Making Funeral Arrangements in Advance Can Save Your Family Money and Heartache

 Posted on August 22, 2017 in Estate Planning

“It’s what he would have wanted.”

We have all heard this phrase used by surviving family members of a recently deceased person as a justification for taking certain actions. Too often, we say such things to make ourselves feel better about the decisions we are making on behalf of the decedent, rather than knowing for sure that what we are doing is what he or she actually wanted. Unfortunately, many families are left to figure out what their loved would have wanted because that loved one never wrote down his or her wishes as a part of an estate plan. This is especially common regarding funeral arrangements as the thought of making such decisions can be extremely difficult.

Save Your Family the Trouble

While it is understandably tough to confront your own mortality, the reality is that we all will die one day. With that in mind, you have two choices regarding your funeral and related arrangements. You could leave everything for your surviving family members to decide after your death or you could make plans in advance.

Leaving everything for later means that your spouse, children, or grandchildren will be forced to make such decisions during an already emotional and overwhelming time. They will need to guess what you would have wanted on every point, including whether to have a funeral, what the tone of the service will be, and cremation or burial decisions.

If you have an idea of what you want, it is relatively easy to include your directions in your estate plan. You could choose a traditional church-based funeral or a more upbeat celebration of life. You could have open calling hours at a local funeral home, or you could keep everything very private. You could opt to buried in the same cemetery as your parents, or your remains could be cremated and your ashes spread at a particularly sentimental place. Whatever your choices may be, your family will not have to struggle with making them for you.

Saving Money

The other advantage to making funeral arrangements in advance is that there are often significant cost savings available. By prepaying for funeral home services and related expenses, you may be able to save a great deal. It is important, however, to carefully vet funeral services providers to ensure that the money you spend is not wasted or lost.

If you decide not to prepay, many financial advisors recommend setting money aside for funeral expenses. There are various types of accounts available that will allow to you keep that money safe and accruing interests until it is needed upon your death.

We Can Help

To learn more about your options for making funeral arrangements in advance, contact an experienced Lombard estate planning attorney. Call 630-426-0196 for a confidential consultation at A. Traub & Associates and get the guidance you need today.

Sources:

https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-make-your-funeral-wishes-known-to-your-loved-ones-3505376

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0301-funeral-costs-and-pricing-checklist