Paulk Funeral Home - Fitzgerald, Georgia

PHONE US AT:
229-423-2033

Pre-planned funerals have become an option for many families. Personal, financial, and legal considerations make pre-planning desirable. Even more so, planning your final arrangements in advance relieves your family members of many decisions about your funeral during thier time of loss.

We offer the finest pre-arrangement services available so that you and your family can plan and prepare for the future. A pre-paid funeral can guarantee that the arrangements you make today will be available just as you specified, without additional cost.

For those who pre-pay thier funeral, the guidelines provided by law specify that the funds be held in trust by an independent financial institution.

Plans can be tailored to suit your iindividual needs. Payment plans are available or your existing insurance policies can be used to fund your pre-planned funeral.You will find the advice of your family, minister, and funeral director helpful when considering your options. We will record all your wishes and vital information, as well as, assist in gathering documents to keep at the funeral home. After deciding the details for the funeral, you can select any merchandise you may desire for your service.

You have the opportunity to make your choices with freedom from the usual urgencies that are created when a death occurs. For specific information about this service and any related funeral questions, we are available for appointments either at the funeral home or in your home.

If you have any questions about preplanning, feel free to contact us at 229-423-2033, or email directly here

Why Pre-Arrange? What steps are involved? What if I move?
Things that must be done on the Most Difficult Day of Your Life.

Why do families prearrange?

There are many reasons families prearrange, including:

To give yourself time to think about certain aspects of the service without having to make immediate decisions
To make sure your preferences for the type of funeral service you desire are fulfilled
To control costs. By paying for your funeral in advance, your assets are protected and grow at competitive interest rates
To relieve your family members of the financial responsibility of funeral expenses at the time of death
To ensure understanding of possible benefits at the time of death for your survivors, such as social security, veteran benefits, and life insurance claims
To avoid giving the surviving family members the 104 decisions that must be made on the most difficult day of their life (see this list below)
To know that your plans and confidences are with an over 100 year old, family-owned business, providing the community with an honest staff of professional, licensed funeral directors dedicated to superior quality and value

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Things that must be done on the Most Difficult Day of Your Life

A. SECURE VITAL STATISTICS (Required For Documents)

Full name, complete address, telephone number
Date of birth
Place of birth
Marital status
Educational attainment
Citizenship (US/Canadian/Other)
Father's name
Father's birthplace
Mother's maiden name
Mother's birthplace
Social Security Number
Veteran's Serial/Service Number
Date & place of service, date of discharge
How long at current residence/former residence(s)
Occupation, job title, nature of work & history
Location of workplace, telephone number
Family origin

B. PAY SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING

Estate / Inheritance taxes
Funeral expenses
Purchase of family burial estate, mausoleum crypt, cremation niche, opening & closing costs
Permanent memorialization
Monument/Marker engraving charges
Clergy
Organist and vocalist
Florist
Obituary Fees
Clothing for burial, entombment or cremation
Long distance telephone
Food for visiting relatives
Transportation costs
Doctors
Nurses
Other medical practitioners
Ambulance
Hospital/Nursing Home
Medications & drugs
Current & urgent bills (mortgage/rent, taxes, installment payments, etc.)

C. COLLECT DOCUMENTS AND PAPERWORK

Birth certificate/legal proof of age
Citizenship papers
Social Security card or number
Marriage license
Veteran's discharge certificate
Insurance policies (life, health, accident, property, auto)
Disability claims
Bank books and listing of accounts
Other financial accounts
Cemetery deed or proof of ownership
Auto titles or bill of sale
Income tax returns, receipts & canceled checks

D. DECIDE AND ARRANGE WITHIN A FEW HOURS

Exact location of burial/disposition and which space to open
Location of service
Service type (religious, fraternal, military)
Time for visitation and funeral service
Arrange for special religious services
Provide information for eulogy
Determine if casket is open or closed
Burial Vault
Provide vital statistics about deceased for newspaper
Clothing and jewelry for deceased
Selection of scripture & readings (poems etc.)
Selection of clergy
Funeral Home preference
Marking of grave (either temporary or permanent)
Charitable contributions for memorials in memory of deceased
Register book, memorial/prayer cards
Select Pallbearers
Select floral arrangements
Musical selections
Select Organist/Vocalist
Clothing for you & minor children
Decide who will look after minor children/pets
House cleaning
Extra chairs
Decide if transportation is needed for family & guests, including funeral procession lineup
Reviewing & signing all paperwork
Answering innumerable phone calls, messages and letters
Necessary meetings with funeral director, lawyer, clergy, cemetery, etc.
Arrange lodging for out-of-town guests
Acknowledging those who help in a special way (contributors of flowers, food, donations, etc.)
Order certified copies of death certificate
Items for memento display
Review deceased's will regarding special wishes

E. PLAN TO NOTIFY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

All relatives
All friends
Minister and church
Funeral director
Pallbearers
Cemetery
Doctor
Employer of deceased
Employers of relatives not going to work
Organist, other musicians & vocalists
Newspapers regarding notices
Social Security Administration
Veterans Administration
Insurance agents
Religious, fraternal, civic organizations & unions
Attorney, accountant, financial planner & executor of estate
Credit card companies

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What steps are involved in prearrangement?

Our Advance Planning Professionals will explain your options and guide you in establishing your own plans. You should find the advice of your family, clergy, and funeral director especially helpful when considering your options. We will record all your wishes and vital information, as well as assist in gathering documents to keep at the funeral home.

After deciding the details for the funeral, you can select a casket, burial vault, or any other merchandise you may desire for the services.

Our funeral home can even provide you the opportunity to make selections and set aside funds for flowers, the funeral escort to the cemetery, custom memorial folders and acknowledgments, catered meals for after the ceremony, or airline tickets for family or friends flying in for the funeral. Many will even prepay the opening and closing of the grave/crypt for the cemetery.

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What If I move out of town?

If you should relocate to another city after prearranging, Paulk Funeral Home will transfer prearrangement to the funeral home of your choice.

For specific information about this service or any other related funeral questions, we are available for appointments either in your home or at our facilities. You may call or write for information. Advance planning makes good sense, and is an economically sound decision. For additional information, please call 229-423-2033.

Can I place my records on file over the Paulk Funeral Home web site?

Yes. Many families choose to start their prearrangement process right here on our web site. You will find a list of information to select your choices, and one of our funeral directors will be happy to help you.

To begin the process of Advance Planning CLICK HERE