As funeral directors, we often get asked when the best time to plan a funeral is? Truthfully, the answer is any time before you have to plan a funeral. You wouldn’t wait to plan a wedding or a baby shower until a few days before, so why wait to plan a funeral? Preplanning a funeral not only allows you to record your wishes, it gives you and your family the peace of mind to know that everything is taken care of.

There are two types of funeral plans, preneed and at-need (sometimes referred to as immediate need). At-need funeral plans are made by the surviving family members after a death has occurred. It can be a difficult experience for the survivors because emotions are high, time is short, and their grief needs to be managed. Not only that, but the imminent financial concerns can add to the stress of everything.

Preneed funeral plans are much less stressful and more advantageous. Rather than rushing to complete arrangements, you can think about what you want your service to include and talk about the options with your family. Making funeral arrangements in advance also offers several benefits which we’ve outlined below.

lf someone were to ask you, “what’s the benefit of making funeral arrangements in advance?”, the simple answer is that “it helps prevents mistakes.” Therefore, many of us make plans in many aspects of our life. We plan for our wedding, our children’s education, family vacations, and other significant expected life events. Also, we plan for unexpected life events by purchasing home, auto, and medical insurance.

So why don’t more people plan their funeral? Obviously planning your own funeral is morbid and does not fill you with positive emotions, but it remains very important and beneficial.

• Make Sure Your Wishes are Followed
• Pre-Paid Funerals Offer Peace of Mind
• Remove the Stress From Your Family
• Lock Into a Price & Avoid Inflation
• Talk About it With Your Family

So, you’re ready to start funeral preplanning, but you have questions about what you receive when the arrangements are finished. Once the contract has been signed, the funeral director will provide you with a written statement that outlines the goods and services you have purchased (along with pricing for each). You will also receive a copy of the preneed contract discussing the terms and conditions, this includes:

• A guarantee that if the goods and services you selected are not available at time of service, a substitute of equal or greater value will be provided at no cost.
• The geographical boundaries of the firm’s service area.
• Under what circumstances the contract can be transferred to another funeral home.
• State where the funds are held until the funeral service.
• Explain who is responsible for paying taxes on any income or interest generated by the preneed funds you invest.
• Discuss whether, the price of goods and services is guaranteed.
• The terms if you wish to cancel your preneed contract.