Funeral Planning Checklist: Step-by-Step, From the First 24 Hours to the Service

By Susan Jackson · Published 2026-08-17 · Updated 2026-08-17 · 8 min read

A practical funeral planning checklist covering the first 24 hours, the first week, decisions to make, and documents to gather before the service.

Planning a funeral is a mix of urgent logistics and deeply personal decisions, often happening at the same time you're processing a fresh loss. Having a checklist can help you move through the practical steps without having to remember everything from scratch. Use this as a starting point and adapt it to your family's situation.

Within the First 24 Hours

• Get a legal pronouncement of death. If death occurs at home unexpectedly, call 911; if under hospice or a doctor's care, they can typically pronounce death directly.
• Contact a funeral home or cremation provider to arrange transport of the body. If a specific provider was pre-planned, use that one; otherwise, choose one that can respond quickly.
• Notify immediate family members — spouse, children, siblings, parents.
• Locate any pre-arranged funeral plans or instructions, such as a prepaid contract, burial plot deed, or written wishes.
• Secure the home if the deceased lived alone — lock doors, take in mail, arrange for pets to be cared for.

Within the First Few Days

• Choose a funeral home if you haven't already, and schedule a meeting to discuss options (burial vs. cremation, service type, budget).
• Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate — most families need 10 or more for banks, insurance, and other institutions.
• Decide on burial or cremation, if not already specified by the deceased.
• Select a casket or urn, and a cemetery plot or niche if needed.
• Set a date, time, and location for the visitation, funeral or memorial service, and burial/interment.
• Write or finalize the obituary and decide where it will run (newspaper, funeral home website, social media).
• Choose readings, music, and speakers for the service, and ask a few people if they're willing to give a eulogy.
• Notify the deceased's employer, if applicable, and ask about final pay, benefits, or life insurance through work.

Decisions to Make

• Burial vs. cremation (and, if cremation, direct cremation vs. cremation with a service)
• Religious or non-religious service, and any specific rites or traditions to include
• Open or closed casket, if applicable
• Public or private service, and whether to livestream for family who can't attend in person
• Flowers vs. requesting charitable donations
• Pallbearers, if a traditional burial

Documents to Gather

• Certified death certificates (order extra — most institutions require an original)
• The will, if one exists, and any letters testamentary once probate begins
• Life insurance policies
• Social Security card and information (needed to notify the SSA)
• Military discharge papers (DD-214), if the deceased was a veteran and military honors or benefits apply
• Pre-need funeral contract, if one exists
• Deed to a cemetery plot, if previously purchased
• List of accounts, subscriptions, and recurring bills that will eventually need to be closed or transferred

Before the Service

• Confirm final details with the funeral home: time, location, number of expected guests, any special requests (military honors, religious clergy, specific music)
• Prepare remarks if you or a family member is speaking — see our guide on eulogy examples for structure and sample text
• Arrange transportation for close family to and from the service
• Designate someone to greet guests or manage a guest book, if the family wants one
• Plan for a reception or gathering after the service, if desired, including food, location, and who's organizing it

After the Service

• Send thank-you notes to those who sent flowers, donations, or provided significant help, though this can wait a few weeks if needed
• Begin the estate settlement process — this is often a separate, longer timeline than the funeral itself; see our funeral arrangements guide for more on coordinating these steps
• Follow up on any pending bills related to the funeral or medical care
• Take time before making major decisions about the deceased's home, belongings, or finances — most of these don't need to be resolved immediately

A Note on Pacing

It's easy to feel like everything needs to happen at once. In reality, most funeral-related decisions need to be made within the first week, while estate and financial matters can typically unfold over the following weeks and months. Give yourself permission to slow down once the service itself is behind you.

Published by Afterly Plan. This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.