Why Have a Funeral Plan

Why plan your funeral

  • Help your loved ones by allowing them to grieve rather than worrying about planning and paying for your funeral and internment. Instead of experiencing doubt about their decisions, they will find comfort in the knowing that the arrangements are in keeping with your wishes. You may also prevent disagreements if family members have differing opinions on what you wanted or what is appropriate.
  • Exercise control by making your own decisions about your funeral and final resting place. If you have strong feelings about the choice between burial and cremation, or if you know exactly what you want done with your ashes, you can ensure that your desires are carried out when you make the plans yourself.
  • Save money by making informed decisions. Many people are pressured into spending too much money when they are forced to quickly plan a funeral following the death of a loved one. When you plan your own funeral, you have time to shop around and make economical choices. You also have time to purchase life insurance or set up an investment account to pay for your funeral.

Why some people don’t plan funerals

  • Distaste for thinking about death
  • Superstition that planning will hasten death
  • Lack of knowledge or support
  • Fear of pressure from commercial funeral providers
  • Incorrect belief that funerals need to be pre-paid.

How a funeral plan differs from a will

  • Funeral plan: Documents whether you want to be buried or cremated, if you want a service and how it should be, and how all of this will be paid
  • Will: Documents how your estate / assets will be distributed

Legal experts are adamant that your will is not a good place to specify your funeral plan. The purpose of a will is to define the distribution of property and possibly to name guardians for minor children. It should not be used to describe a funeral plan because it may not be located and acted upon until several weeks after your death.

How to create a funeral plan

The best way to pass on your funeral plan and interment preferences is by putting it into writing. A simple letter is sufficient. Keep it with other important papers that will be needed after your death. You should review you plan every few years to ensure that you haven’t changed your mind about any of your decisions. If your wishes have changed, you can modify your letter or add an addendum.

Resources

For information about the legal aspects of planning your funeral, visit the Nolo legal website.

There are a variety of books and software products that explain exactly what type of information should be included in a letter that describes your funeral plans. Software products like Quicken WillMaker Plus provide legal documents and complete instructions on how to complete them.

Websites like LastPass provide a convenient place to store personal documents.

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  • Casket

    A rectangular container for human remains.