The Complete Funeral Planning Checklist

• If the death occurred at home: Call 911 (if unexpected) or the hospice nurse (if expected). They'll guide you through what happens next.
• If the death occurred in a hospital or facility: The staff will handle immediate procedures and guide you on next steps.
• Contact a funeral home. Even if you're not sure about arrangements yet, the funeral home will transport the body and begin the process. If you don't have one in mind, ask a friend, your church, or search online. You can compare prices — the FTC requires funeral homes to provide pricing over the phone.
• Locate important documents: Will, life insurance policies, burial/cremation preferences, pre-paid funeral plans, veteran discharge papers (DD-214).
• Notify immediate family. Spouse, children, parents, siblings. Start the phone tree. Ask each person to call two more people.
• Secure the home if the deceased lived alone. Lock up, adjust thermostat, check on pets.
• Notify the employer of the deceased (and your own employer, if you need bereavement leave).

Funeral Home Meeting

• Meet with the funeral director to discuss options: burial vs. cremation, viewing/visitation, type of service.
• Choose a casket or urn. Bring someone level-headed — funeral homes range from predatory to wonderful, and it's hard to make financial decisions while grieving.
• Discuss costs upfront. Ask for the General Price List (GPL) — federal law requires them to provide it.
• Decide on embalming (only required if there's a public viewing with an open casket in most states).
• Choose clothing and personal items for the deceased.
• Provide information for the death certificate. You'll want 10–15 certified copies — you'll need them for insurance, banks, property, and more.

Service Planning

• Choose a date and time for the service (coordinate with the funeral home, venue, and officiant).
• Select a venue: church, funeral home chapel, outdoor location, family home.
• Contact a clergy member, celebrant, or officiant.
• Decide on a burial location (cemetery plot, mausoleum, columbarium) if not already arranged.

Notifications

• Notify extended family, friends, neighbors, and community members.
• Contact the deceased's church, synagogue, mosque, or other faith community.
• Notify clubs, lodges, veteran organizations, or professional associations.
• Post on social media if appropriate (or ask someone to do it for you).

Service Details

• Select pallbearers (typically 6, plus 2 honorary).
• Choose readings, prayers, or poems for the service.
• Select music — processional, during the service, recessional.
• Ask family members or friends to deliver eulogies or share memories.
• Prepare a photo display or slideshow.
• Create or order memorial programs/cards.
• Arrange flowers — or specify "in lieu of flowers" donations.
• Coordinate transportation for family members (limousine, carpooling).
• Arrange a reception or gathering after the service (home, church hall, restaurant).
• Order food/catering for the reception, or coordinate who's bringing what.

Practical Logistics

• Arrange for someone to stay at the family home during the service (burglaries during published funerals are, sadly, a real thing).
• Set up a meal train or food coordination for the family.
• Arrange lodging for out-of-town family members.
• Set up a guest book (physical or online) for condolences.

• Gather the facts: full name, age, date/place of birth, date/place of death, survivors, predeceased, service details.
• Write the obituary or delegate it to a family member who feels up to it. Our complete obituary writing guide walks you through every step.
• Or use our free AI writer: Our AI obituary writer generates a personalized first draft based on the details you provide. You edit and publish from there.
• Review with family before publishing. Check names, spellings, dates, and service details.
• Publish online — create a free obituary page at OfficialObituary.com.
• Submit to newspapers if desired. Contact the paper's obituary department for pricing and deadlines. Most charge $200–$1,500+ depending on length.
• Share the published obituary via social media, email, and text.

• Arrive early to the venue to check setup.
• Confirm that flowers, photos, and programs are in place.
• Designate someone to greet guests and direct them.
• Have tissues and water available.
• Assign someone to manage the guest book.
• Confirm reception arrangements (food, venue, timing).
• After the service: collect flowers, guest book, memorial items, and cards.
• Send any remaining flowers to nursing homes, hospitals, or church.

Thank You Notes

• Send thank-you notes to pallbearers, officiant, musicians, and anyone who helped with the service.
• Acknowledge flowers, donations, food, and acts of kindness.
• Thank-you notes are traditionally sent within 2–4 weeks, but there's no deadline. Send them when you can.

Notifications and Closures

• Notify Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213).
• Notify banks, credit unions, and investment accounts.
• Contact life insurance companies to file claims.
• Notify the VA if the deceased was a veteran (for burial benefits, flag, headstone).
• Cancel or transfer utilities, subscriptions, and memberships.
• Forward mail through USPS.
• Contact the DMV to cancel the driver's license.
• Close or memorialize social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, etc.).
• Notify credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to prevent identity theft.

• Locate and file the will with the probate court (if applicable).
• Contact an estate attorney if needed.
• Gather financial records: bank statements, investment accounts, property deeds, vehicle titles.
• File the final tax return (due by April 15 of the following year).
• Apply for survivor benefits (Social Security, pension, VA).
• Transfer property titles, vehicle registrations, and account ownership.
• Review and update your own estate planning documents — wills, beneficiaries, powers of attorney.