A Veteran Funeral Planning Checklist
Reviewed by Everendium Editorial Team · Last reviewed August 18, 2026
Quick answer
Key steps include locating the DD-214, deciding between a national cemetery and another location, requesting military funeral honors through the funeral home, and checking eligibility for survivor benefits if applicable — most of this can be coordinated by a funeral home experienced with veteran services.
Pulling together everything relevant to a veteran’s funeral can feel like a lot at once — here’s a practical, step-by-step way to approach it.
1. Locate the DD-214
This is the key document for accessing most veteran burial benefits. If it can’t be found, the funeral home or the National Archives can often help locate a copy — don’t let a missing document delay starting the process.
2. Tell the funeral home about the veteran’s service right away
Mentioning this early helps the funeral home start coordinating benefits and honors that might otherwise take longer to arrange.
3. Decide on burial location
Consider whether a national cemetery, a private cemetery, a state veterans cemetery, or tribal land (if applicable) fits your family’s wishes — see our guide on national cemetery eligibility for more detail on that specific option.
4. Request military funeral honors
The funeral home typically coordinates this directly with the relevant military branch or a veteran service organization — see our guide on military funeral honors for what to expect.
5. Check on survivor benefits, if applicable
If there’s a surviving spouse or dependent, it’s worth checking eligibility for benefits like Dependency and Indemnity Compensation — see our guide on benefits for surviving spouses and dependents.
6. Consider a local veteran service officer
Available through veteran service organizations or county veteran affairs offices, a service officer can help navigate benefits applications and answer specific questions a funeral home may not be equipped to address.
This checklist covers common steps — a funeral home experienced with veteran services can tailor this further to your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
What's the very first thing to do?+
Locate the DD-214 if possible, and mention the veteran's service to the funeral home right away — this starts the process for benefits and honors that may otherwise take longer to arrange.
Do I need to decide on a national cemetery immediately?+
Not necessarily immediately, but relatively soon, since this affects several other arrangements — the funeral home can help you understand the realistic timeline for your specific situation.
How do I request military funeral honors?+
This is typically arranged through the funeral home, which coordinates directly with the relevant military branch or a veteran service organization — you generally don't need to arrange this independently.
Is there a single checklist I can print or save?+
You can use this article as that checklist — the funeral home you're working with can also often provide their own version specific to their process and your local resources.
Sources
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