What to Do after Someone Dies
Before and after funerals at funeral homes in Tallahassee, FL, there are many things that need to be done after the death of a loved one. Having a checklist ready will help you get the things accomplished that have to be done right away and long-term. Don’t be hesitant to get your family to help take care of some of these things where legal authority is not an issue.
The first thing that needs to happen after your loved one has died is that they need to be officially pronounced dead. This begins the process of the creation of a certified death certificate (completed jointly by a medical professional and the funeral director), which you’ll need to make life insurance claims, handle financial accounts, and settle the estate.
You should get at least 20 copies of the certified death certificate once it’s completed. The funeral director will take care of completing the death certificate and getting the number of certified copies that you specify.
If your loved died in the hospital, someone on the medical staff there will do the pronouncement of death and mark the time of death. If your loved one was in hospice care at home, then you will need to contact the hospice agency. A hospice medical professional will come and do the pronouncement and mark the time of death.
The next thing you’ll need to do is notify people of your loved one’s death. These first notifications will be to people who need to know. These may include immediate family members who are not present when your loved one died, close friends of your loved one and/or your family, your loved one’s primary care provider, and your loved one’s pastor.
If your loved one was still working, be sure to contact their employer’s Human Resources to notify them of the death and to ask them to cancel any upcoming scheduled events. You may not be in any shape to ask about outstanding pay and benefits that your loved one is entitled to at this point, but be sure to make a note to contact the employer within the next couple of days to inquire about these.
If your loved one has pets or children, you’ll need to ensure that they are all in a safe and comfortable environment immediately following the death.
Most people with children have some sort of legal guardianship documents in place – whether they are aunts, uncles, grandparents, or godparents – in case of death, but the people named in these documents may live elsewhere, so the children will need a safe, temporary home.
If your loved one was in the hospital, the staff will ask you what funeral home should be notified to transport your loved one from the hospital. Once you give them that information, they will contact the funeral home for transport.
If your loved one was in hospice care at home, the hospice medical professional will get the funeral home information from you and arrange for them to come and pick your loved one up.
The next thing will be to make funeral arrangements (usually within 24 hours after the death). The funeral director will guide you through the process and help you as you make decision about the service and the burial.
If you want to know more about funerals at funeral homes in Tallahassee, FL, our compassionate and experienced staff at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations can help. You can come by our funeral home at 20 S. Duval St., Quincy, FL 32351, or you can contact us today at (850) 627-1111.
