Funeral Arrangement Check List For an Unexpected Loss

No one wants to be placed in the position of having to plan a funeral at a moment’s notice.  It is an unfortunate and sensitive circumstance that families and friends endure when a cherished life ends.  When it comes to pre-planning a funeral, having helpful resources can take a lot of the pressure and anxiety away. 

For help and support, scroll down to review a basic check list for arranging a funeral at the last minute, as well as how to pursue legal action if you lost your loved one due to negligence in a wrongful death accident in Indiana.

Wrongful Death Attorney Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700
Wrongful Death Attorney Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Guide to Planning a Loved One’s Funeral

Decide Between Burial or Cremation

Your first step is to decide on your loved one’s final resting place. This includes choosing between burial and cremation. From there, you will be faced with related decisions, such as casket or urn selection, burial plot or memorial location selection, and whether you want to use funeral home services. If you do not wish to use a funeral home, you can take this time to choose a cemetery or memorial location.

Choose a Funeral Home

After writing an obituary, you will need to choose a funeral home to facilitate the rest of the proceedings. Choose a funeral home that has years of experience and well established in their community. If budget is an issue, typically family and locally owned funeral homes are more economically priced and will give you a better over-all deal with the same focused and professional service.

Once you have chosen a funeral home or final resting place, all you have to do is assist the funeral directors in completing the planning process. You will need to choose a casket or urn, flower arrangements, burial location, and figure out a way to inform the rest of the family about the date and time of the funeral service. An accommodating funeral home will assist you with all these decisions and tasks.

Write an Obituary

Get together with family and close friends to collect personal information about the deceased. Typically, people like to include the name, date of birth, birthplace, and the names of the bereaved. This part is decided upon by the family and closest people to the person who has passed. You can make an obituary as original or general as you see fit. Other topics to discuss in an obituary are vocations, the persons’ character, accomplishments, and any other special descriptions. When complete, you will need to submit obituary to appropriate newspaper or publication. Your funeral director can do this step for you if you have chosen to work with one.

Extended Funeral Planning Checklist:

☑ Acquire any last requests relating to funeral arrangements left behind by the deceased.

☑ Choose the resting attire for the deceased (for caskets only).

☑ Select music and literature for service ceremony.

☑ Arrange funeral transportation if necessary (clergy car, limousine, funeral coach, etc.).

☑ Hire an officiator and pallbearers (if needed).

☑ Appoint someone to read the eulogy (or write one on your own).

Are You the Survivor of the Wrongful Death of a Loved One?

Losing a loved one is always a painful experience and loss.  Losing a loved one due to another person’s lack of using reasonable care is exponentially more painful because your loss should not have happened.  If your family has recently experienced a wrongful death, quickly hire a reputable and licensed Indiana wrongful death attorney to represent you. It is very important to outsource professional legal counsel following a wrongful death. Spouses and immediate next of kin may be entitled to a settlement for economic and noneconomic damages like medical expenses, hospital bills, lost wages, loss of love and care, loss of consortium, loss of social security benefits, and more.

Was your loved one wrongfully killed in an accident in Indiana? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Indianapolis IN wrongful death lawyer you can trust. We represent clients throughout the State of Indiana.

Related Posts:

How to Cope With the Planning of a Loved One’s Funeral
Facts About Making a Wrongful Death Claim in Indiana
What is a Loss of Consortium Claim?

Local Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700
Schedule a Free Consultation!

How to Cope With the Planning of a Loved One’s Funeral

Grief and sorrow can be paralyzing after learning of a loved one’s death.  It is never easy when a person close to you has passed away.  On top of dealing with the angst and pain of losing someone that was an intimate part of your life, you have the responsibility of planning their funeral. 

In these circumstances, it is advised to seek out (and let in) as much help and support needed to avoid becoming overwhelmed with anxiety and grief.  A funeral should be a beautiful ceremony that honors your loved one’s life and recognizes the impact they had on our world. With the right coping mechanisms and support system, stress can be minimized in the funeral planning process. 

Continue reading to learn some helpful tips for coping with grief while planning your loved one’s funeral, as well as how to bring about a wrongful death claim if your loved one lost their lives because of another’s negligence.

Wrongful Death Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700
Wrongful Death Lawyers Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Managing Family and Friends

After losing someone, you may feel like you want to hide away and be alone.  The only people it seems you can talk to are the ones closest in your life.  When you have to plan a funeral, this is just not possible.  You must gather up the strength to make and take phone calls, receive people’s condolences, make funeral arrangements, and inform every one of funeral details.  This can all appear exhausting to someone grieving over the loss of a loved one. 

Here are ways to cope through these challenging circumstances:

Begin by contacting the people closest to the person who has passed away.  Be sure to remember that they will also need a chance to express their grief, just as you do.  Although you are still feeling overwhelmed with sadness, try to be there for close family and friends for reciprocal support.

Next, decide on whether the funeral will be small or large.  This all depends on the person’s final wishes, and the funeral budget.  Determine what they would have wanted, but do not stress over the details.  The most important part of the funeral is honoring the person and remembering them, not what color the flowers are and when the reception food will be ready. 

In most cases, you can simply hire a funeral director to handle the small details for you, while you take charge of arranging the dates and attendance list.  Sharing some of the responsibilities with other loved ones is also recommended.

Wrongful Death Claims

If your loved one lost their life because someone else was negligent or careless, the deceased’s dependents and possibly other family members could be entitled to a settlement. Contact a licensed Indiana wrongful death lawyer to learn your eligibility for recovering compensation for damages such as medical expenses, hospital bills, lost wages, loss of social security, disability or employment benefits, pain, suffering, loss of consortium, loss of companionship, and more.

Was your loved one wrongly killed in an accident in Indiana? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for wrongful death personal injury representation in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent clients all throughout the state.

You Should Also Read:

Facts About Indiana Wrongful Death Court Procedures
Do You Suspect Neglect at Your Loved One’s Nursing Home?
What are Future Damages in a Wrongful Death Case?

Local Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700
Schedule a Free Consultation!