Short answer: This funeral planning checklist walks you through each decision in order: the type of arrangement, the service, the people involved, the money and the paperwork. Print the page, fill in the worksheet at the end, and share it with someone you trust so your wishes are easy to find.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Rules vary by state; confirm details with a licensed professional.
How to use this checklist
Work through it at your own pace. You do not have to finish in one sitting, and nothing here requires you to buy anything. To save a copy, use your browser's print option and choose "Save as PDF" for a funeral planning worksheet PDF you can keep.
If you are planning for yourself, the goal is to write things down and tell someone. If you are arranging for a loved one who has passed, go straight to the timeframe list below and use the worksheet to keep track of calls and decisions.
A few practical tips make the worksheet more useful. Use pencil or a fresh printout so you can change your mind. Write phone numbers in full, with area codes. Note anything you are unsure about instead of leaving it blank, so the person reading it knows where you hesitated. Review it once a year, and again after a move, a marriage or a change in health.
Planning is not prepaying
Recording your wishes is free. Prepaying is a separate financial decision. Our pre-planning page explains the difference and what to ask before you sign anything.
Checklist by timeframe
Use this version if you are in the first days after a loved one passes, or if you want to see the order of events.
In the first 24 hours:
- Make sure the death has been pronounced and a death certificate will be issuedHospice, hospital or the medical examiner usually handles this.
- Notify close family and the person's doctor or hospice
- Arrange care of children, pets and the home
- Locate any written wishes, pre-plan documents or a will
- Choose a provider to transfer the person into careYou can compare prices before you commit.
In the first week:
- Decide on burial, cremation or another option
- Request the General Price List from each provider and compare itemized totals
- Set the date, place and style of a service or memorial
- Order certified death certificatesMany accounts and agencies ask for originals.
- Write or approve an obituary
- Ask about veterans benefits if the person servedLook for military discharge papers.
In the first month:
- Notify Social Security, employers, insurers and banks
- Locate and secure the will, accounts and passwords
- Decide what to do with ashes, if cremation was chosen
- Send thank-you notes and review costs
- Follow the full steps in our after-life checklist
Checklist by decision
Use this version if you are planning ahead and want to settle one topic at a time.
Disposition:
- Burial, cremation, green burial, body donation or another option
- Cemetery plot, niche or place for ashes, if any
- Whether you want a casket, a simple container or an urn
Service:
- Funeral, memorial, graveside, private gathering or none
- Place, timing and who should lead
- Music, readings, photos and flowers
- Open or closed viewing, if any
People:
- The person who will make decisions, and a back-up
- Pallbearers, speakers and readers
- People who should be told first, with phone numbers
Money:
- Budget range you are comfortable with
- How the cost will be paid, and who has access to the funds
- Any prepaid plan, trust or insurance policy, and where the paperwork is
Paperwork:
- Will and any advance directive
- Birth certificate, marriage certificate and Social Security number
- Military discharge papers
- List of accounts, subscriptions and passwords, stored securely
Funeral planning worksheet
Print this table and fill in the right-hand column. Keep the completed copy somewhere safe and tell at least two people where it is.
| Topic | My choice or notes |
|---|---|
| Full name and date of birth | |
| Burial, cremation or other | |
| Preferred provider or cemetery | |
| Type of service and place | |
| Music and readings | |
| Flowers or donations in lieu | |
| Person who will make decisions | |
| Back-up decision-maker | |
| People to notify, with phone numbers | |
| Where ashes will go, if cremated | |
| Budget range | |
| How it will be paid | |
| Location of will and documents | |
| Veteran status and discharge papers | |
| Obituary notes and photos |
Tools to help you fill it in
You do not have to work through the worksheet alone. Our free tools can help you think through choices and put them in writing.
- AI planning consultant
Talk through your wishes and get a draft plan.
- Funeral planner
Build a personalized plan, step by step.
- After-life checklist
What to do after a loved one passes, in order.
- Pre-planning explained
Plan only, or plan and prepay.
- Cost estimator
See typical ranges for your area.
If you want to compare prices from licensed providers, you can request itemized quotes at no cost.
Related services
- Funeral pre-planning: plan ahead without pressurePre-planning records your wishes; prepaying pays in advance. Learn the difference, the questions to ask before you sign, and a simple checklist to get started.See this service →
- Traditional funeral services: steps, choices and costsHow a traditional funeral works: visitation, service, procession and burial. What is optional, what drives cost, and your rights when buying a casket.See this service →
- Cremation services: options, process and costHow cremation works, cremation cost, how direct cremation differs from cremation with a service, what prices include, and your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule.See this service →
- Memorial services and celebrations of lifeA memorial service honors someone without the body present. Learn about timing, venues, formats, what it costs to host one and how to plan it calmly.See this service →
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a funeral planning checklist?
A good checklist covers the type of arrangement, the service, the people involved, the money and the paperwork. It should also list who to notify and where documents are kept.
Is there a funeral planning worksheet PDF I can print?
Yes. Use your browser's print option on this page and choose Save as PDF or print it on paper. The worksheet table is designed to be filled in by hand.
Where should I keep a funeral planning template once it is filled in?
Keep it somewhere safe and easy to find, and tell at least two trusted people where it is. A plan that no one can find does not help your family.
What is the first thing to do when planning a funeral?
Find any written wishes or pre-plan documents, then decide between burial, cremation or another option. Compare itemized prices from licensed providers before you commit.
Do I have to buy anything to use a funeral planning guide?
No. Writing down your wishes costs nothing. Prepaying is a separate decision, and you can plan without doing it.
How early should I start funeral planning?
Any time is fine, and earlier is easier because you can decide without pressure. Revisit the plan after major life changes, such as a move or a change in family.
What is funeral pre-planning and why do it?
Funeral pre-planning means recording your wishes and, if you choose, making arrangements and payments ahead of time. It spares your family from making many decisions while grieving, and it lets you compare prices calmly. You can write your wishes without paying anything, or purchase a pre-need contract with a provider. There is no right age to begin, and a plan can be changed whenever your wishes or circumstances change. What to do: start by writing down the type of service you want, any music, readings, or people to notify, and where important documents are, then share a copy with your family.
How do I write down my funeral wishes?
Writing down your funeral wishes is simple, and it helps your family act with confidence. Include whether you prefer burial or cremation, the type of service, any songs or readings, who should speak, and where you would like your remains placed. Add a few lines on budget and any people you want notified. A written note is usually not legally binding in every state, so consider also naming a trusted person. What to do: write it in plain language, sign and date it, keep copies with your family, and review it every few years.
Who should I tell about my funeral wishes?
Tell the people most likely to carry them out, such as your spouse, adult children, a close friend, or the person named to make decisions. Share where the written plan is kept and any contract details. It also helps to tell your doctor, attorney, or clergy if relevant. Avoid keeping the plan only in a safe deposit box or locked file that no one can open quickly. What to do: have a calm conversation with two or three trusted people, give each a copy of your plan, and update them whenever your wishes or contracts change.
Does an advance directive cover funeral wishes?
Usually not, because an advance directive covers medical care while you are alive, not funeral arrangements. A living will and a health care power of attorney guide decisions about treatment if you cannot speak for yourself. Funeral wishes are generally recorded in a separate document, and some states allow you to name a person to control the disposition of your remains. Rules vary by state. What to do: complete your advance directive with your doctor or attorney, write your funeral wishes separately, and make sure the same trusted people know where both documents are.
What should I look for in a pre-need funeral contract?
A pre-need contract is an agreement to buy funeral goods and services in advance, and it is worth reading closely before you sign. Check what exactly is covered, whether prices are locked in, what happens to the money, and whether the contract can be cancelled or refunded. State laws about how the funds are protected vary. Ask whether the contract is revocable or irrevocable. What to ask: ask for a copy to take home, ask what happens if the provider closes or you move, and consider having a trusted advisor or attorney review it.
What happens to a prepaid funeral plan if I move?
Whether a prepaid funeral plan can follow you depends on the contract and the provider, so check before you move. Some plans are portable and the funds can be transferred to a new provider, while others are tied to a single funeral home. A cancellation or transfer fee may apply, and rules vary by state. Keep the paperwork where your family can find it. What to ask: ask the provider whether the contract is transferable, what fees apply, whether you can receive a refund, and how the funds would be sent to a different funeral home.
Related searches
Compare itemized prices from local providers
When you are ready to compare prices, tell us a few details and we will try to match you with licensed providers who quote itemized totals. We are a free referral resource, not a funeral home.