Funeral Planning Checklist: Every Decision, in Order
When someone dies, families are often asked to make dozens of decisions in a single meeting, usually within a day or two. This checklist puts them in a sensible order so you can take them one at a time.
Before you call a funeral home
- ☐ Look for written wishes. A will, a letter of instruction, a final-wishes binder, notes on a phone. Wills are often read after the funeral, so look early.
- ☐ Look for a pre-need (pre-paid) funeral contract. Check papers and bank statements for payments to a funeral home.
- ☐ Check for body or organ donation arrangements. Whole-body donation programs often need to be contacted quickly.
- ☐ Confirm who has the legal right to decide. State law usually sets an order (often spouse, then adult children, then parents).
- ☐ Choose one family point person to talk to the funeral home.
Choosing a provider
- ☐ Decide burial, cremation, or another option (green burial, donation).
- ☐ Call at least two funeral homes for prices. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, they must give prices by phone.
- ☐ Ask for the General Price List and compare the same items.
- ☐ Bring your questions to the arrangement meeting (see questions to ask a funeral home).
- ☐ Veteran? Ask about burial benefits and military honors; have the DD-214 ready.
Planning the service
- ☐ Type of gathering: viewing, funeral, graveside, memorial later, celebration of life
- ☐ Date, time, place, officiant or celebrant
- ☐ Readings, music, speakers, pallbearers
- ☐ Livestream for people who can't travel
- ☐ Program / order of service (template)
- ☐ Reception: place and food
- ☐ Charity for donations in lieu of flowers
Telling people
- ☐ Close family and friends first, by phone or text
- ☐ Employer, if the person was working
- ☐ Social media post or group email once service details are known
- ☐ Obituary (how to write one)
After the service
- ☐ Keep the itemized funeral bill and every receipt; funeral costs are often reimbursed from the estate
- ☐ Collect certified death certificates (many families need 10 to 15)
- ☐ Thank-you notes, whenever you're ready (wording examples)
- ☐ Begin the estate paperwork with the executor
The Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack turns this into a printable workbook with a funeral home comparison sheet, budget planner and templates. For the paperwork after the funeral, see the After-Loss Admin Kit.
Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack — $12
17-page workbook with your FTC Funeral Rule rights, funeral home comparison, budget planner, 6 obituary templates, eulogy outline and program template. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Funeral Planning & Obituary PackFamily Paperwork Bundle — $34More guides
- How To Write an Obituary: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide (With Template)
- Obituary Examples: Short, Traditional and Celebration-of-Life Wording
- What Not To Put in an Obituary (Protect Your Family From Scams)
- How To Write a Eulogy: A Simple 4-Part Outline (With Prompts)
- The FTC Funeral Rule: Your Rights When Arranging a Funeral
- How Much Does a Funeral Cost? 2023 Median Prices and How To Budget
- Questions To Ask a Funeral Home Before You Sign Anything
- Funeral Program Template: A Simple Order of Service
- Funeral Thank-You Note Wording: Short Examples for Every Situation