Preplanning Checklist

Ways to Plan Ahead:

General

• Gather personal information for your obituary.
• Have the Talk of a Lifetime with those close to you to clarify what’s important to you all.
• Choose a charity to direct donations to, if desired.
• Choose a funeral home.
• Make note of any instructions for your services and final disposition.
• Consider if a prepaid funeral is best for you and your family.

Funeral Service

• Choose burial or cremation.
• Select a casket or cremation container.
• Choose locations and types of services.
• Choose floral arrangements.
• Select which photographs and memorabilia you’d like to display.
• Consider any customs, traditions, or religious rites that are important to you and your family, or any new traditions you would like to begin.
• Choose the clothing you’d like to be dressed in.
• Select music, if desired or specific hymns in a religious service.
• Choose a theme for decorations and stationery at your services.

Participants

• Choose a clergy member or officiator to preside over the service.
• Select any musicians whose talents you’d like to employ.
• Select pallbearers.
• Choose friends or family members to perform the eulogy, read scripture, or prepare a speech.

Final Disposition

• Decide what to do with your ashes
• If you have an urn, who will keep your urn.
• If you wish to scatter the ashes, decide who will scatter your ashes and where.
• Alternatively, choose a cemetery.
• Select a burial plot or mausoleum.
• Select a memorial or grave marker and inscription.

Information You'll Need

Personal Information

• Full Name of Deceased
• Date of Birth
• Year began residence in Australia
• Usual residence
• Usual occupation during working life
• Pension details
• Parents’ names and occupations
• Marital status
• Marriage information (including place of Marriage, Age at date of Marriage, Name of spouse) for each marriage
• Children
• Name and occupation of the parents of the deceased

Affiliations & Interests

• Organisations & Memberships
• Contributions & Memorials
• Interests & Achievements
• Any special recognitions you have

Remember...

There’s no need to make all the decisions right away. For personalised assistance in creating your plan, contact one of our experts to schedule a one-on-one meeting.