This guide for residents of New York City only provides information on burial assistance and funeral planning for families and friends of poor persons who have died, and for social workers and others involved with making burial arrangements for poor people.

Checklist of What Needs to be Done

  • Notify family and friends of the deceased.
  • If the deceased attended a place of worship, notify the clergy or office personnel.
  • Check to see if the deceased left. any funeral, burial or cremation instructions, or had made a Pre-Paid Funeral Arrangement.
  • Check to see if the deceased left a Will.
  • Contact a licensed funeral director to take custody of the body and make arrangements.
  • Have an Arrangement Conference with the funeral director.
  • Choose a cemetery/crematory and employ their services. The funeral director can assist you with this.
  • Obtain death certificates. The funeral director can assist you with this.
  • Contact Social Security concerning death benefits and to cancel payments being received by the deceased. The funeral director can assist you with this.
  • If the deceased was a veteran, contact the US Veterans Administration for burial and benefit information. Have military discharge papers available.
  • If the deceased was a crime victim, contact the New York State Crime Victims Board.
  • If the deceased was a car accident victim, contact the cars' insurers to see if there are benefits which can be applied toward funeral and burial expenses.
  • Notify decedent's employer, attorney, insurance companies, banks, stock brokerage firms, lenders, credit card companies, utility companies, accountant.
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Last Reviewed: June 13, 2011