These are the standard questions asked when you have chosen a funeral provider. They will be used to fill out all of the paperwork required to carry out any arrangement. It is wise to know the answers and/or have the answers in a file for the one who will need them. Likewise, it's as simple as calling a funeral home and having them on record. This is called a “pre-discussion."
1. What is the deceased's full and proper name? (And maiden name if applicable)
2. What is the deceased's full address?
3. What is the deceased's birthdate?
4. What is the deceased's birthplace?
5. What is the deceased's SIN # (Social Insurance Number)?
6. What is the deceased's health card number?
7. What is the deceased's father's name?
8. What is the deceased's father's birthplace
9. What is the deceased's mother's name (and maiden name)?
10. What is the deceased's mother's birthplace?
11. What was the deceased's occupation? In what field of work? (Please do not list “retired." It should be a job that they paid into CPP through an employer.)
12. What is the deceased's marital status?
13. What is the deceased spouse's or common-law partner's full and proper name? (Even if divorced or deceased) Also, maiden name (if applicable).
14. What is the deceased spouse's or common-law partner's SIN#? Date of birth? Place of birth? (IF LIVING)
15. Is there a will? (IF THE ANSWER IS “NO" - PLEASE GO TO QUESTION # 18
16. What is the full and proper name of the executor(s) of the will? (If there is more than one executor, please list all executors. What is their relationship to the deceased? Note: Please do not list the people who WOULD be executors, if the executor is unwilling or unable. Please note, that people who are “Power of Attorney" are not necessarily the executor of the will.
17. What is/are the executor's full address(es), email(s) and phone number(s).
18. What is the NEXT OF KIN'S contact information? (name/phone/email)
19. What is the Next of Kin's relationship to the deceased.
20. Who will be signing the necessary paperwork to carry out the arrangements and what is their relationship to the deceased.
21. Are there children of the deceased who are under 25 years of age and attending school full-time?
A. Make sure that you and others know where the will is kept, (if there is a copy), and with which lawyer. You should have the lawyer's contact information. While a will is not necessary, it is always easier with government paperwork when there is one. Power of Attorney is NOT a will. Power of Attorney ends as soon as someone dies.
B. If you are a son or daughter or family member taking care of an ailing family member, it makes things easier if you are on the bank account of your ailing family member, as an account holder. Obviously, this would be a relationship of trust.
C. Make sure others know where the marriage certificate is. If you are married, the funeral home will make a copy as there is a spousal support/children's benefit to be applied for.
D. Make sure others know if you have a pre-arrangement, (either prepaid or just pre-discussed), with a specific funeral home or know which funeral provider you would like to use.
E. Make sure people know your wishes. Burial? Cremation? Aquamation? Service? Public? Private? No Service? Funeral Home? Church? Other venue? Burial in a cemetery or scattering?... etc. Do NOT trust that your wishes will be read in a will alone. Tell someone, write it down, or you may get the information to a funeral home to place in a file. If MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) is an option that you want to consider, it is legal in Canada, and should be discussed and/or prepared for. Rutherford Funeral Home has detailed information on that if you wish to have it emailed.
F. Make sure the cemetery information is up-to-date if you are to be buried in a plot, whether full body burial or burial of cremated remains. Taking care of “ownership" issues of a plot of land is important, especially if the owner is already buried there. Update the cemetery file as needed.
G. If there are personal items in the house, a safety deposit box or elsewhere; letters, money, certificates, etc., convey that information to the individual handling your affairs.
H. It's a great advantage to have a checklist of items written out for your executor. Things on the list might be: 1. Companies you've worked for in which a pension or benefit is received. 2. Bank account numbers and holdings. 3. Insurance products. 4. Addresses and important telephone numbers of family and friends that should be notified of your death. A personal checklist is a gift to make the executor's job easier and more efficient.
I. If you have specific wishes regarding donations to a charity, specify that.
CHECKLIST FOR FUNERAL PLANNING
