| The Dreaded Paperwork |
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Plan ahead and be prepared Printable Version (Adobe PDF) | Printable Version (Microsoft Word Document) These instructions apply to the State of Maine. For other states, look at Lisa Carlson's book Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love (Hinesburg, VT: Upper Access Books, 1998). Also, look at the Funeral Consumers Alliance website(www.funerals.org) for contact information for the local affiliate and much more helpful information.
Just about the most difficult piece of managing a home funeral is the required paperwork. The best advice is to plan ahead and be prepared! It is not impossible to manage this with a sudden, unexpected death, but your experience will be much less time consuming with some advance planning.
The handling of the arrangements and the paperwork is often an arduous and time consuming task, and it must be done thoroughly and correctly. In order to give the immediate family members more time with the dying person, it can be helpful to enlist a dedicated friend to handle these responsibilities. If so, that person should be designated as the "Authorized Person by a document signed by the dying person or the next of kin. See samples below. The form must be notarized. Things will go more smoothly if the Authorized Person contacts the medical professional who will be called when death occurs and the officials listed below, to inform them of your intentions. Many may not be familiar with home funerals, so advance notice will give them time to prepare. While you're talking with them, ask about availability of the official forms for the certificate of death and the medical examiner's permit. The officials you will need to see are:
1) Certificate of Death: This is in a sense, the application for the Death Certificate. It can generally be obtained from a doctor's office or a hospital. It is easier if you have gathered the personal information to fill out the certificate of death in advance. To fill out the Certificate of Death, you'll need to know:
The Authorized Person fills in boxes 28 through 32. Enter NA in boxes 31b and 32b. A physician (or a physician assistant or nurse practitioner, who has knowledge of the deceased's recent medical history or were in charge of the decedent's care) must complete the remainder of the death certificate. If the paperwork is being done without a funeral director, box 35 must be checked "YES" certifying that the physician (or PA or Nurse Practitioner) viewed the body after death. Make three photocopies of the completed form (you'll keep one for your records). If the Medical Examiner's Release form is needed (see number 2 below) get that form signed now, and make two copies (again, you'll keep one). Take the completed forms with copies, to the town or city clerk's office that is located in the place of death. Upon filing the Certificate of Death, the clerk will provide a certified Death Certificate. You will need several copies - for banks, insurance companies, Social Security, veteran's benefits, etc. Experienced people suggest that you send a copy to the three credit report companies (Experian, Equifax and Transunion). In this initial request, the first copy will cost $10, additional ones $5 each. Get as many as you need, as when requesting copies later, each will cost $10. 2) Medical Examiner's Release of Human Remains: This form is not needed if the body is to be buried. It is required only when the body is to be cremated, donated, buried at sea, or shipped out of state. This form has only four boxes for you to fill in. In order to sign the form, the medical examiner will need the (application for a) death certificate (number 1 above) which has been completed, except for the "Registrar's Signature." There is a $15 charge for this form, payable to the Medical Examiner. 3) Permit for the Disposition of Human Remains: The municipal clerk's office will have copies of this form. Fill in boxes 1 through 9, which will be easy to do after you've done the death certificate. The clerk will sign the form, keep one of the four parts, and return the other three parts. An official person at the disposition location (cemetery, crematory, etc.) will sign the form. Within seven days, you must return the completed form to the clerk's office where you got it. Finally - Keep a copy of all completed forms for your records - in case there are questions later! Note about cremation: There is a 48 hour waiting period in Maine before a body can be cremated. There should be no problem if the body is kept cool i.e. not in a heated room and by using the frozen gel packs or dry ice if the weather is warm. Dry ice cannot be used if body is being transported across state lines. Dry ice is available from: Elm Ice Company, 56 Gray Road, Falmouth, ME 797-5691; Getchell Brothers Inc, 1 Union St., Brewer, ME 989-7335; and P. Gagnon and Son, 200 Main St., York, ME 384-2213. You'll need about 25 pounds of dry ice per day. ***Because of low sales and storage issues, dry ice is no longer available at local stores, but only from these dealers. Note about transporting a body: "Dead bodies shall be transported in private vehicles only by authorized persons and shall be enclosed in a suitable container made for that purpose which shall be concealed from public view." Pace makers or non-combustible items (jewelry and other metal, glass etc.) must be removed before cremation. An authorization form for cremation by next of kin is usually required, and will be provided by the crematory. Need Help? People in Maine who have done this and are willing to advise and assist:
Sample Authorization Forms Form for a person, in anticipation of death, who has no immediate family members able and available to make final arrangements. Copy and paste this sample into a Word document and fill in the appropriate places. AUTHORIZATION
Having no members of my immediate family to handle the final arrangements after my death, I hereby authorize (name and address of person) to make all necessary arrangements for my final disposition (i.e. burial, donation or cremation) after my death.(Date of authorization)_____________________ (Signature of authorizer)____________________________________________________ (Date) State of Maine County of __________ The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this date by (signature of authorizer). (Signature of Notary)_____________________________________________________________ Form for use by a member of the immediate family of the person for whom final arrangements are to be made. Copy and paste this sample into a Word document and fill in the appropriate places. AUTHORIZATION
As a member of the immediate family of (name of person), I hereby authorize (name and address of person authorized to make arrangements) to act on my behalf in making all necessary arrangements for the final disposition (i.e. burial, donation or cremation) of said (name of person). I certify that neither I nor any other member of the immediate family of (name of person) is willing to assume this responsibility.
(Date of authorization)_____________________(Signature of authorizer)____________________________________________________ (Date) State of Maine County of __________ The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this date by (signature of authorizer). (Signature of Notary)_____________________________________________________________ |