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the coroner/medical examiner will take when you are in a heightened emotional
the body and determine whether further state, but funeral home staff have years
action is necessary. The coroner/ medical of experience dealing with these issues,
examiner must release the body before and strive to ensure everything goes as
a funeral home can do anything. If the smoothly as possible.
person was under hospice care, contact
the hospice representative if they were Making arrangements
not present and they will notify family First the funeral director will gather
members what the proper procedures are information required for the death
to follow. certificate. This includes:
When a death occurs at a hospital/ • Full Name and Address
nursing home/hospice facility • Marital Status
The staff of a care facility such as a hospital • Race/Ethnicity
or a nursing home will notify you and the • Date and City of Birth
necessary authorities immediately after a • Highest Level of Education
death has occurred. If a funeral home has • Father’s Name, Mother’s Name
been provided by the hospital or nursing (including maiden name)
home, they will be notified at the time of • Name of Spouse (if married or
death. If you are present at the hospital widowed)
when the funeral director arrives, they may • Occupation and Employer
ask a few questions about the deceased’s
wishes and set up a time to come into The funeral director will also need
the funeral home to make arrangements. pertinent documents required to do all
However, if you are not present a funeral the legal paperwork, these documents
director will contact you by telephone to include:
discuss these arrangements.
• Account Statements
Informing a funeral director • Beneficiary Designations
Once everything has been cleared with • Life Insurance Policies
the proper authorities, the next call you • Real Estate Deeds
place should be to a licensed funeral • Car and Boat Deeds
director. Funeral directors are here to help • Stock and Bond Certificates
you obtain a death certificate, transport • Pre-Nuptial Agreements
the body, and in the event pre-planning • Post-Nuptial Agreements
was not done, select a casket/urn and • Loans and Leases
arrange the funeral/memorial service. The • Copies of Bills (Hydro, Cable, Phone
funeral director will also help you notify etc.)
the employer and insurance company • Last Will
of the deceased to assist with those • Tax Returns
arrangements. Funeral directors are here
to help and advise you and will work very If no pre-planning has been done,
hard to relieve the stress and logistics necessary arrangements need to be made
involved in funeral planning. for the funeral service. These include:
Meeting a funeral director • Scheduling the location, date and
You should meet with a funeral director time of the visitation and funeral
within 24 hours of a death to begin to make service
final arrangements for your loved one. • Selecting burial or cremation
Deciding on these final arrangements may • Choosing funeral products
seem like a very daunting task, especially • Arranging a cemetery plot
Butler-Hughes Funeral Home, Inc. - Page 13
