Losing a loved one is a difficult time for any individual. The affected individual’s emotions are raw, and there is so much to organize and so little time to do everything. Funeral services are professionals with many years of experience in dealing with death preparation and care. That’s why you need to rely on a reputable and experienced funeral service in the area when you have lost a loved one. This article provides information on the benefits of working with a professional when you have lost a loved one.
The first thing you need to do is to report the death of your loved one to the relevant authorities. This will begin the death certification process that will be jointly handled by a healthcare provider, coroner, and a funeral director. You need multiple copies of the death certificate for various tasks after the death of your loved one. For example, the death certificate is needed for numerous tasks involved in disposing of the body of the deceased, terminating bank accounts and insurance policies, and settling the estate. Make sure you withdraw money from the bank – if needed for funeral expenses – before you inform the death of your loved one because his/her accounts will be immediately frozen as soon as the bank is notified of the death.
If you lost the loved one in a hospital or nursing home, they will direct you through the proper steps to get the death certificate. If the loved one was in your home at the time of his or her demise, you can call an ambulance or the police. You should also get in touch with a reputable funeral home in the area to proceed with the body of the deceased.
A funeral director will assist you to complete the death certificate and transport the body to the funeral home to do the needful. If the body is in a hospital or nursing home, they will require removing the body within a few hours after death. You should be prepared to answer two questions when handling over the body of the deceased to a funeral service in the area.
- What type of funeral service do you plan to have for the deceased member of your family?
- Do you plan to cremate or bury the body?
If the deceased had made funeral plans before his/her death, you can directly work with the particular funeral home. Make sure you check with the funeral director about the payments because you don’t want to be charged twice for the same service. If you require a funeral or memorial service for your loved one, you should inform the funeral director. A funeral service is held before the body is buried or cremated. On the other hand, a memorial service is held after the body is buried or cremated.
Make sure you work with a reputable and experienced funeral service when you have lost a loved one. The aforementioned article provides information on the benefits of working with a professional when you have lost a loved one.