When Death Occurs

The First Step is Legal Pronouncement of Death - Contact The Proper Authorities

Before any arrangements can be made, a legal pronouncement of death must occur.

If your loved one dies in a hospital, nursing home, or other medical facility, the staff will handle this. If they die at home, call local emergency services — they will come to the home and arrange for the pronouncement. If your loved one was under hospice care, the hospice staff can make the declaration directly.

Once this step is complete, you can begin making arrangements.

Making arrangements

If your loved one preplanned their service, start there. We will already have their wishes on file and can walk you through what they chose.

If no arrangements were made in advance, the main decisions you will work through together with a funeral director include:

  * Burial or cremation

  * Type of casket or urn

  * Time, date, and location of the service

  * Obituary

  * Pallbearers

  * Clergy, music, and speakers

If the deceased was active or retired military, let us know. We will help you contact the Veterans Administration about available benefits and honors.

What to bring when we meet

To complete the death certificate and begin arrangements, we will need the following information:



• Full legal name and address
• Date and city of birth
• Father's name and mother's maiden name
• Marital status and name of spouse
• Race and ethnicity
• Highest level of education
• Occupation and employer

We will also need copies of any relevant documents including:

•  Social Security number
•  Life insurance policies
•  Military discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable
•  Beneficiary designations
•  Account statements, if applicable
  

Taking care of personal matters

Funeral directors will need important documents to complete any legal paperwork. These documents include:

• Account statements
  
• Beneficiary designations
  
• Life insurance policies
  
• Military Discharge papers (form DD 214)
  
• Social Security Number

Taking Care Of Personal Property

Following the death of your loved one, there are few things you need to attend to involving the deceased’s personal life. First, secure your loved one’s property. Make sure their home and vehicle are properly secure.

If your loved one has a pet, make the necessary arrangements for the pet to be taken care of by family or friends. Any mail that comes to your loved one should be forwarded to a family member that plans to handle the deceased’s estate. Any mail that piles up at a vacant home only alarms potential intruders that a home is empty.

Make sure to contact the deceased’s boss and inform them of the death. If your loved one had any upcoming appointments, make contact to notify them about the death and to cancel the appointment.