99 Reasons You'll Be Glad You Made Your Final Arrangements in Advance

Bold items indicate details that can be planned, arranged and/or paid before the time of need.

Vital Statistics

1. Full name, complete address, telephone number
2. Date of birth
3. Place of birth
4. Marital status
5. Citizenship (US/Canadian/Mexican)
6. Father's name
7. Father's birthplace
8. Mother's maiden name
9. Mother's birthplace
10. Social Security number
11. Veteran's serial/service number
12. Date & place of service & data of honorable discharge
13. How long at current/former residence(s)
14. Occupation, job title, nature of work & history
15. Location of work place, telephone number
16. Family origin

Pay Some or All of the following

17. Estate /inheritance taxes
18. Funeral expenses
19. Permanent memorialization
20. Monument/marker engraving charges
21. Funeral director
22. Clergy
23. Organist & vocalist
24. Florist
25. Obituary
26. Clothing
27. Long distance telephone service
28. Food
29. Transportation
30. Doctors
31. Nurses
32. Ambulance
33. Hospital/nursing home
34. Medication & drugs
35. Current & urgent bills (mortgage/rent, taxes, installment payments, utility bills etc.)

Collect Documents and Paperwork

36. Will (check regarding special wishes)
37. Birth certificate/legal proof of age
38. Living trust (check regarding special wishes)
39. Citizenship papers
40. Social Security card or number
41. Marriage license
42. Veteran's discharge certificate
43. Insurance policies (fife, health, accident, property, auto, etc.)
44. Disability claims
45. Bank books & listing of accounts
46. Other financial accounts
47. Property deeds
48. Cemetery deed or proof of ownership
49. Auto titles or bill of sale
50. Income tax returns, receipts & canceled checks

Decide and Arrange Within a Few Hours

51. Exact location of interment
52. Location of service
53. Service type (religious, fraternal, military)
54. Time for visitation & funeral service
55. Arrange for special religious service
56. Provide information for eulogy
57. Casket (open or closed)
58. Outer burial container
59. Provide vital statistics about deceased for newspaper(s)
60. Clothing & jewelry for deceased
61. Selection of scripture readings
62. Clergy to officiate
63. Funeral home preference
64. Marking of grave (temporary or permanent)
65. Charitable contributions for memorials in memory of deceased
66. Register book, memorial/prayer cards or folders
67. Select pallbearers
68. Floral arrangements
69. Musical selections
70. Organist/vocalist
71. Clothing for you & minor children
72. Decide who will look after minor children/pets
73. House cleaning
74. Extra chairs
75. Transportation for family & guests, including funeral procession lineup
76. Reviewing & signing all paper work (i.e. burial permit, interment agreement etc.)
77. Answering innumerable phone calls, messages, email, letters & wires
78. Necessary meetings with funeral director, lawyer, clergy, cemetery, etc.
79. Arrange transportation & lodging for out of town guests
80. Acknowledging those who help in a special way (contributors of flowers, food, donations, babysitting, pet sitting,etc.)
81. Order certified copies of death certificate
82. Food for family & guests
83. items for memento display

Plan to Notify As Soon As Possible

84. All relatives
85. All friends
86. Funeral director
87. Pallbearers
88. Cemetery
89. Doctor
90. Employer of deceased
91. Employers of relatives not going to work
92. Organist, other musicians & vocalist
93. Newspapers regarding notices
94. Social Security Administration
95. Veterans Administration
96. Insurance agents
97. Religious, fraternal, civic organizations & unions
98. Attorney, accountant, financial planner & executor of estate
99. Credit card companies