Preplanning List


83 Things That Must Be Done By The Survivor. 52 of these 83 items can be preplanned or prefunded (*) – leaving only 31 things that would need to be completed at the time of death.



Secure vital statistics (required for death certificate and/or burial permit)

*1. Name, home address and telephone
*2. How long in state
*3. Name of business, address and telephone number
*4. Occupation and title
*5. Social Security No.
*6. War Veteran Serial No.
*7. Date of Birth
*8. Place of Birth
*9. U.S. Citizen
*10. Father’s name
*11. Mother’s maiden name
*12. Educational level


Pay some or all of the following

*13. Family burial estate
*14. Memorials
*15. Funeral director
*16. Interment Service
*17. Clergy
*18. Florist
*19. Clothing
20. Transportation
21. Telephone and telegraph
22. Food
23. Doctors
24. Nurses
25. Hospitals and ambulance
26. Medicine and drugs
27. Other current and urgent bills (mortgage or rent, taxes, installment payments)


Collect documents

*28. Will
*29. Legal proof of age or birth certificate
*30. Social Security card or number
*31. Marriagelicense
*32. Citizenshippapers
*33. Insurance policies (life, health and accident, property)
*34. Bank books
*35. Deeds to property
*36. Income tax returns, receipts or cancelled checks
*37. Veterans discharge certificate
*38. Disability claim
*39. Memorial park certificate of ownership or cemetery deed


Decide and arrange within a few hours

*40. Burial estate location and which space to open
*41. Memorial type and inscription
*42. Casket type
*43. Clothing for deceased
*44. Vault or crypt
*45. Type of service (religious, military, fraternal)
*46. Special selection from scriptures or other literature
*47. Clergy to officiate
*48. Which funeral director
*49. Where service is to be held
50. Time for funeral service
*51. Choose charitable organizations for memorial donations
*52. Provide information for eulogy
*53. Select pallbearers
*54. Flowers
*55. Music
56. Clothing for you and children
57. Preparation at home, including food for family and guests
58.Transportation for family and guests, including planning funeral car list
59. Check and sign necessary papers for death certificate and/or burial permit
*60. Provide vital statistics about deceased to newspapers
*61. Providing addresses and telephone numbers for all interested people
62. Answer sympathetic phone calls, E-mails and letters
63. Meet and talk with funeral director/cemetery representative/clergy about all details
64. Greet all friends and relatives
65. Arrange for meeting relatives at airport or railroad station
66. Provide lodging for out-of- town relatives
67. Make list of callers and floral tributes sent
*68. Arrange for special religious services
*69. Check Will regarding special wishes
70. Order death certificate
71. Look after minor children


Notify as soon as possible

72. Doctor or doctors
*73. Funeral director
*74. Memorial park or cemetery
75. All relatives
76. All friends
77. Employer of deceased
78. Employers of relatives not going to work
79. Casket-bearers
80. Insurance agents
81. Religious, fraternal, civic, veterans organizations, unions
82. Newspapers regarding notices
83. Attorney, accountant, or executor of estate

* Indicates details that can be preplanned or prefunded.


Contact us today and one of our Family Service Counselors will help you get started.