Final Planning Resources

ADVANCE PLANNING DOCUMENTS

Caring Connections caringinfo.org Free Texas Living Will Form rocketlawyer.com Powers of Attorney, DNR, and Similar Documents texaslawhelp.org Preparing For End–Of–Life Care: Advance Planning Documents txcatholic.org Texas Advance Directive Form everplans.com Texas Health and Human Services hhs.texas.gov/laws–regulations/ forms/advance–directives

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

AARP aarp.org Aftertalk aftertalk.com Castle Ridge Mortuary castleridgemortuary.com Christus VNA Hospice and Palliative Care 210–558–6300 Compassion and Choices End–Of–Life Support 800–247–7421 compassionandchoices.org Griefnet griefnet.org GriefShare griefshare.org Grieving.com grieving.com Holy Spirit Catholic Church holyspiritsa.org Hope Hospice hopehospice.net Life After Loss (American Cancer Society) 800–227–2345 National Widowers Association nationalwidowers.org North Central Baptist 210–297–4000 baptisthealthsystem.com Oak Hills Church oakhillschurch.com Outreach Health Services outreachhealth.com Porter Loring Family Care Services 210–227–8221 porterloring.com St. Matthews Catholic Church stmatts.org San Antonio Area Widowed Persons Service 210–745–5801 Soul Care Project soulcareproject.org Summit Christian Center summitsa.com The Light Beyond thelightbeyond.com

DONATION OF A BODY

Baylor College of Medicine 713–798–3858 BIOGIFT 866–670–1799 biogift.org Donate Life Texas donatelifetexas.org Science Care sciencecare.com UT Health Science 210–567–3900 uthscsa.edu/csa/bodydonation

DONOR PROGRAMS

Blood Center 713–790–1200 800–355–7427 Donate Life Texas 877–839–2755 donatelifetexas.org LifeGift 713–523–4438 800–633–6562 lifegift.org Lion’s Eye Bank of Texas at Baylor College of Medicine 713–798–5500 bcm.edu/eye National Kidney Foundation Donor Family Council 800–622–9010 kidney.org National Marrow Donor Program 800–526–7809 marrow.org The Living Bank 713–528–2971 800–528–2971 livingbank.org United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) 804–782–4800 unos.org

END–OF–LIFE PLANNING

Abode 210–967–9891 abodehome.org Caring Connections 800–658–8898 caringinfo.org Grave Talk churchofenglandfunerals.org Hospice Foundation of America hospicefoundation.org Kitchen Table Conversations Educating Central Texans to have end of life conversations and legally documenting their wishes. kitchentableconversations.org National Association for Home Care and Hospice nahc.org National Hospice and Palliative Care 703–837–1500 nhpco.org Planning for a Graceful Exit epicenter.org/wc–end-of-life-planning

FUNERALS, BURIAL AND CREMATION

Assistance in finding low-cost funeral arrangements

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Central Texas 512–480–0555 fcactx.org Texas Funeral Service Commission 512–936–2474 tfsc.state.tx.us Texas Prepaid Funeral Contracts 877–276–5554 www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov

Final Planning Resources

FUNERALS, BURIAL AND CREMATION

Continued For Veterans Department of Veterans Affairs 800–827–1000 va.gov Gold Star Wives of America goldstarwives.org Military Funeral Honors militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil Mission Park RETAMA Cemetery 210–576–3480 missionparks.com/veterans The Kerr County Veterans Service Office 830–792–2203 VA Houston National Veterans Cemetery 281–447–8686 cem.va.gov

GRIEF COUNSELING

Quality of Life Care qualityoflifecare.com

STAGES OF GRIEF

1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance Understanding the five stages of grief grief.com/the–5–stages–of–grief

DECEASED IDENTITY THEFT

To avoid identity theft of a deceased person, it is recommended that you take the following steps: • Scale back the obituary—don’t provide too much information • Notify banks and creditors • Contact credit reporting bureaus—request decedent’s credit report and flag as

“deceased” • Report death to Social Security; they will flag decedent’s number as inactive.

Also notify your local passport office, if applicable • To remove the deceased name from direct marketing lists, register as deceased Do–Not–Contact Web site ........... dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html

DIRECTIONS FOR THE DISPOSITION OF REMAINS

A person may provide written directions for the disposition, including cremation, of their remains in a will, a prepaid funeral contract, or a written instrument called “Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains,” which is signed and acknowledged by the person who agrees to be responsible for the interment. A copy can be obtained at: Legal Hotline for Texans ......................................................800–622–2520 tfsc.state.tx.us

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARY – REPORTING A DEATH

When a Social Security beneficiary dies, report the death to the Social Security Administration as soon as possible. They will require the name and Social Security Number of the deceased, the date and place of death, if there is a surviving spouse or an eligible child, and your name and address. A copy of the Death Certificate may be required. You will be given instructions on handling any forthcoming Social Security checks. A one–time death benefit of $255 is paid to a surviving spouse or eligible child. Social Security Administration ...........................................800–772–1213 ssa.gov

VITAL RECORDS Birth and Death Certificates

Texas Law dictates that both birth and death certificates are deemed confidential for a set period of time. Birth certificates are confidential for 75 years, and death certificates are confidential for 25 years after the death has occurred. If a birth or death certificate is requested before this period of time elapses, certified copies of these documents can only be obtained by a qualified applicant. A qualified applicant can be an immediate family member (by blood or marriage), a legal guardian, or the legal representative of the person for whom the document is requested. If you are not a qualified applicant, you may request a verification of a birth or death record. Certified copies of the birth and death certificates are issued with a state seal and are printed on security paper. Heirloom birth certificates have a different cost and are printed on special paper that boasts a design celebrating Texas. The heirloom certificate ($60) is only offered through Austin, Texas. Funeral homes will supply certified copies of a death certificate for a small fee if requested at the time funeral arrangements are made. Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics...........................................888–963–7111 dshs.state.tx.us/vs/

Final Planning Resources

LOCAL REGISTRARS

Bandera (County Clerk) ..................................................banderacounty.org Bexar (Municipal Archives & Records) ................................... sanantonio.gov Comal (County Clerk).......................................................... co.comal.tx.us Gillespie (County Clerk)..................................................gillespiecounty.org Guadalupe (County Clerk) ............................................. co.guadalupe.tx.us Kendall (County Clerk) ....................................................... co.kendall.tx.us Kerr (County Clerk)................................................................. co.kerr.tx.us Medina (Medina County Health Department)....................... medinahealth.org

VERIFICATION OF BIRTH AND DEATH

The verification of a birth or death record is NOT a certified copy of the birth or death certificate, but a letter with the person’s name, date of occurrence, county where the birth or death took place and a state file number. Letters may not be available at all birth and death registrars. Verifications are available from 1903 to the present date. Fees for birth and death verification range from $22–$30. This fee is non-refundable for records that are not located.

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Funeral Consumers Alliance of San Antonio Providing Consumer Information on End-of-Life Options

Do you want to document your final plans but don’t know where to begin?

We offer resources to get you started... tools that can turn difficult conversations into caring, respectful dialogue.

Visit our website or contact us:

www.funeraladvicesatx.org | 210.341.2213

Since 1948, serving as an all volunteer non-profit consumer group providing information to help people make end-of-life decisions that fit their values and their budget.