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Funerals: What To Do At This Stressful Time
Arranging a funeral while grieving is hard. You may have only a few days to make many decisions, and some of them involve significant money. Knowing the basic steps ahead of time can help you act calmly and avoid regrets.
Immediate steps
- Obtain a legal pronouncement of death if the person died at home without hospice care. Hospitals and hospice staff generally handle this.
- Notify close family and the person's clergy or spiritual adviser.
- Look for any written wishes, prepaid funeral contracts or burial plot documents.
- Contact a funeral home to arrange transport and begin planning.
Decisions you will face
- Burial or cremation, and where.
- Type of service: traditional, memorial, graveside or private gathering.
- Casket, urn or container, and whether any viewing will be held.
- Obituary, flowers and printed items.
- Cemetery, headstone or marker, if applicable.
Protect yourself on cost
Funeral costs vary widely. Federal rules require funeral homes to give you an itemized price list when you ask in person, and to quote prices by phone. You have the right to choose only the goods and services you want, and generally to buy a casket from another seller. Compare more than one provider if you can, bring a trusted friend to the meeting, and do not feel pressure to buy expensive options to show respect. A simple service can be just as meaningful.
Paperwork to handle
- Order several certified copies of the death certificate. You will need them for banks, insurers, pension plans and government offices.
- Notify the Social Security Administration. A funeral home often reports the death, but confirm. Visit ssa.gov for survivor benefit information.
- Locate the will and contact the named executor and estate attorney.
- Contact life insurance companies and employers about benefits.
- Safeguard the home, mail, vehicles and pets.
Paying for the funeral
Costs are often paid by the estate, a life insurance policy, a prepaid plan or family members. If you pay personally, keep receipts, since reimbursement from the estate may be possible. Funeral expenses are generally not deductible on an individual income tax return, but they may be deductible by the estate in some situations, so talk with the estate's advisers.
Look after yourself
Accept help from friends and relatives, and do not rush major financial decisions in the first weeks. Most can wait until you have had time to grieve.
When you are ready to deal with final tax returns, the estate and benefits, our office is available to help.
This article is general information, not tax, legal or investment advice for your specific situation.