Preparing for Your Arrangement Meeting
Preparing for Your Arrangement Meeting
In your upcoming arrangement meeting, we will gather and confirm the details we need to move forward with your loved one’s service. If your loved one has an established Mount Sinai Funeral Trust, we will still want to review and confirm their pre-selected arrangements to ensure you understand their wishes completely. For those without a trust or who have completed forms with us before, we will review everything together to make sure all information is accurate and current.
Topics We’ll Discuss
Service Type & Location
We’ll talk about whether you prefer a chapel service, graveside service, or both, and help you choose what feels most appropriate for your loved one and family.
Casket Selection
We’ll review our casket options together and help you select what best represents your loved one.
Clothing & Personal Items
We’ll discuss what clothing you’d like your loved one to wear and any personal items you’d like to include.
We encourage you to bring clothing to your arrangement if you already know what you would like your loved one to wear.
Death Certificates & Vital Statistics
We’ll review what is known as the Vital Statistics information—your loved one’s full legal name, date and place of birth, social security number, occupation, parents’ names, and other required details. This information is used to create the California Death Certificate, which must be filed and approved by the County and State before any burial can take place.
We’ll also help you determine how many Certified Death Certificates you’ll need for insurance claims, banking, estate matters, and other important business, and we’ll handle the entire filing process for you. Certified copies typically take 6–9 weeks to process once filed with the County.
Family Roles & Participants
We’ll identify immediate family members, discuss casket bearers, and plan any special roles family members may have during the service.
Flowers & Memorial Tributes
We’ll discuss floral arrangements, memorial donations, and other ways to honor your loved one’s memory. We recommend Event Decor Studio and West Hollywood Florist.
Music & Personal Touches
We’ll talk about webcasting, special music, readings, or personal elements you’d like to include in the service. To ensure that all your media works and is compatible with our technology we strongly encourage you to click here to learn more about our media guidelines.
Remember: There’s no pressure to have all the answers before or during our meeting. Some topics we’ll introduce so you can go home, talk with your family, and decide together. We’re here to guide you through each decision with patience and understanding.
What to Bring
DD-214 Form (for veterans)
Official discharge document needed for military honors or national cemetery burial. You can request your military service records from the VA here.
Recent Photo
A photo of your loved one taken within the last six months for identification purposes.
If applicable
Copy of Advance Healthcare Directive, DPOA for Health Care, Certified Copy of State Registered Domestic Partnership (SRDP).
Common Questions
How long will the meeting take?
Typically one hour, but we’ll take as much time as you need.
Who should attend?
The primary decision-maker(s) (those with the legal ability to sign the mortuary paperwork) and anyone involved in making important choices about the service.
What if I don’t have all documents?
Don’t worry. We can work with what you have and help obtain missing documents later if needed.
What Should I Know About Social Security After a Death?
Mount Sinai will report your loved one’s death to the Social Security Administration (SSA), so you do not need to make this initial call. To apply for survivor benefits or the lump-sum payment, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office.
What Happens to Bank Accounts?
When someone passes away, banks typically freeze accounts temporarily to protect against fraud while verifying who has legal authority to access the funds. Understanding how different account types are handled and what documentation you’ll need can help you prepare for this process. Learn more about what happens to bank accounts after death.
Questions About Your Arrangements?
We’re here to help you through every step of the arrangement process. Please include your name and the name of your loved one so we can best assist you.
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