Funeral Planning Checklist

A gentle, one-page funeral planning checklist

Thinking about end-of-life arrangements is never easy, but writing your wishes down is one of the kindest things you can do for the people you love. This printable funeral planning checklist puts the essentials on a single, calm page: who to contact, what kind of service you would like, where the important documents are kept, and the practical steps that follow.

There is nothing to install and nothing to fill in on a screen. Print it in A4 or US Letter, complete it with a pen at your own pace, and keep it with your other important papers so it is there when it is needed.

Why write your wishes down

When someone dies, the people closest to them are often asked to make dozens of decisions within a few days — while grieving. A clear record removes the guesswork and the second-guessing. Use this sheet to:

• spare your family from having to guess what you would have wanted
• keep names, phone numbers and policy details in one findable place
• record whether you prefer burial, cremation or donation
• note the readings, music and small touches that matter to you
• point loved ones to your will, insurance and accounts
• give a starting checklist of practical tasks for the first days

What the checklist covers

Personal & vital details

Full legal name, date and place of birth, home address, national insurance or social security number, and next of kin — the details a registrar or funeral director will ask for.

Key contacts

A short table for the people who should be told, with room for name, relationship and a phone number or email.

Service wishes

Tick burial, cremation, donation to science or undecided, then note a preferred funeral home, readings, music or hymns, flowers or donations, and any personal items.

Financial & insurance

Life insurance provider and policy number, where the will is kept, the executor or solicitor, and the accounts, pensions and bills that will need to be notified.

To-do checklist

A gentle set of ticked tasks for the first days, with blank lines to add your own.

How to use it

1. Enter a title or keep the default.
2. Choose A4 or US Letter.
3. Preview the page, then download the PDF.
4. Print at 100% scale.
5. Fill it in slowly — there is no need to do it all at once.
6. Store it with your will and insurance documents, and tell a trusted person where it is.

Who it is for

Planning ahead for yourself

Many people complete this quietly, years in advance, and update it as circumstances change. It sits comfortably alongside a will and a lasting power of attorney.

Helping a parent or relative

Sitting down together to fill it in can be a meaningful conversation as well as a practical one.

Executors and carers

If you are supporting someone near the end of life, the checklist gives a clear, respectful framework for the details that will soon be needed.

Keeping it private and safe

• This is a printable worksheet only — nothing you write is sent anywhere or stored online.
• Because it can hold sensitive details, keep the finished sheet somewhere secure, such as with your will or in a home safe.
• Let one or two trusted people know it exists and where to find it.
• Review it every year or two, and after any big change such as a house move or a new policy.

A note on tone

This tool is designed to be calm and unhurried. There are no scary warnings and no pressure to complete everything in one sitting. Fill in what you can, leave the rest for another day, and treat it as a living document you can add to over time.

Designed for A4 and US Letter printing

The checklist prints cleanly on both A4 and US Letter at 100% scale. The ruled lines and tick boxes leave comfortable room for handwriting, and the layout stays on a single page so it is easy to file.