Funeral planning checklist: the first week, and after.

A small number of things genuinely cannot wait.

• Get the legal pronouncement of death, and ask how many certified copies of the certificate you will need — usually more than you expect.
• Find out whether there were written wishes, a prepaid plan, or a burial plot already owned.
• Choose a funeral home or cremation provider, and ask for a written price list.
• Tell close family and closest friends, and let one other person help with the rest of the calls.
• Arrange care for dependents, pets and the person's home.

Decisions, not logistics. If wishes were written down, this section is mostly reading them.

• Burial or cremation, and where.
• The kind of gathering, if any — and when, allowing time for people to travel.
• Who leads it, who speaks, and what music or readings.
• The obituary or notice, and where it is published.
• Flowers, donations in lieu, food afterwards, and who is hosting.

Price lists must be given to you in writing where you likely live. Ask for one and compare.

• The itemised quote, line by line, not a package figure.
• Whether a prepaid plan, insurance policy or veteran's benefit covers part of it.
• What can be declined without difficulty.
• Who is paying, and from which account, before anything is signed.

This part takes months, not days. It is a list to work through slowly.

• The will, and whoever is named executor.
• Notify the bank, pension, social security or state benefit office, and the tax authority.
• Life insurance claims.
• Employer, for final pay, benefits and any death-in-service cover.
• Cancel or transfer utilities, subscriptions, memberships and phone.
• Notify credit agencies, and close or transfer accounts.