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When You Meet with the Funeral Home
Within the first 24 hours of your loved one’s death, you will need to meet with a funeral home or cremation service to begin the final arrangements. The following information will help you prepare for what is often called “the arrangement conference.”
Without a doubt, this is a difficult time for you and your loved ones. Yet, it’s comforting to know every member of the funeral home staff will be there to do their utmost to make this difficult time a little bit easier. Charles F. Castiglia will guide you in making all the necessary decisions.
Who Will Go With You?
Perhaps you’d like another member of the family to come along with you. Or maybe you’d rather have a friend, or close neighbor join you in the first visit to the funeral home. While it’s not necessary to bring someone with you for moral support, it can be very beneficial.
Please don’t hesitate to ask someone to join you. Chances are they will be honored at your request, and gladly step up to help you during this time.
Who Will Make The Decisions?
It’s important to know exactly who is legally responsible for making the final decisions for a loved one. If the deceased has not expressed their wishes through a written document such as a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, or a Last Will and Testament, where the deceased has designated an agent to fulfill their wishes; then the chain of command is commonly as follows:
- Legal Spouse/Partner
- Surviving Adult Child/Children
- Surviving Parent
- Surviving Adult Sibling
- Ex-Spouse
- Parent of Minor Child
The person designated as the responsible party, whoever they may be, needs to be present to make decisions, and sign documents. If you have questions about the accepted kinship-related order of precedence, or are unclear as to who is the responsible person in funeral planning, call us.
Have You Gathered the Necessary Documents?
Life and death are full of legalities. When a loved one dies, it is not just an emotional matter for those left behind; it is a legal one which requires the timely completion of paperwork. Charles F. Castiglia will tell you that the first step in caring for your loved one involves completing, and filing, the Death Certificate and Burial or Cremation permit.
These documents need to be completed as accurately as possible and if you are not prepared with the necessary information, then most of your initial meeting will be spent retrieving this information.
To assist the funeral home in preparing all the necessary documents, it’s helpful to bring some of the following things with you:
- Deceased's Birth Certificate
- Deceased's Marriage Certificate
- Deceased's Military Discharge papers
- Deceased's Funeral pre-arrangements documents (if available)
- Deceased Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
- Last Will and Testament and any Codicils
- Revocable Living Trust
If you have questions about the legal documents you should bring with you, please contact us at (716) 824-6435.