Resources

Where to start:
The first step is understanding the probate process and what it's designed to do. This selection of books from Amazon.com can help you understand the social and legal processes, procedures, and protocols you should know in order to deal with the loss of a family member or close friend.
Probate Basics
Executors Duties & Responsibilities
Conservators & Legal Guardians
Estate Planning
Funeral Arrangements
Eulogies & Condolences

Probate Attorneys:
California Probate and Estate Attorneys
San Francisco Probate and Estate Attorneys
Find an Attorney in California
This MapQuest link will enable you to find estate and probate attorneys anywhere in the United States.

Funeral Homes:
Funeral homes are regulated by State and Federal law, and there are guidelines regarding what a funeral director may or may not do. Choosing a funeral home can be difficult, especially if the family member lived out of state. Here is a list of San Francisco funeral homes.
This MapQuest link will enable you to find a funeral home anywhere in the United States.

Nursing Homes:
Conservators and Legal Guardians can face particularly thorny problems when deciding to put a loved one in a nursing home or care facility. One of the best resources for nursing home information is ElderWeb. Like funeral homes, nursing homes and live-in care facilities are also regulated by the State of California. Fortunately, there are a number of dedicated non-profit organizations that can help you make the difficult decisions needed to choose an appropriate facility (1) (2).
This MapQuest link will enable you to find a nursing home anywhere in the United States.

Calculators:
These are "expert decision-making system modules" at Estate-Guru.com to assist you in choosing your best courses of action. The "Trustee and Executor Evaluator" tool may be especially helpful.

Cemeteries:
Choosing a cemetery can be an agonizing decision, especially if a loved one had established a life far away from other family members. If the family member was a military veteran, options include burial in a National Cemetery, as well. California has an official Cemetery and Funeral Board that regulates cemeteries and funeral homes, and offers a consumers guide to assist you in making decisions. Or, you may want to consider other options to a traditional burial.
This MapQuest link will enable you to find a cemetery anywhere in the United States.

Veterans:
If your family member served in the Armed Forces, he or she may be eligible for burial benefits by the Veterans Administration, including burial with full Military Honors. To arrange for burial in a National Cemetery you will need to supply your funeral director with certain information about the veteran, including proof of military service. The funeral director will then make all the necessary arrangments with the government. In California, the California National Guard conducts the Veterans Honors Program. However, please be aware that space is severely limited or non-existent in many National Cemeteries, so your choices may be limited. In addition to veterans burial benefits, survivors, including the spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents, may be eligible for certain death or insurance benefits from the VA.

Ethnic:
Jewish Traditions & Cemeteries
African American Cemeteries
Chinese, Greek, Italian, Jewish, Japanese, Filipino, and Serbian cemeteries in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.

Miscellaneous:
Inexpensive Web Memorial
Cremation FAQs & Resources
Cremation Providers in California
Burial at Sea (San Francisco)
Funeral Planning
How to Write an Obituary
Unique Memorials for Cremains
Estate Planning Resources
Sacramento Public Law Library (Probate)