How to Cope with the Loss of a Loved One to Suicide
Losing someone to suicide is a shocking, emotionally turbulent experience.
Those dealing with the loss of a loved one to suicide will undoubtedly...
Losing a loved one is already a stressful time, and it’s up to the surviving family members to make final arrangements—on top of dealing with grief.
When it comes to planning a funeral, it’s difficult to consider where to even begin, especially while experiencing a wide range of emotions. While there’s no easy way to begin planning final arrangements, knowing what documents you’ll need can help you ease the burden and follow your loved one’s final wishes.
Below is a list of documents you’ll need to collect—take note that some documents might not apply to your loved one.
You’ll need to find or request a copy of your loved one’s original birth certificate and Social Security card. If you can’t find the original certificate, you can order one in Ohio here. If you do not have documents, please be able to verify Social Security number and birth certificate information.
You’ll need copies of marriage and/or divorce records, with any amendments, in order to process your loved one’s financials. If you can’t locate the original certificates, you’ll have to contact the Bureau of Vital Statics office in the state where the marriage or divorce took place.
Find out if your loved one purchased a cemetery plot before passing and locate the proof of ownership. Your funeral director can call the cemetery for information regarding ownership. This will ensure your loved one is laid to rest in the location of their choice. If a monument of headstone has already been purchased the funeral home can help you complete the engraving or assist in purchasing a new headstone.
If your loved one documented their final wishes by preplanning, you’ll want to bring any applicable paperwork or policies. The funeral home where they preplanned will also have this information on file. Prearrangement documents will include important information about your loved one’s final wishes, like their preference on final disposition (burial or cremation), their final resting place (a cemetery, scattering location, etc.) service preferences (funeral, memorial, gathering) and more.
In addition to or in place of preplanning arrangements, locate an appointment of representation form. This document defines who has legal authority to plan final arrangements and what funds they should use to do so.
The funeral director will help you obtain claim forms from your loved one’s insurance agent or the company’s website. If you’re unsure if your loved one had any insurance policies, find out by checking old bills and mail, conducting an online search or calling the Insurance Commissioner in your state. This applies to life insurance policies, as well.
>>>Related resource: Does Life Insurance Cover Funeral Costs?
If your loved one served in the military, you’ll need a copy of their discharge certificate, also known as DD-214, in order to attain veteran benefits. In addition, in some cases, you can receive financial assistance for the funeral or other financial benefits, but in order to do so, the funeral home will have to notify the Veterans Administration and supply a number of documents.
If you’d like to include an obituary in your local newspaper or personalize services with photos, bring photos of your loved one, as well as a description and list of names of relatives.
>>>Related resource: How to Write An Obituary for a Loved One in Three Steps
In order to obtain a death certificate, you’ll need to fill out a blank copy of an Ohio death certificate, which your funeral director will help you fill out. Information you’ll need to fill out the certificate include:
Once the death certificate is filled out, you’ll give it to your funeral or cremation provider, who will coordinate with a certified physician to complete the “cause of death” section. Once signed by the certifying physician the funeral home will file with the local health department. Your funeral director will help you determine how many certified copies you will need.
>>> We offer an in-depth look a filling out a death certificate in this resource.
The following list includes additional documents that are helpful in the coming days and weeks after a death. While these are not always necessary to plan final arrangements, many of these will come in handy as you organize your loved one’s estate, notify financial institutions and begin to sort through their belongings.
Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult, and the stress of planning a funeral can easily magnify that grief for you and other family members. But there is a way you can organize these types of documents for your loved ones and also put your final wishes in writing, long before you pass.
Preplanning your or a loved one’s funeral in advance can provide peace of mind during those tough times. Download our Seniors’ Guide to Funeral Arrangements to help ensure your final wishes be met and ease the burden of funeral planning for your loved ones.
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