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Funeral Planning Checklist
The information to gather and the decisions to make, in order.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
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Funeral planning checklists from funeral homes and end-of-life services consistently break into the same two phases: gathering information about the person who died, and making the decisions that follow. The first phase is largely factual: dates, documents, whether there's a pre-need plan. It can often be handed to family or friends who want to help but don't know how. The second phase is the harder set of decisions: burial or cremation, service type, and the details of honoring the person, made within a short window while the family is grieving.
Why these items are on the list
- Call 911 or local authorities. Required if the death occurred outside a hospital or hospice setting.
- Notify close relatives and friends. Delegate this; you don't need to make every call yourself.
- Look for pre-need funeral plans or will instructions. Check whether arrangements were already discussed or paid for.
- Check for veteran or military benefits. Many families miss burial and honor benefits they're entitled to.
- Gather biographical information. Date of birth, birthplace, occupation, parents' names, education, insurance policies; needed for the death certificate and obituary.
- Decide burial or cremation. The decision that shapes most of what follows.
- Choose a funeral home and schedule the arrangement meeting. Bring the gathered information with you.
- Write the obituary. Can be drafted by a family member ahead of the arrangement meeting.
- Collect photos. For the service, obituary, or a memorial video.
- Arrange clergy, celebrant, or officiant. If the service is religious or has a specific format.
- Arrange music or a musician. Music or a musician for the service itself.
- Order flowers. For the service and/or in lieu of, per the family's preference.
- Decide on the reception or repast location. The location may be home, a venue, or a restaurant.
- Decide the final resting place. Cemetery, columbarium, home, or scattering location for cremated remains.
Open it on your phone and tick items off as they are done, and share it with the family members who are helping. The items can be spread across several people, so you can come back to it when you are able.
When to use it
This is useful any time of year, as there is no strong season for it.