chance, to work together, and make sure final wishes will be honored. You can meet with a funeral director as a family, and get all the important decisions makers together. This type of meeting will help all parties at the time of death.
Payments for Funeral Arrangements
The majority of funeral homes prefer services pre-paid. Another alternative to pre-paying is have a Burial, Final Expense, or a Funeral Insurance policy in place. These types of policies are taken out, with the purpose of paying a Funeral Home, at the time of one’s Death. Companies such as Mutual of Omaha, and Lincoln Heritage, make death claim payments within 48 to 72 hours. By having an insurance policy, a Funeral Home knows they will receive payment in a timely fashion.
