Important Things to Consider When Pre-Planning a Funeral

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Planning a funeral service in advance will allow you to rest easy knowing that you funeral will be carried out exactly as you envision it. Here are some important tips that you need to consider when planning your funeral service.

Sit Down with a Funeral Director

There are a lot of elements that come together to create a funeral and a funeral director has the experience to handle all types of services. Sit down with them and go over exactly what type of service you want and if you want a viewing of the body or if you want to be cremated. Understand that being buried with a viewing will mean that the body will have to be preserved with embalming fluid and made up before it can be presented to family and friends. If you have particular type of religious requests that you want carried out after death then a funeral director can make sure they are carried out to your specifications. They can also make sure that the proper scriptures are read at the funeral and that a minister or preacher of your domination is present to ensure the service is done properly.

Understand How Much Insurance Covers

Many people think that just because they have some type of life insurance policy that it automatically covers all of the expenses related to the funeral. Most insurance policies are one lump payment paid out to the beneficiary and the policy is set, so that over time the cost of a funeral can rise with inflation. Consult with your local insurance company to find out exactly how much they pay out at the time of time and then consult with funeral director at your local funeral home to inquire about pricing. Make sure you factor in the cost of a casket, viewing, or cremation and all the expenses related to your funeral to ensure that your family has the necessary funds to pay everything without coming out of pocket.

Sit Down with Family to Convey Your Wishes

One of the best things you an do is sit down with your family and have an open discussion about your funeral and convey your wishes. This will let them know exactly what you want to have happen with your body after you pass away and that way there will be no surprises to family when it happens. Take the time to explain if you want to be buried, where you want them to bury your body, what type of headstone you want, and then buy the plot in advance. In the event that you want to be cremated talk about what you want done with your ashes and if you want them spread at a location that has special meaning to you. You should also consider if the family wants to keep some of the ashes in an urn on display or keep a tiny portion of the ashes in a piece of jewelry they can take with them everywhere.

Pre-arranging a funeral is one of the best things that you can do to ensure that you your family doesn't have to worry about the planning after you pass away. 

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19 May 2015

Have You Planned for Your Future?

When my father passed away a year ago, my mother didn't have any problems with the funeral or burial. My father planned his funeral in advance. He didn't want to burden my mom with any problems during her time of grieving. That hit me. I realized that I didn't have any plans for my own future, which would make it even harder on my wife and kids. So, I contacted a funeral home online and requested information about burial services. The funeral home provided me with many options that I could afford to pay over time or upfront. My wife also helped select burial plots for us because we didn't want to be separated — even after death. I encourage you to read through my blog. It offers great tips and advice on how to plan for your own future. Don't wait. You never know what life holds for you.