Funeral Planning / Guide
Funeral Planning · Instant-download PDF guide
The 48-Hour Funeral Checklist
What to Do First When Family Needs You
- 8 short, focused sections, from “The First Hour” to “Taking Care of Yourself”
- A one-page cheat sheet to screenshot and keep
- A resource card with every number you need, on one page
- About 2 hours of focused work, over 48 hours
- 14-page PDF, read on any device or print at home
- Instant download
- Secure checkout
- Read on any device
From the first page
A note before you begin
If you are reading this, someone you love has died — or you are trying to be ready for the moment they do. Take one breath. You are not behind. There is no test here, no perfect way to do this, and no one is grading you.
This guide exists because the first 48 hours after a death are quietly the most important. Small decisions about paperwork, phone calls, and who you tell first will save your family thousands of dollars and weeks of grief later. You do not have to do all of it. You just have to do the next thing.
Bookmark this. Text it to a sibling. Come back to it when the phone stops ringing. You are already doing the right thing by opening it.
— Written by a family that has been here
What's inside
Everything you need, nothing you don't
- 01The First Hour
Who to call, in what order, before anyone else
- 02Choosing the Funeral Home
How the FTC Funeral Rule protects you — and how families miss it
- 03Locating the Documents
The paperwork search that saves you weeks later
- 04Notifying the Agencies
Social Security, VA, Medicare, and the IRS — in that order
- 05Making the Arrangements
Service, burial, and the decisions no one prepared you for
- 06Telling the Wider Circle
Community, coworkers, and social media — with dignity
- 07The Financial Realities
Bank accounts, credit cards, and what you should not pay yet
- 08Taking Care of Yourself
The hour a day that keeps you standing
The difference
Before and after this guide
Without a plan
- Overwhelmed by calls, forms and choices
- Feeling rushed into expensive decisions
- Not knowing which bills to pay, or when
- Important tasks slipping through the cracks
With your guide
- A clear order of what to do, and what can wait
- Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule, so you only pay for what you choose
- The right agencies notified, in the right order
- Space to grieve, knowing nothing is forgotten
How it works
Start reading in minutes
Pick your situation
Choose the guide that matches where you are right now. Every one is written for a specific moment in life.
Download instantly
Check out securely and your PDF arrives by email in minutes. Read on any device or print it.
Take the first step today
Start with the checklist on page one. Clear actions, not theory, so you feel progress straight away.
Questions
Before you buy
I've just lost someone. Can I use this right now?
Yes. The guide starts with the first hour: who to call, and in what order. The download arrives by email within minutes of purchase.
Can I read it before we need it?
Yes. Many families read it ahead of time so they know what to do first, and share it with siblings so everyone is on the same page.
Does it cover local laws and requirements?
It covers the general steps and US agencies, plus the questions to ask. Requirements vary by state, so confirm specifics with your funeral provider or local authority.
Is it printable?
Yes. It prints cleanly, and the one-page cheat sheet and resource card are designed to keep on the fridge or in your phone.
One calm guide. Every step covered.
Take the guesswork out of the hardest week.
Instant PDF download · Secure checkout · Read on any device
Please note: our funeral planning guides provide general information and are not legal or financial advice. Requirements differ by location. If you are struggling with grief, you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US) any time.