Three Common Options for Funeral Pre-Planning

It is terrible that the closest family members of someone who has just passed away are forced to put aside their grief and make difficult decisions regarding arrangements. However, by pre-planning your funeral, you can save your loved ones from this tremendous amount of stress. Here are three common options you can choose from to pre-plan your funeral services:

Pre-Planning Your Funeral in Writing

Though it may be difficult for most, documenting everything that you wish to have at your final services is an extraordinary tool to help your friends and family after you die. It can also help you properly gauge the costs ahead of time. This way, you can paint yourself an accurate picture of how you will need to plan financially.

This step can be as easy as providing your chosen mortuary with a sheet detailing your wishes. You may provide material for a proper obituary, the location in which you wish to be buried, and the type of funeral that you prefer. You can even make decisions in advance about your specific casket, flowers, musical arrangements, and pallbearers. Everything will be spelled out for your loved ones, which will not only relieve them from worry, but it will also let them know that your wishes are being honored.

Payment Plans and Trust Accounts

Many mortuaries allow families and individuals to pre-pay for their services through different financing options. These include payment plans or trust accounts. Payment plans allow individuals or their family members to either pay a monthly charge to the mortuary or have an automatic monthly fee debited to their bank accounts. This is one of the most commonly used methods since the payment amount can be adjusted to meet almost every budget.

A trust account for final arrangements is predicated on a funeral trust, or a contract, that is made between the individual and the funeral home. The trust will spell out who the arrangements are for, everything that needs to be provided at the time of death, and how much money was provided to the funeral home. It should also guarantee that the patron would be provided with the arrangements that he or she selected prior to death.

Paying Ahead with Insurance Proceeds

The best way to pay your last expenses ahead of time is by investing in a funeral insurance plan. The proceeds will be used after your death to cover your preferences for your services and any merchandise required. Also dubbed "final expense insurance," these plans can also leave your heir additional money to cover any outstanding taxes and debts and aid in settlement of your estate.

Alternatively, the funeral home can complete an insurance assignment on the proceeds of your life insurance policy. This can be done by naming the mortuary as the policy's owner, and the proceeds will be assigned to it as payment for all costs at the time of your passing.

In conclusion, pre-planning your final services can take a variety of forms, from documenting everything that you wish to have at your final services to taking care of your last expenses with funeral insurance for seniors. Pre-planning will protect your family's future interests, and you will have peace of mind knowing that everything will be taken care of when you are gone.

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