Funeral Planning Checklist and Important Steps

Confirm the death with the appropriate professional

The next step depends on where the death occurred.

Notify close family and friends

Contact immediate family members and close friends who should hear the news directly.

Review preplanned funeral arrangements

Look for any written instructions, prepaid funeral plans, cemetery documents, or known wishes.

Contact a funeral home or funeral provider

Discuss transportation, available services, timing, pricing, and the next steps.

Ask for a written price list and an explanation of available services.
Confirm what is included and which services are optional.
Ask whether the provider handles burial, cremation, green burial, transportation, permits, and death certificates.

Helpful Resources

Guides and services to help you with the next steps in your planning.

Find Funeral Services Browse funeral, memorial, and end-of-life service providers.

Arrange transportation of the person who died

Coordinate transportation with the funeral home, cremation provider, or appropriate local service.

Locate important documents

Gather identification, funeral instructions, military records, insurance information, and estate documents.

Look for:

Government issued identification
Social Security information
Birth and marriage certificates
Military discharge records
Will or trust
Life insurance policies
Prepaid funeral documents
Cemetery or burial records
Property and financial records

Choose burial, cremation, or another option

Review the person's wishes, family preferences, religious traditions, costs, and available choices.

Options may include:

Traditional burial
Cremation
Green burial
Natural organic reduction where available
Body donation
Burial at sea
Other cultural or religious practices

Helpful Resources

Guides and services to help you with the next steps in your planning.

Choose the type of funeral or memorial service

Select the type of gathering that best reflects the person and the family.

Options may include:

Traditional funeral service
Memorial service
Graveside service
Celebration of life
Religious service
Viewing or visitation
Private family gathering
Virtual or livestreamed service

Select the service date and location

Coordinate with the funeral provider, venue, cemetery, religious organization, and family.

Choose a casket, urn, or other memorial product

Select only the products needed for the chosen arrangements.

Ask for available options and written prices.
Compare materials, sizes, personalization, and delivery times.
Confirm whether an outside casket or urn may be used.

Helpful Resources

Guides and services to help you with the next steps in your planning.

Browse Caskets and Urns Browse caskets, urns, and memorial merchandise.

Plan the funeral or memorial service

Organize the program, readings, music, speakers, photos, and personal details.

Consider:

Officiant or service leader
Readings or prayers
Music
Eulogies
Photo displays
Video tribute
Pallbearers
Cultural or religious traditions
Livestreaming
Printed programs
Guest book

Write and publish the obituary

Share the person's life story, family information, service details, and memorial preferences.

Arrange flowers, memorial items, and printed materials

Choose any flowers, keepsakes, programs, signs, photo boards, or memorial displays.

Plan transportation and the reception

Arrange transportation for the family and decide whether a gathering will follow the service.

Consider:

Family transportation
Funeral procession
Reception venue
Catering
Seating
Accessibility
Parking
Setup and cleanup
Food or cultural traditions

Request certified copies of the death certificate

Certified copies may be needed for financial, legal, insurance, property, and government matters.

Ask the funeral provider or issuing authority how copies are ordered.
The number needed depends on the person's accounts, property, insurance policies, and estate.
Keep one original copy stored safely.

Helpful Resources

Guides and services to help you with the next steps in your planning.

View the Death Certificate Guide How to request certified copies and what you'll need.

Notify the employer, insurance providers, and benefit administrators

Contact the person's employer and relevant insurance or benefit providers.

Notify government agencies

Review which federal, state, and local agencies need to be contacted.

Review banks, property, debts, and estate responsibilities

Identify financial accounts, property, debts, and estate documents.

Locate the will, trust, or executor information.
Contact the appropriate financial institutions.
Avoid distributing property or closing accounts until the responsible person understands the legal requirements.
Consult a qualified professional when probate, trusts, property, taxes, or disputed assets are involved.

Helpful Resources

Guides and services to help you with the next steps in your planning.

Find Estate and Legal Services

Manage utilities, subscriptions, mail, and digital accounts

Review household services, recurring payments, mail, devices, and online accounts.

Consider:

Electricity and water
Phone and internet
Streaming services
Memberships
Automatic payments
Email accounts
Social media
Cloud storage
Online subscriptions
Website domains
Cryptocurrency or digital assets
Mail forwarding

Do not access accounts without proper authorization.

Complete remembrance, support, and follow up tasks

Handle the remaining personal, emotional, and administrative responsibilities at a manageable pace.

Funeral Planning Checklist

Your Progress

Confirm the death with the appropriate professional

Helpful Questions

Notify close family and friends

Review preplanned funeral arrangements

Contact a funeral home or funeral provider

Arrange transportation of the person who died

Locate important documents

Choose burial, cremation, or another option

Choose the type of funeral or memorial service

Select the service date and location

Choose a casket, urn, or other memorial product

Plan the funeral or memorial service

Write and publish the obituary

Arrange flowers, memorial items, and printed materials

Plan transportation and the reception

Request certified copies of the death certificate

Notify the employer, insurance providers, and benefit administrators

Notify government agencies

Review banks, property, debts, and estate responsibilities

Manage utilities, subscriptions, mail, and digital accounts

Complete remembrance, support, and follow up tasks