WHEN DEATH OCCURS

Make The First Contact

Before funeral arrangements can begin, a legal pronouncement of death must be made.

 If death occurs in a hospital or nursing facility: the staff will handle the legal declaration.
 If death occurs at home: contact local emergency services so the death can be legally pronounced.
 If death occurs under hospice care: hospice staff will make the legal declaration.

Once this step is complete, funeral arrangements can move forward.

Begin To Make Arrangements

After the legal declaration, families may begin planning services. If your loved one made pre-planned arrangements, those wishes should be reviewed first.

If no plans were made, you may choose a funeral home and schedule a meeting to discuss options. Our staff will help guide you through decisions such as burial or

cremation, service type and timing, obituary details, and other elements, always at a pace that feels manageable.

If your loved one was a veteran, we can also help explain how military honors may be arranged and guide you to appropriate Veterans Affairs resources.

Information Funeral Home May Need

When you meet with our staff, they will help you complete the death certificate and necessary legal documents. This information is required by the State of Michigan to accurately register the death and finalize paperwork.

You do not need to have everything gathered in advance, our staff will review this with you and help fill in details at your pace.

Typical Required Information Includes:

 Decedent’s full legal name (first, middle, last)
 Date of birth
 Sex (male or female)
Date of death
 Name at birth or other names used (including AKA or maiden names)
 Age at time of death (years, months, days)
 Official location where death was pronounced (hospital, facility, or home address), including the city, township, or county of death
 Decedent’s usual residence - street address, city or township, county, state and zip code
 Birthplace (city and state or country)
 Social Security number
 Highest level of education completed
 Race/heritage and Hispanic origin
 Ancestry (if applicable)
 Military service history (yes/no)
 Usual occupation and kind of business/industry
 Marital status and name of surviving spouse (if applicable)
 Father and mother’s full name, including mother’s maiden name
 Informant’s name, relationship, and mailing address (person providing the information)

This information helps ensure the death certificate is completed accurately, which is required for legal and administrative purposes like settling estates, claiming benefits, and handling financial affairs.

If any information is unknown, it’s okay, you can note it as “unknown,” and our team will help you work through what’s needed.

Additional Documents That May Be Helpful

In some cases, families may also be asked to provide documents that help with benefits, claims, or military honors. These are not always required immediately, and our staff will let you know if and when they are needed. Helpful documents may include:

 Life insurance policies, including beneficiary information
 Military discharge papers (DD Form 214), if applicable

If these documents are not readily available, please don’t worry. We can help you determine next steps and guide you through obtaining what’s needed.

Taking Care Of Personal Property

In the days following a death, there are a few practical matters to attend to:

 Secure your loved one’s home, vehicle, and personal property
 Arrange care for pets
 Forward mail to a trusted family member
 Notify an employer and cancel upcoming appointments

These steps can help protect your loved one’s affairs and reduce future stress.

If at any point you have questions or feel unsure about what to do next, please remember, you are not alone. The staff at the Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home is here to support you with compassion, clarity, and care.