It's a common enough experience; a loved one dies and now you've got to face something you may have never done before; making their funeral arrangements. Now not only are you emotionally affected by their death, but you're also anxious and need to know what to expect when you arrive.
We will do everything we can to make the experience as easy as possible. And it won't take as long as you think.
When it comes to properly completing the necessary paperwork for Vital Statistics and writing a detailed obituary, accuracy is everything.
You'll need to bring as much of the following as you can:
If you're unable to provide any of this information, you can always call us later to provide whatever is missing.
Creating a meaningful Funeral Event to share the stories of your loved one is at the heart of what you'll be doing when we meet.
So to make it easier, we ask that you bring:
How long does this take? Usually about an hour, depending on the type of Funeral Event we are creating.
People cry at many events that celebrate and stir emotions - weddings, baptisms and anniversaries, to name a few. The same happens at a funeral.
People laugh at funeral events too. Dr. Seuss said, “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”
Our lives are filled with so much. Laughter and joy are part of our stories.
Standing up and giving a round of applause for a life well lived can be a wonderful tribute too.
The funeral event is over, and things have begun to grow quiet. Maybe the phone isn't ringing as much as it was, or fewer people are stopping by to check in on you. Your loved one's death continues to become more of a reality. And the very thought of facing your life over the next few weeks and months may fill you with loneliness and a sense of dread. It all feels like way too much to deal with.
It's okay to take care of yourself first:
As time goes by, a "New Normal" will slowly appear.
You also need to spend time focused on completing the paperwork that will officially change the status of your loved one with banks and creditors, employers, insurance companies, and mortgage holders, etc. It is a slow and perhaps challenging process, so try to be patient and seek expert advice if you need it.
It's time to get organized. Locate and safeguard as many of the documents listed below. It might be easier to put each into a designated set of file folders and keep them within easy reach:
Visit the Community Legal Education Association website for an Executor's Checklist.
Or here's a shortlist of some things you need to do:
Just call. We'll do our best to help you.