Decisions: what is decided, by whom, and when
Every decision the arrangements need, sorted into now, this week or later, with who decides and its status; and what you found about written wishes, prepaid plans and the right to decide.
For a first pass, both sheets are essential. The decisions sheet keeps the few decisions that cannot wait apart from the many that can, and what we found records the written wishes, prepaid plans and the basis for who decides, which every provider will ask about (Who decides).
Decisions
One row per decision (Who decides and Burial, cremation and other choices). "Now" means it cannot wait for tomorrow; most decisions are "this week" or "later". Status is decided, provisional (made, but a fact could change it) or open.
What we found: wishes, plans and the right to decide
One answer per line (Who decides). Write where a paper is, not what account numbers it holds.
How to use these sheets
- One decision per row. "Funeral provider" is a decision; "call funeral homes" is a task and goes on the task list.
- When is about urgency, not importance. "Now" is for what cannot wait until tomorrow: care of the body, the provider, faith timing, donation. Most rows are "this week" or "later".
- Status. Decided means made; provisional means made, but a fact still open could change it (write that fact in the notes); open means not made.
The example rows are from Sam Okoro. The provider is decided after two quotes; where the ashes go is open, because Ellen's note says "a party at the lake" and nobody has asked who owns the shore. Details are invented.
This sheet records who decides as you understand it. Whether that person holds the legal right in your state, and which state's law applies when a death crosses state lines, is settled by the funeral director, the state funeral board or an attorney.