None of us will ever truly comprehend death, but you can count on the finality that death will affect all of us. The goal of this book and funeral arranging in general, is to make this process a healthier, less stressful and confusing time. This book can provide information that will help you navigate through the processes that occur after a death. Some things you may know and others may be things you have no idea about. Knowledge and understanding can make any situation easier.

What You Need To Know Didn't Know Or Were Afraid To Ask

About Funeral Arrangements, Preplanning, and the Process That Occurs After A DeathBy Sharon Mitchell

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Sharon Mitchell
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4567-4089-4

Chapter One

The Place of Death

The things you need to do when the death occurs will depend on where the death takes place. If it is at a hospital, nursing home, under hospice care, or at another facility, the staff there can help you. You just need to let them know who your funeral home of choice is. If you have not decided, then you have some options before you decide. You can let the deceased be taken to the morgue at the facility if they have one, or have them call a funeral home and have the deceased taken to their facility until you decide on a funeral home you wish to use.

If the death was an accident, or a death that occurred when the person was alone, or if there are suspicious circumstances, the procedures are a bit different. You will need to call the police department or the local law enforcement agency in the area. A Justice of The Peace (a judge) will need to be advised of the death. Usually the police officers will handle this and they will know the jurisdiction and which judge to call. It will be at the discretion of the judge as to whether or not an autopsy will be ordered. If there is to be an autopsy, the judge will decide to which medical examiners office the body will be transported. You will then have time to decide whom you wish the body to be released to after the autopsy has been done. I will take at least 24 hours or more for this to occur depending on the workload and schedule at the coroner or medical examiners office.

If an autopsy is not ordered then the judge will grant permission to have the body removed from the scene of the death. The body will then be moved to a funeral home of the judge's discretion to be held until the family is notified of the death Then the family can make the decision of where they wish the body to be taken. You DO NOT have to use the funeral home the body was taken. If you do not want to use this funeral home, you are not required to do so. It is your choice, if you change funeral home locations or not, it is your choice. It is ok to choose another funeral home.

The place of death will also be one of the deciding factors as to who will sign the death certificate. It may be a physician, a judge, or a medical examiner. It will depend on the circumstances of the death as to which of these individuals will agree to sign the death certificate. The funeral home will take care of this process. This will be explained in detail for you later in the book.

Chapter Two

Choosing a Funeral Home

The funeral home you choose may be an easy decision if there is only one in the area and you know of one you want to use because of convenience or if your family or friends have used their services in the past. If there are multiple funeral homes to use, then you need to know what is important to you when you make the decision of a funeral home.

Do you want a privately owned or family funeral home versus a corporate owned or conglomerate funeral establishment? It is perfectly acceptable to base your choice on prices and each establishment must provide you with their price list which will help you make the right choice for you or your family circumstances. Check to see which offers a better value, best fits the assets available for the funeral expenses or feels like a place you would want to work with and that offers you the services and options you desire. You need to have a comfort level with the funeral home to which you are intrusting your loved one. It is ok to check out your options if you feel up to it or if you have someone to do it for you. You can visit with a director and see facilities before making your ultimate decision with no obligation or charges.

Think about things that will be important to you and your family. Do you want a funeral home that will handle just the usual funeral services? Or, do you want a full service establishment? All will handle the preparation of the body, funeral arrangements, paperwork, and visitation if desired. There are others funeral homes who will have more services such as flowers, catering, help with travel arrangements, hotels and the like. You can ask each place what they offer or you will see the services listed on their price list. These services may be priced separately or they could be included various packaged selections. The packages may group more items at a discounted price. Your choices will be based on the desires of the deceased, your family desires or the financial circumstances involved and how much you wish to be involved.

There is nothing that states you must spend a lot of money for a funeral, cremation or whatever your choice of disposition is. The amount you spend has is not linked in anyway to how much you loved or cared for the deceased. Take time to know what you can afford, what finances you have available to spend, and what the loved one would have wanted. Do not spend money you do not have or cannot get, be realistic. There can be a meaningful and wonderful service for any budget. Just let the funeral director know your constraints and they will help you with decisions and suggestions that will keep you within the guidelines and budget you have in mind as best as they possibly can. There is nothing wrong with stating you only have a certain amount available to work with. Their job is to assist you or advise you on the best way to do this.

Most funeral homes will expect payment prior to the date of the service. There are few, if any at all, that will make payment arrangements for extended periods. Many will accept assignment on insurance policies if they are available, have no loans that would exclude the use of them, and are valid, payable policies. What does this mean? Let's say your policy is for 20 thousand dollars and your funeral expenses are $7, 500. If this policy is verified, they will take assignment on only the amount owed for the funeral expenses. You will sign documents for the insurance company to pay the funeral home the exact amount due them. If there are excess funds from the policy, the check for this balance will be made by the insurance company to the beneficiary of the policy. If the policy was for an amount less than the total charges, you will only be responsible for paying the balance the insurance does not cover to the funeral home before the service date or whatever the deadline for payment is at your funeral home of choice. The funeral home will then file the claim for the insurance to be paid to them. Some charge a fee for this service and some do not.

If you had a preneed plan then the same procedure will occur. The only difference would be that this process would go through the preneed company. The purpose of a prearranged plan will be discussed later in the book if you are not aware of what this is.

Chapter Three

Keeping Policy Information Updated

I want to make some comments to you about the importance of keeping insurance companies updated on changes in you life situation. Where you divorced, remarried, or if the beneficiary of your policy is no longer alive, let the insurance company know who the new beneficiary is. I know you are probably saying it does not matter because I have listed a contingent beneficiary. This detail will make a difference to your family or whoever makes your...