A few years ago, people might have been shocked to learn that you are pre-planning your funeral. However, given the challenging economic times and increased funeral costs, pre-planned funerals have become quite popular. If you wish to pre-plan your funeral, read this guide to learn the various aspects of a pre-planned funeral.
A funeral fund
The primary objective of a pre-planned funeral is to ensure your friends and family have a hassle-free experience as they lay you to rest. Therefore, explore ideas on how you will fund the event. You could either take a pre-paid funeral plan or set up a funeral fund.
If you opt to set up a funeral fund, open a joint bank account with a trusted family member or beneficiary. Make regular contributions to this account. Once you die, the money becomes available to your beneficiary.
One of the downsides of a funeral fund is that you may lack the discipline to make regular contributions. Besides, you can’t be certain that your loved one will use the funds as you instructed. For example, they may opt to pay funeral costs that were not part of your initial agreement.
Pre-paid funeral plans are a suitable alternative since they operate more or less like an insurance cover. Accredited funeral homes and directors sell these policies. The law requires the director or funeral home to use it for the agreed purposes.
When applying for the policy, your guiding principle is that you should work with reputable directors and funeral homes.
Consult with the policy provider to establish what the pre-paid funeral plan pays. Additionally, assess the payment plans. More often than not, these are negotiable to ensure you have an easy time paying the policy.
Your final resting wishes
Your family and friends will have numerous ideas on how to give you a befitting send-off. In some cases, they will conflict since each person might assume they know what is best for you. A pre-planned funeral enables you to decide how you want to plan and execute your funeral.
Below are some things to consider when writing your final wishes:
- What your preferred funeral is. This could be a cremation, ground, in-ground or natural burial.
- How you want people to handle your remains. For example, you may want to turn your ashes into jewellery or bury your body at a specific site.
- Who the guest speakers at your funeral are. This could be anyone from family members to co-workers or friends.
- What your last words are. For instance, you would want a speech read out to guests during the funeral.
The funeral director
Some people underrate the importance of the funeral director. However, they are a crucial part of the pre-planning process. After all, you likely want a professional to plan your funeral and follow your wishes to the letter.
A funeral director allows your family to mourn your death without worrying about funeral arrangements such as moving the body, leasing a burial site, inviting guests and arranging wakes. Experienced funeral directors will go a mile further to offer counselling services to help your family cope with grief.
When hiring the director, your primary concern should be their experience and ability to work with your family members. Use due diligence to establish how the director relates to other clients. Moreover, ask for a rate card to determine if their services are within your budget.