Free Funeral Checklist Template
A funeral checklist covers the steps from the first call and permits through mortuary preparation, service planning, committal, and case close.
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A death happens, the phone rings, and the next few days turn into a chain of calls, permits, transfers, and bookings where one missed detail can derail everything. The funeral checklist turns that chain into a board you can run, so the work moves in order from Immediate response through Handover and close, with the family decisions and signatures landing where they belong. The steps sit under Lora headings with Inter body text, with brass-amber and indigo-violet cues that keep the board feeling official and directional while you work.
Each column carries the checks that tend to get asked for on the day: who signs paperwork, what gets submitted to the Civil Registry, what gets confirmed from any pre-need instructions, and what still needs a signature before anything gets stuck. The flow keeps mortuary care, viewing setup, wake planning, and the cortege route in front of you, so the burial or cremation slot gets confirmed before the closeout work begins... and the case file doesn’t get left open after the service.
- Immediate response Starts the case with first-call details, authorisation, and the transfer into care.
- Registry and permits Tracks the documents and Civil Registry permit steps, including who still needs to sign.
- Cortege and committal Holds the route, vehicle bookings, and the committal handoff so the slot doesn’t slip.
- Handover and close Closes the loop with returned permits, the final invoice, and case file archiving.
We went from spending hours on every proposal to creating fully customized ones in under 5 minutes. That's not an exaggeration - we timed it.
What is on this board
6 columns carrying 24 cards. Adding it builds the whole thing as a project in your workspace, with every column and card in place.
| Column | What is in it |
|---|---|
Immediate response | Captures first-call details and the authorisations needed to schedule transfer into care. Assign the cards to whoever is handling removal and intake so the handoff is clear.
|
Registry and permits | Lists the documents to collect and the Civil Registry steps to obtain permits. Update the cards with who is signing what, so missing paperwork shows up before bookings depend on it.
|
Mortuary preparation | Covers condition checks on arrival, mortuary care, and readiness for viewing. Add responsibility and dates to the cards so preparation and supply confirmations don’t drift.
|
Wake and service planning | Holds wake setup, schedule drafting, service coordination, and collecting tributes, photos, and music. Use the cards to track what’s received versus still outstanding from the family.
|
Cortege and committal | Runs the route planning, permissions, vehicle bookings, and the delivery to cemetery or crematorium. Mark the committal slot confirmation on the cards so the booking status is visible at a glance.
|
Handover and close | Finishes the case with returned permits and burial or cremation confirmation, billing, and archiving. Record closure on the final cards so the file doesn’t stay half-open.
|
What happens when you install it
- A project is created with its board, 6 columns and 24 cards already there.
- Nothing carries a due date, because a board holds the order the work runs in rather than a calendar. The dates go on once you know when the job starts.
- Every card opens as a task with its own description, assignee, dates, subtasks and files, and columns are renamed, reordered or deleted like any other.
Who it is for
Funeral directors and funeral homes handling arrangements, plus celebrants or coordinators supporting memorial planning and family paperwork.
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Questions about this project template
What needs to happen in the first few hours after a death?
The first steps usually include recording key details, confirming who can sign paperwork, and authorising transfer into care. A checklist helps keep that sequence visible while calls and decisions stack up.
What information do you need right away to start funeral arrangements?
Arrangements often start with identity and contact details, next-of-kin authority, and any existing instructions from pre-need planning. The first column on the board leaves space for capturing those details before permits and bookings begin.
What paperwork is involved with the Civil Registry, and what still needs a signature?
Registry paperwork typically needs documents from the family, submissions for permits, and specific signatures before the process can move forward. The Registry and permits column keeps the submissions and remaining signatures tracked as separate checks.
How do you keep a burial or cremation slot from being missed?
A slot usually depends on permits, confirmed times, and the committal handoff being lined up in the right order. The Cortege and committal column puts the booking and slot confirmation alongside route and vehicle tasks so nothing gets buried late in the process.
What tasks are involved in mortuary preparation and viewing?
Preparation can include documenting condition on arrival, washing and dressing, and setting up for viewing. The Mortuary preparation column groups those checks with casket or urn supply confirmation and viewing-time setup.
What happens after the service is over and the case is closed?
Closeout usually includes returning signed permits and burial or cremation confirmation, issuing the final invoice, and archiving the case file. The Handover and close column keeps those last steps together so the work doesn’t stop at the committal.
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