When You Call the Funeral Home

When you're considering cremation and a death has occurred or is imminent, you'll probably be talking to a funeral director. Here are some of the questions you'll be asked on your first phone call:

what is the name of the person you're calling about?
how are you related to the person?
what type of services are you going to have?
are you the person authorized to handle the arrangements?
where is the person - hospital, nursing home, hospice house, at home?
what day or time can you meet or talk to further discuss other items?

This is also the time for you to ask questions. Anything that you've been wondering about or anything you need to know that will give you peace - ask.

man making a phone call to a funeral home

Information You'll Need for Legal Documents

A lot of questions will be asked about the deceased's life. This information is required for the death certificate, which is a legal document. It's important to have this information accurate because once the death certificate is filed with the appropriate governmental department, it's hard to get it changed and there's usually a charge It may involve asking other family members who may know the answers you don't.

All of this information is about the person who died -

full legal name
maiden name or last name at birth
any aliases or names that are AKA , the person was Also Known As
current address
social security number
date of birth
place of birth - city and state
occupation - some states will not accept "retired" but require the occupation before retirement
type of business where he/she worked
name of employer
highest level of education completed
father's name - city and state of birth
mother's name, mother's maiden name or last name at birth - city and state of birth
name and address of the informant, usually the next of kin
informant's relationship to the deceased

Documents that will require your signature

These will include at the least the following and may be more depending on the laws in the state where the person died -

a form that contains all the information above to certify that all of it is accurate and also spelled correctly. This is because it will be on a legal document, the death certificate. It's difficult to change information on a death certificate after it's been filed with the governmental agencies.
an authorization for the cremation to take place
a designation of who is authorized to receive or pick up the cremated remains (ashes)
an itemization of the prices for the services you choose
a receipt that you have received the ashes when applicable