Talking about your funeral is uncomfortable, but it’s also an important part of your estate plan. When you make decisions about your funeral now, not only do you have a say in how you will be honored, but you will also be a help to your family.
When you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, planning may not be what you want to be doing. Pre-arranging your funeral can lift some of that burden for your family members. Here are a few questions to consider while doing so:
How will your body be cared for?
One of the first things to decide is what will happen to your body. Would you like to be buried or cremated? What about looking into more eco-friendly ways to be cared for? It may be helpful to discuss this with your family and consider what may be helpful in their grieving process.
Where will you be buried?
Does your family have a plot that you would like to use? Or maybe you would like to find a place to start one. Consider places that are special to you and how accessible they are to your family if they would like to visit.
What type of celebration do you want?
Funerals can look so many ways. What type of event do you feel will best reflect you and help your family celebrate your life? Focus on what matters to you. It could be a recognition of your life, scripture readings, a passage from your favorite book or a song that means a lot to you.
What details can you take care of now?
Aside from just making larger decisions about your funeral, you can help take care of some of the specifics right now. Though it may feel uncomfortable, you can actually choose a funeral home and make pre-paid arrangements. This can help ease the financial burden that a funeral can be for your loved ones.
As you begin considering your funeral, it’s wise to discuss it with your estate planning lawyer and your family. They can help you make decisions and put them into your estate plan.
