It is important to know what to do immediately after the death of a loved one. Funeral pre-planning helps you to save time and resources. It also enables you to make funeral arrangements at a time when most of the friends and family members of the deceased may be feeling very sad. Here are the steps you need to take after a loved one passes on:
Contact a Funeral Service Facility
The first thing to do after a person dies is to move the person from the place of death to a mortuary or funeral home where the body can be properly handled before other funeral arrangements are put in place. You need to call a funeral service facility or funeral home immediately. In a few cases, you may need to transport the deceased to another town or city based on their wishes before death.
Plan for a Funeral Service
It is good to do some funeral pre-plannng before the person dies. This will allow all the loved ones to agree on how and where the funeral and memorial service will be conducted. During the funeral pre-planning session, many decisions will be taken about the kind of funeral products to be used and how to dispose of the body. For additional assistance, you may consult a funeral director.
Make Cemetery Arrangements
If the deceased did not acquire a cemetery property while alive, you need to do so promptly. You can look for the nearest private or community cemetery and meet with the cemetery representative to buy a burial space. Your funeral director may also make arrangements for the family.
Arrange for Funeral or Memorial Products
A wide range of options are available for grave markers, caskets and diverse types of funeral products. Most funeral homes offer these products in different styles, sizes and prices. You can also contact a retailer or monument company to request a custom or specially designed casket or any other product you need for the burial.
Managing the Deceased’s Assets
After the funeral rites have been conducted, the will, assets and finances of the deceased must be handled properly. You need to send death notices and copies of the death certificate to all banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and state authorities to ensure that death benefits claims can be processed accordingly.
Funeral Pre-planning When a Loved One is About to Die
If a loved one is very sick and doctors have said the person will die in a few days or weeks, you should make funeral arrangements early. This will put you in charge mentally and financially. It will allow you to schedule a meeting with the funeral director and help to save costs. It will also give you a chance to search for the most reliable and affordable funeral service in your community.
If the person you are expecting to die can still communicate effectively, you can use this opportunity to get his or her final wishes. It also gives you a chance to make contact with all family members and agree on the funeral arrangements.