Prearranging & Advanced Planning
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult times in your life. It is an honor for us to guide you through this difficult and often overwhelming time. There are many decisions that must be made at a time of emotional distress. Our job is to summarize the information you need and provide you with the options that suit you. We will navigate through selecting a cemetery if desired as well as a monument that works to your aesthetic taste and financial means.
After going through the process of planning the funeral of a loved one, people often wonder how they can help their loved ones in the future, to avoid the unknowns and make decision-making an easier process. “What would dad have wanted?”
Did you know that you can “preplan”? When your wishes are already spelled out, your family can reduce the number of decisions necessary and instead take the time they need to grieve your loss. In addition, they can rest assured that you will receive the memorial you specifically chose. This frees them to focus on grieving and healing.
Preplanning is also very helpful for you. It allows you to consider your exact wishes for your memorial with ample time to understand what is possible and to choose carefully. For example, should you desire to be buried with a full funeral service with an open casket, perhaps you would like to have a choice in the selection of your garments.
Considering your memorial early also allows you to create a smart funding plan that can be paid in increments. In addition, preplanning brings tremendous peace of mind because you can rest assured that your family will be minimally impacted, and your wishes will be honored to the letter.
Often, preplanning ends up being one of the most important decisions you can make, and a gift to give your family.
Benefits of Preplanning
Eliminates Uncertainty
You may have very particular wishes such as the location you would like to be interred, or the inscription on the monument. Perhaps you prefer to be buried above ground in a mausoleum or cremated and buried with a traditional monument. When you make decisions in advance family members do not need to wonder what you may have wanted, they can simply consult your specific wishes. You can decide ahead of time which stone you would like. We can help you decide on imagery, sizing, coloration and design. Perhaps you would like to include others on your headstone, called “companion style” giving them another gift.
Additional Decisions
Decisions such as whether you’d like to be cremated or buried with a particular monument design are important to consider. Maybe you would like to have your cremated remains buried or treated another way.
Financial
It helps to be able to plan for costs in the future. Each decision will have an impact that will help guide loved ones. You may choose to pre-pay incrementally toward the memorial, or purchase in advance. Funds can also be set up with specific direction that they only be used for end-of-life expenses. Consult your accountant, financial planner or estate planning professional for specifics on the details — they may be able to provide information on fiscal benefits for insurance or funeral trust funds that can be set up as Medicaid exempt assets.
Veterans
US Armed Forces members may take advantage of government-issued veterans’ memorials, often furnished at no charge. Read more about the United States government’s requirements here.
If you decide you’d like to pre-plan the details of your monument, we will be honored to assist you and your family.
To learn more about how to approach end-of-life topics, please read more at Talk of a Lifetime, where you will find helpful tips for conversations about the things that matter most to a family member’s legacy.