Frequently Asked Questions

After a death, contact the funeral home as soon as possible. From there, the funeral home will help coordinate arrangements.

When you meet with the funeral home, bring the following information to complete the state's vital statistics requirements:

1. Birth Date
2. Birthplace
3. Father's Name
4. Mother's Name
5. Social Security Number
6. Veteran's Discharge or Claim Number
7. Education
8. Marital Status

• Contact your clergy. 
• Decide on time and place of the cremation. This can be done at the funeral home.
• The funeral home will assist you in determining the number of copies of the death certificates you will need, and they can order them for you.
• Make a list of immediate family, close friends, and employer or business colleagues. Notify each by phone.
• Gather obituary information you want to include, such as age, place of birth, cause of death, occupation, college degrees, memberships held, military service, outstanding work, and list of survivors in immediate family. Include time and place of services. If you want to publish the obituary in a newspaper, the funeral home will normally write the article and submit it (the newspaper will accept pictures, which will be returned intact).
• Arrange for family or close friends to take turns answering the front door or phone calls, keeping careful record who reached out. 
• If Social Security checks are automatic deposit, notify the bank of the death.

Prearranging funeral services can be done regardless of the final disposition. Prearranging is simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and pre-funding, if you choose to do so.

• Advance Directives - If the deceased left any written advance directives concerning the disposition of their remains and memorialization, you need to bring them with you. These instructions may be found in a will, or there may be a formally witnessed disposition directive, funeral prearrangement, or preneed contract.
• Military discharge papers (DD 214)
• Specific information on the deceased, such as: 

1.     Full legal name
2.     Address
3.     Marital status
4.     Social Security number
5.     Date of birth
6.     Place of birth (city, province, country)
7.     Occupation or profession
8.     Parents' names, including mother's maiden name
9.     Next of kin and other survivors

If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say goodbye, that's perfectly acceptable. Your funeral director will come when the time is right.

With cremation, your options are numerous. The cremated remains can be interred in a cemetery plot (i.e., earth burial); retained by a family member, usually in an urn; or scattered on private property or at a place that was significant to the deceased. (It would always be advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place. Your funeral director can help you with this.)

Today, there are many different types of memorial options available. Memorialization is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced for centuries. A memorial serves as a tribute to a life lived and provides a focal point for remembrance, as well as a record for future generations. The type of memorial you choose is a personal decision.

If you wish to have your ashes scattered somewhere, it is important to discuss your wishes ahead of time with the person or persons who will do the scattering, as they might want to let your funeral professional assist in the scattering ceremony. 

Uncertainty about income tax issues can add to the stress experienced after the death of a spouse. You should meet with your family attorney and/or tax advisor as soon as possible to review your particular tax and estate circumstances. Bring a detailed list of your questions to the meeting. If you do not have an attorney or tax advisor, call the IRS toll-free at 800-829-1040 for answers to specific tax questions.

There are a number of options available, including:

• Determine if the deceased person qualifies for any entitlements. Check with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and with your State Fund. Many people are entitled to get financial assistance with their funeral costs from these agencies, if they qualify.
• Review all insurance policies in the deceased's name, including life insurance. Some life insurance policies have coverage clauses for funeral-related costs.
• Find local charities providing financial help for funeral expenses. Search for non-profit organizations and churches in your area.
• Talk to your funeral director about cremation options. Cremation can be less expensive, depending on your choices.