Family Liaison

I.    The Family Liaison should be assigned from the host department and agreed upon by the family.  If this person would like assistance from the AFFI Honor Guard, they should contact the Event Coordinator as soon as possible.  A person may be assigned to them, but should stay in the background as a resource.  The FL should have a department vehicle assigned to him/her for the entire funeral process if possible.

    The Family Liaison must be prepared to discuss all parameters of the funeral process, its ceremonies and counsel the family in its decisions.  The FL must be able to relay information to the department as to what level of involvement the department will have in the funeral process in accordance with the family's wishes.

    The FL must assist the family in its decisions to determine what events, readings, music, and extent of church and cemetery services are wanted.  He/she then must relay these requests to the key personnel at the coordination meeting to determine which packages will be used.

    The FL must assist the family in determining the primary pall bearers and the optional honorary pall bearers.  

II.    The FL must assist the family in determining:

        A.    Type of Internment.
        B.    Which funeral home will be used.
        C.    Which church will be used.
        D.    Which clergy will be used (include F.D. chaplain or not).
        E.    Which cemetery will be used.
        F.    Will the deceased be buried in uniform?  If so, obtain uniform.
        G.    Obtain all articles of clothing that the deceased will wear (except
                shoes) and deliver to funeral director or funeral coordinator.
        H.    Obtain recent photograph of deceased for funeral director
                (personnel file or family photo).
        I.    Determine the length of church services as well as:
            1)    Readers of scripture;
            2)    What scripture will be read;
            3)    Music at church;
            4)    Who will deliver sermon;
            5)    Deliver background information on deceased to individual
                    delivering funeral eulogy;
            6)    Ending last alarm bell service.
        J.    Determine the length of wake and establish tentative schedule.
        K.    Determine what ceremonies will take place at cemetery.
            1)    Band;
            2)    Firing squad;
            3)    Readings;
            4)    Eulogy and who will deliver it;
            5)    Taps.
        L.    Procession items:
            1)    Will a pumper be used as a caisson or will a conventional
                    hearse be used instead?
            2)    Will a pumper or ladder truck be used as a flower car?
            3)    Will personnel walk alongside the caisson or drive in procession?
        M.    Identify and determine any other special considerations on behalf
                of the family (special requests, etc.).

III.    The Funeral Liaison will also have to address the following items with the family and the Event Coordinator:

    A.    Autopsy reports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, death
            certificates (Workman's Comp.), VA or military records. (Order death
            certificates in Fire Department name to get them free).
    B.    Consult an attorney for the family to review all matters (optional).
    C.    Fire Department Retirement Plan- Survivor Benefits.
    D.    VA widow and children benefits and burial benefits.
    E.    Social Security- Survivor Benefits.
    F.    City insurance plans:
        1)    Continue medical plan to family;
        2)    Life insurance,
        3)    Optional insurance;
        4)    Local or association benefits;
        5)    Widows and orphans funds.
    G.    W-2 form from Finance/Personnel Department.
    H.    Uniform allowance check.
    I.    Final paycheck, including sick leave and vacation pay off.
    J.    Income tax report.
    K.    Loans outstanding that may be insured, including credit union loans.
    L.    Transfer of ownership of property and vehicles to survivors.
    M.    Review all bills before payment by survivors for legality, honesty,
            and accuracy, including last illness, previous debts, and funeral
            expenses.  Some bills may be covered by medical insurance
            or otherwise not be legally due.
    N.    Private insurance policies- assist in collecting same.
    O.    Change title of all bank accounts.
    P.    Advise survivors not to loan money to any person, especially relatives
            and friends.  Put it in the bank or savings and loan.  There will be
            ample time to invest wisely after the turmoil settles down.
    Q.    Investigate possibility of scholarships available for college for
            surviving dependents.
    R.    Check on mortgage insurance.
    S.    Check on Workmen's Compensation with an attorney.
    T.    Check on any possible third party lawsuits with an attorney.
            Example: Fireman at fire, hit by an auto: Fireman may be able to
            sue driver/owner for damages.