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Funeral and End-of-Life Planning Checklist

Planning ahead is a gift to loved ones. AI helps organize the decisions.

Step by step

  1. List your wishes.
  2. Gather documents.
  3. Ask about costs.
  4. Share with family.
  5. Review annually.

What to expect

Expect a gentle list covering wishes, documents, contacts, budget and what to tell family. AI can help draft a letter of instruction.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not prepay without understanding refund rules. Avoid keeping wishes only in your will, since it may be read after the funeral. Tell someone where documents are.

A good next step

Share your wishes with one trusted person and store copies together in your binder.

A calm checklist

  • Write down your wishes: burial or cremation, service type, music and readings.
  • List who to contact and their numbers.
  • Gather documents: ID, insurance, veterans papers and account lists.
  • Decide who will carry out your wishes.

Plan, step by step

  1. Compare prices. Funeral homes must give you an itemized price list on request.
  2. Write an obituary draft. An assistant can help you shape a life summary.
  3. Share your plans. Tell family where the papers are.
  4. Review every few years.

A prompt you can copy

Type this into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini

Create a gentle checklist of decisions and documents to organize for end-of-life planning, including questions to ask a funeral home.

Good to know. Compare prices from several funeral homes. They are required to provide a price list.

Want to try this with a friendly teacher?

Join a free live class on Zoom. Small group, no experience needed, no sign-up fee.

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Common questions

Is it morbid?

Many people find it peaceful.

Who should I tell?

Your family and executor.

Should I prepay?

Ask questions about refunds and transfers first.

Can AI write the obituary?

It can help with a draft from your notes.

Where should I keep the plan?

Somewhere family can reach it quickly.

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