Montevista | Funeral Pre-Planning Checklist: 25 Decisions to Make
Funeral Pre-Planning Checklist: 25 Decisions to Make
Pre-planning your funeral involves many decisions, but you don’t need to make them all at once. This comprehensive checklist organizes the key choices into manageable categories, helping you work through pre-planning systematically.
Use this checklist as a roadmap. Some decisions you’ll make immediately, while others might require more thought, research, or family discussion. Check off items as you make decisions, and revisit this list periodically to update your preferences as circumstances change.
How to Use This Checklist
Start with the essentials. Focus first on the major decisions that shape everything else: disposition method and service type.
Work at your own pace. You don’t need to complete this checklist in one sitting. Many people spread decisions over weeks or months.
Mark your level of certainty. For each decision, note whether you’re: – Certain (this is definitely what I want) – Leaning (this seems right but I might change my mind) – Unsure (I need more information or time to decide)
Discuss with family. Share your choices with loved ones as you make them. Their input might help clarify your thinking.
Document everything. As you check off items, record your decisions in a funeral wishes document that family can access when needed.
Section 1: Basic Disposition Decisions
These fundamental choices shape all other planning decisions.
☐ 1. Disposition Method
Choose your preferred method of final disposition:
- Burial – Body placed in casket and buried in cemetery plot or entombed in mausoleum
- Cremation – Body cremated, remains placed in urn or scattered
- Green/Natural Burial – Environmentally sustainable burial without embalming or vault
- Aquamation – Water-based cremation alternative (alkaline hydrolysis)
- Body Donation – Donation to medical school or research
Your choice: ___
Notes/reasons for this choice: ___
☐ 2. Final Resting Place Type
If choosing burial or keeping cremated remains:
- Cemetery burial plot (in-ground)
- Mausoleum space (above-ground entombment)
- Columbarium niche (for urn placement)
- Scattering garden
- Home storage of urn
- Scattering at meaningful location
- Other: ___
Your choice: ___
☐ 3. Specific Cemetery or Location
Have you selected a specific cemetery, memorial park, or location?
- Cemetery name: ___
- Plot/space purchased: Yes / No / Not Yet
- Plot location/section: ___
- Deed/paperwork location: ___
☐ 4. Burial Plot Type (if applicable)
- Single plot
- Companion plot (side-by-side)
- Double-depth plot (one above the other)
- Family plot for multiple burials
- Not applicable (cremation/other)
Your choice: ___
Section 2: Service Planning Decisions
Define the type and format of your memorial service.
☐ 5. Service Type
- Traditional funeral service (body present, formal ceremony)
- Memorial service (held after burial/cremation, body not present)
- Celebration of life (less formal, focus on joyful remembrance)
- Graveside or committal service only
- Combination (example: private burial followed by public memorial)
- No service
- Leave decision to family
Your choice: ___
☐ 6. Service Timing
- Within 2-3 days of death (traditional timing)
- Within one week
- Flexible timing (whenever works for family)
- Specific timing preference: ___
☐ 7. Service Location
- Funeral home chapel
- Church, synagogue, or place of worship (specify: ___)
- Cemetery chapel or graveside
- Outdoor location (park, garden, meaningful place)
- Family home or private residence
- Community center or other venue
- No preference
Your choice: ___
☐ 8. Religious or Secular Service
- Traditional religious service with clergy
- Spiritual but not religious
- Completely secular (no religious content)
- Interfaith or blended traditions
- Leave to family’s discretion
Your choice: ___
☐ 9. Officiant
Who should lead your service?
- Clergy member from my faith community (name if known: ___)
- Professional celebrant or funeral officiant
- Family member (name: ___)
- Friend (name: ___)
- No preference
Your choice: ___
☐ 10. Service Size and Guest List
- Large public service (anyone who wishes to attend)
- Medium gathering (notify extended family, friends, colleagues)
- Small intimate service (immediate family only)
- Private (family determines attendees)
- No preference
Your choice: ___
Section 3: Ceremony Details and Personalization
Add personal touches that make your service meaningful.
☐ 11. Viewing or Visitation
- Open casket viewing before service
- Closed casket, no viewing
- Private family viewing only
- Visitation hours the evening before service
- No viewing or visitation
- Not applicable (cremation/memorial service)
Your choice: ___
☐ 12. Music Selections
List specific songs, hymns, or types of music you’d like:
-
-
-
-
-
No specific preferences
- Family should choose
☐ 13. Readings, Poems, or Passages
Specify meaningful readings, scriptures, or poems:
-
-
-
-
No specific preferences
- Family should choose
☐ 14. Speakers or Eulogists
Who should speak at your service?
- Specific people (names: ___)
- Open to anyone who wishes to speak
- Invitation-only speakers (family determines)
- No eulogies, only officiant speaks
Your choice: ___
☐ 15. Photo Displays or Memory Tables
- Display photos from throughout my life
- Create memory table with meaningful items
- Video tribute or slideshow
- Simple photo display
- No photos or displays
- Leave to family
Your choice: ___
☐ 16. Flowers or Donations
- Fresh flowers are welcome
- Specific flower preferences: ___
- Donations to charity instead of flowers
- Preferred charity: ___
- Combination (flowers and donations both acceptable)
- No preference
Your choice: ___
☐ 17. Reception After Service
- Reception with meal (location preference: ___)
- Light refreshments and gathering
- Informal gathering at family home
- No reception
- Leave to family’s discretion
Your choice: ___
Section 4: Products and Merchandise
Select items needed for burial or cremation.
☐ 18. Casket or Cremation Container
If choosing burial: – Wood casket (specify type if preference: __) – Metal casket (specify type if preference: __) – Eco-friendly/biodegradable casket – Simple casket within budget range: ___ – No specific preference
If choosing cremation: – Rental casket for viewing, then cremation – Simple cremation container – No viewing, direct cremation – Not applicable
Your choice: ___
☐ 19. Urn Selection (if cremation)
- Traditional urn (specify material preference: ___)
- Biodegradable urn
- Keepsake urns for family members
- Simple, affordable urn
- No preference
Your choice: ___
☐ 20. Burial Vault or Grave Liner
Most cemeteries require outer burial containers:
- Basic grave liner (required minimum)
- Protective burial vault
- No preference, choose required option
- Not applicable (cremation/above-ground)
Your choice: ___
☐ 21. Headstone or Memorial Marker
- Upright headstone
- Flat grave marker
- Memorial bench or alternative
- Simple marker with name and dates
- Specific inscription text: ___
- Family should decide
- Not applicable
Your choice: ___
Inscription preferences: ___
Section 5: Personal and Administrative Details
Document important information and final wishes.
☐ 22. Clothing for Burial or Viewing
- Specific outfit (describe: ___)
- Favorite clothing items
- New burial clothes
- Traditional burial garments
- Cremation, clothing not applicable
- No preference
Your choice: ___
☐ 23. Items to Be Buried or Cremated
Are there meaningful items you’d like included?
- Specific items: ___
- Photos or letters
- Religious items
- No items
- No preference
Your choice: ___
☐ 24. Obituary Preferences
- I’ve written my obituary (location: ___)
- Key points to include: ___
- Organizations to mention: ___
- Photo to use: ___
- Where to publish: ___
- Family should write obituary
- No obituary requested
Your choice: ___
☐ 25. Special Requests or Additional Wishes
List any other preferences not covered above:
Section 6: Financial and Legal Documentation
Organize the practical aspects of pre-planning.
☐ 26. Budget Parameters
What are you comfortable spending or having your estate spend?
- Specific budget: ___
- General range: ___
- No specific limit
- As simple and affordable as possible
- Standard, mid-range service
- No expense spared
Your preference: ___
☐ 27. Pre-Payment Decision
- I plan to pre-pay for my funeral
- I will not pre-pay (family pays when needed)
- Undecided, need more information
Your decision: ___
If pre-paying, preferred method: – Pre-need funeral trust – Funeral insurance policy – Dedicated savings account – Life insurance assignment – Undecided
☐ 28. Documentation Completed
- Written funeral wishes document: Yes / No / In Progress
- Formal pre-arrangements with funeral home: Yes / No
- Pre-payment contract: Yes / No / N/A
- Copies provided to family: Yes / No / Pending
- Attorney has copy: Yes / No / N/A
- Executor has copy: Yes / No / N/A
☐ 29. Key People Notified
Who knows about your pre-planning?
- Spouse/partner: Yes / No / N/A
- Adult children: Yes / No / N/A
- Other family members: ___
- Executor: Yes / No
- Attorney: Yes / No
- Close friend: ___
☐ 30. Document Storage Location
Where is your funeral wishes document stored?
- Primary location: ___
- Copies held by: ___
- Digital copies: Yes / No (location: ___)
Next Steps After Completing This Checklist
Once you’ve worked through these decisions:
1. Document Your Choices
Create a comprehensive funeral wishes document that records all your decisions. Include this checklist along with explanatory notes.
2. Share with Family
Discuss your plans with family members who will handle arrangements. Walk them through your key decisions and explain your reasoning.
3. Consider Formal Arrangements
If you want binding arrangements, meet with a funeral home to create formal pre-need plans based on your checklist.
4. Organize Supporting Documents
Gather important papers (birth certificate, military discharge papers, insurance policies) and store them with your funeral wishes.
5. Review Periodically
Revisit this checklist every few years or when circumstances change. Update preferences as needed.
Making Decisions You’re Unsure About
If certain decisions feel difficult:
Research your options. Learn more about choices you don’t fully understand. Visit funeral homes, tour cemeteries, or read additional articles.
Discuss with family. Sometimes talking through options with loved ones clarifies your thinking.
Start general, add specifics later. It’s okay to make broad decisions now (burial vs. cremation, religious vs. secular) and fill in details over time.
Leave some choices flexible. You don’t have to decide everything. It’s fine to make major decisions and let family handle smaller details.
Focus on what matters most. Identify the 5-10 decisions that matter most to you and make those definitive. Other choices can remain flexible.
Pre-Planning Support at Monte Vista Memorial Gardens
Working through this checklist raises questions. Monte Vista offers pre-planning consultations where we walk through these decisions with you, providing information and guidance without pressure.
Our team explains options clearly, provides transparent pricing, and helps you document your wishes. Whether you complete your checklist before meeting with us or want to work through decisions together, we support your process.
Located in Livermore and serving Bay Area families, Monte Vista offers burial plots and can work with families to coordinate the arrangements they need to carry out a complete plan.
Call 510-299-1174 to schedule a pre-planning consultation. We’ll help you work through this checklist and document your wishes clearly and completely.
Key Takeaways
This checklist organizes funeral pre-planning into manageable decisions:
- Major decisions include disposition method, service type, and final resting place
- Service details cover location, officiant, music, and personalization
- Products include caskets, urns, vaults, and markers
- Personal wishes address clothing, obituaries, and special requests
- Documentation and communication ensure your wishes are known and accessible
Work through this checklist at your own pace. Focus on decisions that matter most to you and leave others flexible. The goal is clarity about your core preferences, not perfection in every detail.
Pre-planning is a gift to yourself and your family—this checklist helps you organize that gift thoughtfully and completely.