Here to support you

Following Loss

After a loved one’s passing, many decisions must be made. Emotions can run high, so seeking help with arrangements is wise. Funeral home staff are ready to assist and guide your family through the process.

Red-carpeted hotel hallway with chairs, wall art, and chandeliers leading to a room in the distance
A person is typing on a laptop computer while holding a cell phone.

Contact The Proper Authorities

Before any arrangements and decisions can be made, a legal pronouncement of death must be declared. If your loved one dies inside of a medical or nursing facility like a hospital or nursing home, the staff will handle getting this declaration made. If your loved one dies at home, you need to immediately contact the local emergency officials to come and take them to a hospital where they can be legally declared dead. Family members who die under hospice care can be declared dead by the hospice staff. This legal declaration must be made before the family can proceed with making any funeral arrangements or handling any legal affairs.

Begin To Make Arrangements

Once your loved one has been declared dead, you and your family can begin making funeral arrangements. If they made prearrangements, review those wishes first. If no arrangements were made, contact the funeral home you have chosen to meet with a funeral director and discuss your options.


If your loved one’s final wishes are unknown, the family will need to decide between burial or cremation and determine what type of service to hold. This may include choosing the date, time, and location, selecting a casket or urn, preparing an obituary, choosing pallbearers, and deciding on the officiant, music, speakers, and other service details.



If your loved one was an active or retired member of the military, contact the Veterans Administration to learn about available benefits and service options.

A person is typing on a laptop computer while sitting at a table.

Information Funeral Directors May Need

Once you have met the funeral director, they will advise you on any information or paperwork they need for the death certificate or to proceed with making final arrangements.


Information Required:

  • Full name and address
  • Marital status
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Date and city of birth
  • Highest level of education
  • Father’s name, mother’s maiden name
  • Name of spouse
  • Occupation and employer

Documents Funeral Directors May Need

Funeral directors will need important documents to complete any legal paperwork. These documents include:

  • Account statements
  • Beneficiary designations
  • Life insurance policies
  • Military discharge papers (form DD 214)
  • Social Security number

Taking Care Of Personal Property

Following the death of your loved one, there are few things you need to attend to involving the deceased’s personal life. First, secure your loved one’s property. Make sure their home and vehicle are properly secure. If your loved one has a pet, make the necessary arrangements for the pet to be taken care of by family or friends. Any mail that comes to your loved one should be forwarded to a family member that plans to handle the deceased’s estate. Any mail that piles up at a vacant home only alarms potential intruders that a home is empty. Make sure to contact the deceased’s boss and inform them of the death. If your loved one had any upcoming appointments, make contact to notify them about the death and to cancel the appointment.