(513) 231-2000 Cincinnati, OH
(859) 261-8560 Newport, KY

Funeral Planning Checklists

THINGS TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE PASSES

During your time of grief, we want to help you every way we can to make the funeral planning process as simple and stress-free as possible. To assist you in organizing your affairs, we have compiled a list of things that will be needed for your arrangements and beyond the funeral. This list is meant to be a place to start:

  • Social Security number of the person who has died
  • Discharge papers or Active Service papers
  • Names and contact information of persons to be notified
  • Insurance policies (life, homeowners, health, disability, auto, etc.)
  • Deeds to burial property
  • Driver’s License
  • List of Pallbearers or Honorary Pallbearers
  • List of favorite music, Bible verses, or poetry
  • Correct spelling of deceased and all surviving family members
  • Church affiliation with a preferred clergy person or other officiant for us to contact – If none preferred, we can help
  • List of affiliations from work or charitable organizations
  • The correct spelling of the deceased father’s name and mother’s maiden name
  • The city and state or country the deceased was born or a copy of birth certificate

The following items should also be gathered to help in any estate or other financial arrangements at the time of death:

  • Death certificates
  • The will or trust
  • Last credit card statements
  • Investment accounts (IRAs, 401(k) plans, mutual funds, pensions, etc.)
  • Last checking and savings account statements (including CDs and money-market accounts)
  • Last mortgage statement
  • Last two years’ tax returns
  • Marriage and birth certificates (of the deceased’s spouse and children)
  • An up-to-date credit report of the deceased

A CHECKLIST TO HELP YOU PRE-PLAN YOUR FUNERAL OR MEMORIAL SERVICE

By planning your service in advance you can design and specify the exact type of service you’d like, so that your friends and family celebrate you as you wish. And by letting your family know how you’d like your funeral or memorial service to be, they will have less decisions to make during the difficult time that is ahead.

  • Here is a comprehensive list of options to help you decide on the type of service you want to have:
  • A funeral service, followed by burial or cremation.
  • A funeral service, followed by a graveside service or a service at the crematory, followed by burial or cremation.
  • Only a graveside service or a service at the crematory, followed by burial or cremation.
  • Privately see loved one for the last time
  • A basic, simple cremation with no services
  • A memorial service after the burial or cremation.
  • A funeral service at home.
  • A viewing before the funeral.
  • A wake before the funeral.
  • A visitation before the funeral.
  • A reception or gathering after the funeral or memorial service.
  • Observe religious and ethnic practices.
Lighting Candles

Download our checklist document

FaresJRadel_Pre-Planning_Checklist

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(513) 231-2000 Cincinnati, OH
(859) 261-8560 Newport, KY

Learn more about planning a funeral. Download our free guide!