New York Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog
Nobody likes talking about what will happen after their death. But it is a universal truth that every one of us will die at some time, which is why it is absolutely critical to create a funeral plan. One of the best ways to make sure that your loved ones have as easy a time as possible following your death is to create a detailed plan addressing end of life issues.
Unfortunately, a 2017 report by the National Funeral Directors’ Association reveals that only 21 percent of Americans discuss details about their funeral with loved ones.
While it might sound grim, there are three elements of a funeral: preparing a corpse, holding a ceremony, and handling the internment. The purpose of this article is to review some important steps that you should make sure to follow when planning for what will happen at your own funeral.
# 1 – Plan in Advance
By deciding on your funeral plans early, you can also avoid making any last minute decisions. This does not mean, however, that you should purchase a prepaid funeral home plan because these often result in lost money.
One exception to this rule is if you are engaged in Medicaid spend down, which might make purchasing a funeral lot ahead of time a wise idea.
# 2 – Purchase Only What You Want
It is not necessary to a package funeral home plan. Instead, it is possible to buy each service individually. If this will result in greater savings, it is worth considering.
You should not feel constrained to buy everything from the same funeral home either. Some people discover that it is possible to save costs on flowers for urns by using third party options.
While this might end up as a decision that impacts your survivors more than it does you, it is important that you not feel constrained by the funeral planning process.
# 3 – Research Memorial Societies
Memorial societies are a nonprofit service that can provide a great deal of assistance in the funeral planning process. Many of these services are able to negotiate discounts at funeral homes for members, which greatly offset the one time membership fee.
As a result, it is a wise idea to consider whether membership in a memorial society will fight into your estate planning goals.
# 4 – Discuss Your Plans with Others and Write Them Down
It is a wise idea to tell your loved one the sort of funeral that you plan on having as well as how much you would like to spend. This will greatly reduce the burden that your survivors will face following your death.
It is critical to understand that your loved ones might not be able carry out all of your funeral and burial wishes, which is why you should not leave them feeling bad or guilty if they are unable to do so.
Speak with an Experienced Estate Planning
The estate planning process is complex, but an experienced estate planning can make sure that you create a plan that is most likely to make sure that all of your wishes are carried out.
Contact an experienced attorney at Ettinger Estate Planning today to schedule a free initial consultation.