What To Do When Someone Dies
Step 1: Initial Contact & Care
When someone has passed away loved ones have options when selecting a funeral home.
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Call the funeral home you made preneed arrangements with.
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Have the hospital recommend a funeral home.
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Have family members shop around.
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CONTACT Mourning Thymes
Once a funeral home is selected a funeral director will set up a time to discuss final arrangements, prices, and details. They will also collect vital statistics regarding your loved one. Prior to arrangements the funeral home will have your loved one transported into their care, have a family sign a release form and ask if the family would like embalming.
Step 2: Plan A Beautiful Service
Plan a service that honors the life of your loved one and is cost-effective. Work with the funeral director to plan a beautiful and personalized service.
Step 3: Ongoing Support
Mourning Thymes provides resources to help guide and support you after the service is complete.
Planning Your Own Service
Mourning Thymes will refer funeral homes and community resources that provide excellent and professional care.
Leaving no instructions can make it difficult for the people arranging your funeral, who may wonder what you would have wanted. The best kind of funeral plan is a simple framework allowing the people arranging and attending the funeral to do whatever they need to do. In most cases, you don’t need to plan every detail, but a simple outline of the kind of thing you’d like.
Remember - A good funeral is created with the belief that funerals honor the person who has died but is for the benefit of the living.
Who is Legally in Charge When Someone Dies?
While some states make provisions for a designated agent to oversee funeral details, it must be in writing prior to the death to be legal. In some states, the designated agent is at the top of this list. Otherwise, the next-of-kin is responsible for custody and control of the body of a loved one after death. These are the most widely accepted:
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Spouse
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Children (varies; in no particular order, or by majority)
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Parents
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Siblings
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Grandchildren
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Grandparents
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Nieces/Nephews
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Aunts/Uncles
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Great Grandchildren
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Great Grandparents
What Paperwork Must Be Filed?
Medical authorities (attending physician, medical examiner, hospice nurse) are responsible for initiating the death certificate. This may include a qualified medical authority who certifies the time of death on the medical portion of the death certificate.
The demographic portion may be completed by the next-of-kin or designated agent and filed at Vital Records or County.
Certified copies of the death certificate will be needed for Social Security, veteran’s benefits, banks, insurance, credit cards, credit report companies, and other purposes.
Burial Transit Permit is received in order to proceed with any service and transfer of loved ones.
FUNERALS FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN
Most hospitals and some funeral directors will arrange a simple funeral for no charge. Support is available from the county or grants are provided by community foundations or organizations. Please email Mourning Thymes for resources, and links to be emailed your way!