Funeral Planning Checklist for Singapore — A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Planning a funeral is one of the most difficult things a family can face — made harder by the fact that it must often happen quickly, in the middle of grief. Having a clear checklist ensures nothing important is missed, and gives families a practical roadmap through an otherwise overwhelming process.

This guide covers everything that needs to be done, in the order it typically needs to happen, for a funeral in Singapore.

Immediately After Passing

1. Obtain the Certificate of Cause of Death (CCOD)

If the death occurs in a hospital or care facility, the attending doctor will certify the death electronically. If the death occurs at home, a doctor must be called to certify the cause of death before any other steps can proceed. The certifying doctor or hospital will provide the following information to the next-of-kin to download the digital death certificate from the My Legacy website within 30 days:

• Death Certificate number or Confirmation of Death document number

• Deceased's identification document number

• Date of death

  
  

2. Contact your funeral service provider

Contact TLC The Life Celebrant at +65 6684 8488 — available 24 hours a day. Our team will guide you through every step from this point forward, including bringing your loved one into our care and beginning the funeral arrangements. You do not need to know what to do in advance.

3. Notify immediate family

Ensure close family members are informed promptly. Decide who will coordinate communications so that no one important is accidentally overlooked.

Within the First 24 to 48 Hours

4. Decide on burial or cremation

This decision shapes all subsequent arrangements. Consider your loved one's wishes, religious or cultural traditions, and practical factors such as the 15-year burial lease at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. If unsure, TLC will guide you through the considerations.

5. Choose the type of funeral service

Decide on the religious or non-religious format — Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Catholic, Soka, or secular. If your loved one pre-planned their funeral, retrieve those documents now and share them with TLC.

6. Select a venue for the wake

Options include the void deck of the HDB flat, a funeral parlour, or TLC's own facilities. Consider the expected number of guests, the level of privacy needed, and any specific requirements of the religious officiant.

7. Casket or urn selection

TLC will guide you through the available options based on your family's preferences, religious tradition, and budget.

8. Confirm the Showers of Love ceremony

TLC offers this signature family-led body care ceremony to every family as standard. Confirm whether your family wishes to participate before the wake begins.

Planning the Funeral Service

9. Arrange the religious officiant or Funeral Celebrant

For religious funerals, liaise with your monk, priest, or Pastor. For non-religious services, TLC's certified Funeral Celebrant will design and lead the ceremony. TLC coordinates all of this on your behalf.

10. Plan the ceremony elements

Consider the following for the service:

• Music — hymns, chants, or a personal playlist

• Eulogies and tributes — who will speak and what they will share

• Photo and video displays — a visual tribute to your loved one's life

• Readings or prayers — appropriate to the faith tradition

• Floral arrangements — TLC will advise on suitable options

  
  

11. Arrange catering if required

For multi-day wakes, light refreshments for guests are customary. TLC can advise on suitable arrangements based on your venue and expected attendance.

12. Notify extended family and friends

Send digital notifications via WhatsApp, email, or social media. TLC includes a complimentary 30-day digital obituary in all funeral packages — a thoughtful, eco-conscious way to share the news with family and friends near and far.

For families who wish to extend the announcement to print, obituaries can be placed in The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, and other major Singapore newspapers.

Finalising Arrangements

13. Confirm cremation slot or burial arrangements

TLC will book and confirm all slots with the relevant crematorium or Choa Chu Kang Cemetery, managing all permit applications and administrative requirements on your behalf.

14. Arrange transportation

TLC coordinates all transportation — from bringing your loved one into our care through to the hearse and any family transport on the funeral day.

15. Prepare mourning attire and badges

TLC provides mourning badges. Family members typically wear white, black, or muted colours depending on the religious tradition.

16. Arrange appreciation gifts for guests

Small tokens of gratitude for guests who attend the wake are customary in Singapore. TLC will advise on appropriate options based on your tradition.

Post-Funeral Arrangements

17. Choose the final resting place

If cremation was chosen, decide on the final resting place — columbarium, sea burial, inland ash scattering, legacy plant, or an Eternal Embrace memorial keepsake. TLC will guide you through every option with care and without pressure.

18. Collect and inurn the ashes

TLC manages ash collection and inurnment. If the cremation takes place in the morning, ashes are available the same afternoon. If in the afternoon, collection is arranged the following morning.

19. Arrange post-funeral prayer milestones

For Buddhist and Taoist families, the 7th, 49th, and 100th-day prayers are important milestones. For Catholic families, a Month's Mind Mass may be arranged. TLC can assist with coordinating these.

20. Handle estate and legal matters

Key tasks include applying for Grant of Probate or Letter of Administration, executing the will, notifying relevant government agencies, managing CPF nominations, and handling insurance claims. The Life Legacy, TLC's legacy planning arm, can guide your family through this process.

21. Seek bereavement support if needed

Grief does not end with the funeral. TLC offers bereavement support and can connect your family with professional grief counsellors in Singapore. There is no timeline for grief — reach out whenever you are ready.

A Note on Pre-Planning

The best time to use this checklist is before it is urgently needed. Pre-planning your own funeral with TLC means your family will never face these decisions in the middle of acute grief — and everything on this list will already be in place. Contact us to find out more about our pre-planning service.

Contact TLC The Life Celebrant

Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact us at +65 6684 8488, on WhatsApp, or at care@thelifecelebrant.sg — whenever you need us.