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and restorative procedures required                       supersede all others and make the funeral
       by a funeral home, for traditional open                   arrangements. The agent, having been
       casket viewing by family and friends.                     instructed by the deceased, in the form of
       They arrange and provide an orderly                       a legal document signed by the deceased
       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
                                                                 •  Level of education
                                                                 •  If served in the military: years of


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