Most people will participate to some degree in the preparation of a funeral for a family member or friend. It is important to be informed as to the decedent’s wishes, as well as your rights regarding funeral arrangements. We thought it would be helpful to put together a list of various issues that you should be aware of to protect your assets and the interests of your beneficiaries and to assist you should you be faced with the difficult task of planning a funeral, acting as a personal representative of an estate, or other issues following the death of a loved one.

Important Information and Documentation

Keep information about your affairs in a safe place known to your family or trusted friend and/or attorney. Information should include facts about your social security number and birth certificate; a list of assets including but not limited to bank accounts, insurance polices, retirement accounts; online account passwords and other pertinent information; a list of credit card accounts and other debts; a letter of last instruction regarding your funeral; facts for your obituary; a copy of your will or trust; and a cemetery deed.

Right to Dispose of Decedent’s Remains

Unless otherwise stated in a decedent’s will, the surviving spouse, or if none, the next of kin, shall have the sole authority in all matters pertaining to the disposition of the decedent’s remains. Next of kin is defined to include the spouse and relatives by blood of the decedent (with equal rights within the same level) in the following order should there be no surviving spouse: children; parents; brothers, sisters or their children; grandparents; uncles, aunts and their children and their grandchildren.

The Funeral Rule, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, was created to allow consumers of funeral products and services to be informed as to pricing and to prevent deceptive practices by funeral providers. The Funeral Rule requires:

The Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association (PFDA) Grievance Committee was established to address complaints of the public and funeral professionals against funeral directors and homes. Contact information for the Grievance Committee is as follows:

By phone: 1-800-692-6068

By mail:

Grievance Committee
c/o PFDA
7441 Allentown Boulevard
Harrisburg, PA 17112

Should you have any questions regarding estate planning, administering the estate
of a loved one, or other issues that arise following the death of a loved one, please
contact us to assist you in your time of grief.