Final Planning Resources

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 & Human Services hhs.texas.gov/laws-regulations/ forms/advance-directives

AARP aarp.org AfterTalk aftertalk.com Chapelwood United Methodist Grief Support 713–465–3467 chapelwood.org Compassion and Choices End–Of–Life Support 800–247–7421 compassionandchoices.org Dignity Memorial L.I.F.T. 713–862–8844 dignitymemorial.com Grace Presbyterian Grief Support 713–781–7615 gpch.org GriefNet griefnet.org GriefShare griefshare.org Grieving.com grieving.com Life After Loss (American Cancer Society) 713–706–5690 800–227–2345 Memorial Drive Presbyterian Grief Support 713–782–1710 mdpc.org Memorial Drive United Methodist Grief Support 713–468–8356 mdumc.org National Widowers Association nationalwidowers.org Outreach Health outreachhealth.com Samaritan Ministry Also has a support group for caregivers of the sick. 877–764–2426 samaritanministries.org San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, Baytown, Garth Campus 281–420–8600 Soul Care Project soulcareproject.org

St. Cecilia Grief Support 713–465–3414 saintcecilia.org The Light Beyond thelightbeyond.com

Baylor College of Medicine Willed Body Program. 713–798–3858 bcm.edu BioGift 866–670–1799 biogift.org Donate Life Texas donatelifetexas.org Science Care sciencecare.com UT Health Science Houston 713–500–4472 uth.edu

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 713–798–6100 bcm.edu/eye National Kidney Foundation Donor Family Council 800–622–9010 kidney.org National Marrow Donor Program 800–627–7692 bethematch.org The Living Bank Registry and referral service for committing tissues, bones, or vital organs to transplantation or research. 713–961–9431 800–528–2971 livingbank.org United Network for Organ Sharing 804–782–4800 unos.org

Caring Connections Connects consumers with hospice programs. 800–658–8898 caringinfo.org Grave Talk A resource for initiating important conversations around end-of-life issues. churchofenglandfunerals.org Hospice Foundation of America 800–854–3402 hospicefoundation.org National Association for Home Care & Hospice 202–547–7424 nahc.org National Hospice and Palliative Care 703–837–1500 nhpco.org Planning for a Graceful Exit A guide for planning your own personal “graceful exit.” 800–318–4452 epicenter.org/wc-end-of-life-planning

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Houston 713–301–8566 funeralshouston.org Continued

Galveston County Social Services Indigent burial and cremation services for North Galveston county. 409–770–5585 Harris County Indigent Burial Program Assistance in finding low-cost funeral arrangements. 713–696–1952 Texas Funeral Service Commission Funeral home complaints. 512–936–2474 tfsc.state.tx.us Texas Prepaid Funeral Contracts 877–276–5554 prepaidfunerals.texas.gov For Veterans Gold Star Wives of America 888–751–6350 goldstarwives.org Government Headstone or Markers 800–827–1000 cem.va.gov Military Funeral Honors military.com U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 800–827–1000 va.gov VA Houston National Veterans Cemetery 281–447–8686 cem.va.gov

Dignity Memorial Providers, Grief Materials 800–344–6489 Grief Recovery Center 281–888–0815 InnerWisdom Counseling Center 713–592–9292 Red Bird Center 713–621–2700

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

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 Website ..........................................dmachoice.thedma.org

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. tfsc.state.tx.us or Legal Hotline for Texans at 800–622–2520

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

Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics...........................................888–963–7111 dshs.state.tx.us/vs/ 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. Continued

Brazoria County (County Clerk) 979–864–1355 Fort Bend County (County Clerk) 281–341–8685 Galveston County (Health District) 409–938–7221 Harris County (County Clerk) 713–274–8600 Houston Bureau of Vital Statistics 713–837–0311 Montgomery County (County Clerk) 936–539–7885 Walker County (County Clerk) 936–436–4922

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.