Elements of a Funeral Plan

Choose The Services You Want

Planning ahead helps ensure your final wishes are honored.

• Decide on your final disposition (burial, cremation, donation, etc.)
  
• If you want to be buried, choose a cemetery and casket/shroud.
  
• If you want to be cremated, specify what should happen to the cremated remains (buried, scattered, etc.)
  
• If there will be a service, choose a location (funeral home, religious facility, graveside) and a person to organize the service (clergy, celebrant, etc.)
  
• Specify other wishes regarding clothing, flowers, music, charity for memorial gifts, etc.
  
• Write an obituary or make notes about information that should be included in your obituary.

Choose A Service Provider

Choose what funeral home and director you would like to use to handle your service.

• Find a provider who matches your values and is accommodating of the type of services you want.
  
• Funeral homes are legally required to provide their pricing in person or over the phone. Ask for a General Price List to compare pricing between establishments, or make an appointment to get an individualized cost estimate.
• Put your vital information and service requests on file with your chosen provider.

Choose Who Will Be In Charge

Choose someone you trust to carry out your wishes and make sure they know what you want for your funeral.

• By default, your legal next of kin will have the right to final disposition of your remains.
• If you want the person in charge to be someone other than your legal next of kin then you can appoint them by putting that in writing. (We can help.)
  

Make a Plan for Payment

Making decisions about your funeral service in advance can benefit you and your survivors financially. If you do not make arrangements to pay for your funeral, then that responsibility will fall to your next of kin or person in charge. Here are the options:

• Pre-pay for services directly with the funeral home, which often comes with a price guarantee against future inflation, OR
• Set aside funds in a trust or insurance policy of your own which can be assigned to the funeral home at the time of death as payment for services, OR
• Next of kin will be responsible for payment at the time of death.