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Funeral Planning Checklist

When someone dies, the world hands you a to-do list at the worst possible moment. Almost none of it is as urgent as it feels. This checklist is ordered by what actually cannot wait, so you can do the few things that matter now and give yourself permission to leave the rest.

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The first hours

Only a few things truly have to happen right away, and most of them are phone calls. Take them one at a time. There is no prize for speed.

What cannot wait

  • Get the death pronounced. Who you call depends on where it happened. If the person died at home on hospice, call the hospice nurse, who will handle the pronouncement. If the death at home was unexpected, call 911. If it happened in a hospital or care facility, the staff take care of this.
  • Tell the closest family. A short call is enough. You do not owe anyone a long explanation tonight.
  • Choose and call a funeral home or crematory. They will arrange the transfer of the body, usually within a few hours. If no one has been chosen yet, it is all right to take a little time, and it is all right to call more than one.
  • Make sure pets and dependents are cared for, tonight and for the next few days.
  • If the person's home is now empty, lock it and make sure someone trusted has a key.

The first two days

Once the immediate calls are made, the next two days are about one decision and a small stack of paper. Burial or cremation is the decision that gates everything else, so it comes first.

The next steps

  • Gather documents. You will need the information for the death certificate, which the funeral home helps complete, so find photo identification details for the person who died. Look for any pre-need or prepaid funeral paperwork. If the person was a veteran and military honors are wanted, find the DD Form 214.
  • Decide between burial and cremation. Every other choice, from casket to urn to venue, waits on this one, and there is no wrong answer.
  • Call two or three funeral homes and ask for prices. Under the FTC Funeral Rule they must give you price information over the phone, and each must hand you a written, itemized General Price List that is yours to keep. Comparing even two lists routinely saves real money.
  • Choose who will lead the service and where it will be held, whether that is clergy, a celebrant, or someone who loved them.

The first week

By the end of the first week, the practical spine of things is usually in place. These items matter, but none of them needs to happen on day one.

Within the week

  • Order death certificates. Ask the funeral home to order multiple certified copies, because banks, insurers, and government agencies each typically want their own.
  • Plan the service. Our free program maker and obituary writer carry this part, so you are not starting from a blank page.
  • Write and place the obituary, if you want one. There is no rule that says you must.
  • Notify the person's employer and the Social Security Administration. The funeral home often reports the death to Social Security, but confirm it was done.

What can wait

This section exists to give you permission. Almost everything beyond the lists above can wait weeks or months, and waiting costs you nothing. Grief comes first. Nothing on the list below is urgent in the first days, whatever anyone says, and decisions made later are almost always made better.

Truly not urgent

  • The house. It does not need to be sorted, emptied, or sold now.
  • The clothes and belongings. They will wait for you, and so will the decisions about them.
  • The accounts. Most banks, utilities, and subscriptions can be handled over the coming weeks.
  • The thank-you notes. People understand. Late is fine, and so is never.
  • Most paperwork. Beyond the death certificate and any pre-need documents, the rest of the files can rest until you are ready.

Questions, answered plainly

How quickly does burial or cremation have to happen?

There is no fixed federal deadline. Many states have rules about refrigeration or embalming if final disposition will not happen within a certain time, and the details vary by state. The funeral home you choose will know your state's timing rules and will guide you, so this is not something you need to research alone in the first hours.

How many death certificates should we order?

There is no single right number. Banks, insurance companies, and government agencies each typically want their own certified copy, so most families need several. Tell the funeral home which accounts and policies exist and they will advise a count. Ordering copies together at the start is usually easier and cheaper than requesting more later.

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