The first days
Contact a funeral home or cremation service
You'll need to choose a funeral home or cremation service in the next day or two. If they left prearrangement paperwork, use that. Otherwise, ask a family member, a religious leader, or a hospice nurse for a recommendation. You're only choosing who will care for them for now. A fuller plan can wait a few days.
What you'll need
- Any prearrangement or prepaid funeral paperwork
- Their full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number
Good to know
Learn more
Get help with this
Why we recommend eFuneral
eFuneral connects you with local funeral providers so you can compare arrangements and choose one online. The Cremation Association of North America helps you find a licensed cremation provider, and Everest compares funeral home prices and can help with the arrangements.

Trusted partner
eFuneral
Connects families with local funeral providers to compare and choose arrangements online.

Need help with this step?
Someone on our team can talk through this step with you, answer questions, and help you figure out what applies.
Free · Call or text 301-539-9175