Page 24 - McCourt & Trudden Funeral Guide Final
P. 24

series of events, culminating with the                   and witnessed in accordance with Public
         final disposition of burial, entombment                  Health Laws, will fulfill the wishes and will
         or cremation. The funeral director’s                     coordinate with the funeral director the
         responsibility of properly filing the death              arrangements set forth in the document.
         certificate in order to receive permission               The person signing the contract becomes
         for final disposition is the first step which            responsible for the payment of the funeral
         allows the family to begin the process                   services performed.
         of  settling  estate matters.  The director
         will advise the family as to the number                  What should I be prepared to provide
         of certified death certificates needed to                when going to the funeral home to
         begin the process, as well as advising                   make arrangements?
         them on potential issues to be addressed                 When making at-need or pre-need
         shortly after the final disposition. A                   arrangements, the family will need to
         growing number of funeral directors are                  provide information required for the
         trained as grief counselors and continue                 death certificate. This information,
         even  after  the  funeral  to  help  along  in           referred to as vital statistics consists of
         the bereavement process.                                 the following:

                                                                  •  Deceased’s legal name
         Who can make funeral arrangements?                       •  Legal address
         In most cases it is the closest next of                  •  Social security number
         kin  making  the  arrangements.  On  other               •  Both parents’ names (including
         occasions, the executor or executrix of                      mother’s maiden name)
         a will is responsible. An agent having                   •  Date of birth
         been appointed by the deceased will                      •  Place of birth
         supersede all others and make the funeral                •  Level of education
         arrangements. The agent, having been                     •  If served in the military: years of
         instructed by the deceased, in the form of                   service and a copy of the discharge
         a legal document signed by the deceased                      papers DD214
                                                                  •  Employment history, position held,
                                                                      nature of industry and place of


      Page 24 - McCourt and Trudden Funeral Home
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