Afterly

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1. Notify the authorities that a death has occurred. If you're not in a hospital or with hospice care at the time of the death, call 911 immediately so that the death can be legally pronounced. If your loved one is in a hospital or under hospice care, this task generally falls to the medical caretakers.

2. Call the AFTERLY provider nearest you to arrange for transportation of your loved one. We arrange transportation with no obligation to use our funeral services. Will there be an autopsy or organ donation before a mortuary or crematorium takes your loved one into its care?

3. Notify family and close friends of the death. You may wish to ask some of these people to inform others.

4. Arrange for a caretaker for children, elderly parents and pets. (This is a good task to delegate to someone you trust.)

5. Notify your loved one’s employer, if he or she was still working. Ask about remaining pay, life insurance, benefits or any other work-related details you may need to know.

6. Locate the will and any pre-planned funeral arrangements.

7. Select a planner to begin the process of arranging a celebration of life, funeral, memorial service, burial or cremation.

1. Pre-planned funeral arrangements or documents where your loved one has recorded final wishes or intentions.

2. Clothing, including undergarments (we have clothing that you may purchase, if you prefer).

3. Eyeglasses and jewelry (these items may remain with your loved one or be removed and returned after the service).

4. A recent photograph (we will use this for cosmetic purposes).

5. Military discharge papers for a veteran, if applicable.

6. Social Security number.

7. Life insurance policies.

8. Names and contact information for six to eight pallbearers, if applicable.

9. A collection of photos that can be used to create an AFTERLY Memorial® Internet archive and a multimedia scrapbook.

Please bring these completed checklists to your arrangement meeting, and we can help you with the rest of the details, including funeral or memorial plans; filing for Social Security, Veterans Administration and life insurance benefits; and even ordering the perfect flowers or mementos to honor your loved one.

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Our goal is to ease the burden for you and your family in what may be one of the most difficult times of life. We're here to answer questions, offer options and provide support before, during and after the service. If you have lost a loved one, talk to a AFTERLY provider.

1. Designate a main point of contact, or executor. This might be you or someone else, but whoever it is should also have a friend or family member who can be nearby and help with important decisions and more.

2. Gather any documents specifying pre-planned or pre-paid funeral arrangements, and obtain the personal information you need for an obituary and death certificate.

3. Contact any military affiliations of your loved one to determine whether burial benefits or specific funeral plans and services are available. If your loved one was a veteran, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at benefits.va.gov/benefits or call 800-827-1000 to explore options for veterans. Your AFTERLY provider can also inform you of these benefits or help you get the right information.

4. Start an obituary. Your funeral planer can help you write an obituary, or you may choose to write it yourself. Have at least one person proofread the obituary before it is submitted for publication.

​Get multiple copies of the death certificate. The executor and funeral planner will need to contact the following agencies, most of which will request at least one copy of the death certificate:

• Social Security (800-772-1213; socialsecurity.gov) to discuss ceasing benefits, obtaining survivor benefits and Medicare. Veterans Affairs may also be necessary for the cessation of benefits (800-827-1000; va.gov).

• Health, life, homeowner, automobile and other insurance companies to cease or transfer benefits.

• Utility companies to change or stop services.

• Employer for pension plans or employment benefits; each separate claim will require a separate copy of the death certificate.

• Probate attorney for asset, trust and estate inventory.

• Tax preparer to determine if an estate tax return or final income tax returns should be filed.

• State department of motor vehicle services to cancel driver’s license.

• Bank for safe deposits and remaining accounts; you may be advised to open a new account for the estate.

• Deliver the will to the appropriate office for probate.

• Notify the post office of the death and the location to which mail should be forwarded. (Going through your loved one’s mail can help you become aware of bills, subscriptions or other accounts or services that should be canceled.)

• Notify the police if your loved one left behind a house that will sit vacant, so that they can periodically monitor the home against suspicious activity.