Estate Planning: Funeral Pre-Planning

By Michele Blandino

For most of us, the thought of planning a funeral is far from pleasant.  It is not surprising then that when the task at hand involves planning your own final tribute, the natural tendency of most is to avoid the entire process completely. Yet, with proper guidance, taking part in the planning of your own funeral service can actually be a rewarding, and even comforting experience.

One of the first things you will need to do to get the process started is to select the funeral director that you would like to handle the arrangements. Choosing a funeral director is largely a matter of personal preference. Perhaps you have attended services at a local funeral home and were impressed with the way the director handled the proceedings. Or, maybe you or your family has a long standing relationship with a particular director. Whatever your criteria are, the most important thing is that you are comfortable with the person you have chosen and are confident that they will carry out your directives.

Once you have chosen the person with whom you (and ultimately, your family) will work, you will need to make some decisions.

Details, Details, Details

Planning a funeral requires great attention to detail. You will want to consider every aspect of the process including the type of service you would like (religious, military, or non-religious), the clothes you will wear, and where your remains will be placed when the service is over. Is there a special prayer or scripture reading you would like read? Specific music you would like played or sung? Would you like your remains buried or cremated and then scattered? These are all things you will need to think about when making your arrangements.

Should You Pre-Pay?

Many funeral homes will allow you to pre-pay for your expenses. While this is generally a good idea, it may not be if you are younger and think there is a reasonable possibility that you may be moving to another part of the country at some point in your life. Obviously, there is no reason why your remains can’t be returned to the funeral home you originally selected, however if you have been away from that area for many years, doing so may pose to be a significant inconvenience to those who would want to attend the service.

Those who pre-pay their expenses generally pay less for their services than do family members making the arrangements. Since most families need to make funeral arrangements within a day or two of their loved one’s death, emotion plays a big part in the decision making process. And in many cases, when emotion is involved spending increases.

And, despite what many people believe, pre-paying funeral expenses is not an option reserved for those with excess cash. Most funeral homes will give you the option of paying in full or making installment payments.

Other Benefits

Anyone who has had to write the obituary of a friend or relative that has died knows how difficult it can be to collect all of the required information. In most cases, when you pre-plan your own services, you can complete this task ahead of time.

How to Learn More

Because some states have regulations governing pre-planning funerals, it is best to check with a funeral director in your state to learn where to begin.