Planning a funeral in Bay City, MI usually starts with calling a funeral home, deciding between burial and cremation, and meeting with a funeral director to arrange the service. Michigan law requires the death certificate to be filed within a set window after death, and most families settle the remaining details over the days that follow.

If someone you love just died, you probably have more questions right now than answers, and that is normal.

Gephart Funeral Home has walked Bay City families through these decisions for over 80 years. Here is what typically comes next, in order.

What to Do in the First 24 Hours

If a death happens in a hospital, hospice, or care facility, staff usually help you contact a funeral home once you are ready. If it happens at home, call the funeral home directly, and they will guide you on what to do when a death occurs, including whether to call 911 or a hospice nurse first.

You do not need to make every decision at once. Once Gephart Funeral Home is contacted, our team arranges the transfer, begins the required paperwork, and gives your family room to gather before anything else has to happen.

Deciding Between Burial and Cremation

This is usually the first major decision, and there is no universal right answer. Some families choose burial because it matches a religious tradition or because they want a permanent place to visit. Others choose cremation for flexibility or the ability to plan a memorial for a later date.

At Gephart Funeral Home, we own and operate our own on-site crematory, so if your family chooses cremation, your loved one never leaves our care from start to finish. Both paths can include a visitation, a formal service, or a smaller gathering. Our cremation vs. traditional burial guide walks through the practical differences in more detail.

What Happens at the Arrangement Conference

Once the initial paperwork is handled, you will sit down with a licensed funeral director for what is called an arrangement conference. This is where the shape of the service comes together, the date, the location, whether there will be a visitation, and any personal touches like a tribute video or livestreaming for family who cannot travel.

Nothing has to be decided alone. You can review our full range of funeral services in Bay City, including traditional funeral services, before this meeting if it helps to see the options in advance.

Documents and Information You'll Need

A little preparation makes the arrangement conference go faster, though your funeral director can also help fill in gaps. It generally helps to have on hand:

• Certified copies of the death certificate (your funeral director can help order these)
• The decedent's Social Security number and legal name
• Veteran discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable
• Any relevant insurance policy numbers
• Basic biographical details for the obituary, such as birthplace, education, and family names

Under the FTC's Funeral Rule, you also have the right to receive a written, itemized list of the services and merchandise you choose before you agree to pay, so you always know what is included.

Choosing a Service Style That Fits Your Family

Not every family wants the same kind of service. Some prefer a traditional funeral with a viewing. Others want a memorial service without the decedent present, a graveside committal only, or a celebration of life led by a life celebrant instead of clergy.

Gephart Funeral Home offers full personalization for any of these formats, including tribute videos, memory displays, and livestreaming for out-of-town family. If your family has military service to honor, we also coordinate veteran honors as part of the service.

How Soon Should the Funeral Take Place

There is no set legal deadline for holding a funeral in Michigan, but a few practical timelines matter. The death certificate must be filed within a window required by Michigan law, and cemeteries or crematories need that paperwork before they can proceed.

Most services happen within a week of death, though it is common to wait longer if family need to travel or a cremation memorial is planned for a later date. If embalming is not chosen, your funeral home will keep your loved one in careful refrigeration until the service.

How Gephart Funeral Home Guides You Every Step

Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because death does not wait for business hours. As a second-generation, family-owned funeral home, we have helped Bay City families for decades.

Meet our licensed funeral directors who will walk with you from the first call through the service itself. If you would rather have these decisions made ahead of time, we also offer planning ahead resources so your family isn't left guessing later.

Frequently Asked Questions About Planning a Funeral in Bay City

Here are answers to common questions about planning a funeral in Bay City.

How soon after a death should a funeral be held in Michigan?

There is no state law setting a deadline, but Michigan law does require the death certificate to be filed within a set window after death, and that paperwork is needed before burial or cremation can move forward. Most Bay City families hold a service within a week, though it is common to wait longer for out of town family to travel or to plan a memorial after cremation. Your funeral director will help you set a timeline that fits your family.

What is the first thing I should do when someone dies?

If the death happens in a hospital or care facility, staff will usually help you contact a funeral home once you are ready. If it happens at home, call the funeral home directly and they will guide you on next steps, including whether to call 911 first. Gephart Funeral Home is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help with these first calls.

Do I need to decide between burial and cremation right away?

No. It helps to have a general direction before your arrangement conference, but nothing has to be final on the first call. Many families talk through the options with their funeral director before deciding. Because Gephart Funeral Home operates its own on-site crematory, cremation families still receive full personalization and continuous care, the same as a traditional funeral.

What documents do I need to plan a funeral?

You will typically need the decedent's Social Security number, veteran discharge papers if applicable, and basic biographical details for the obituary, such as birthplace and employment history. Your funeral director can help you request certified copies of the death certificate. Under the FTC's Funeral Rule, you will also receive a written, itemized list of everything you select before you agree to pay.

Can Gephart Funeral Home help if we don't know what we want yet?

Yes. Most families arrive at their first meeting without a firm plan, and that is completely normal. Our licensed funeral directors will walk you through each option step by step, from service style to personalization, so you can make decisions at a pace that feels manageable rather than rushed.

Whenever you are ready to talk through the details, we are here. There is no pressure and no obligation, just people who know how to help. Gephart Funeral Home is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (989) 686-2291, or you can contact our team whenever the timing feels right for your family.