End-of-Life-Plan Tips
Considerations For an End-of-Life-Plan
Preplanning a funeral gives you the ability to choose your method of disposition, the exact type of services you want, and allows your family to focus more on things such as grieving and recovery. In addition, preplanning a funeral is also a good thing for you because it allows you to make extremely important decisions through a calm and clear thought process. Emotionally, it is much more likely that you will create a more rational and logical end-of-life plan.
Tips to Preplanning a Funeral:
- Visit various funeral homes and interview multiple funeral directors
- Choose a funeral home and director where you think your family would be most comfortable
- Consider bringing family members with you during this selection process
- Be aware and informed of bereavement entitlements such as veterans, unions, fraternities, etc.
- Consider religious and moral convictions, and discuss them with your family
- Determine your method of disposition (burial, cemetery, entombment, cremation, etc.)
- Plan your ceremony considering things like casket viewing, religious aspects, who should be included, etc.
- Itemize your costs
- The Federal Trade Commission offers a free funeral planning guide titled “Caskets and Burial Vaults” (202-326-2222) which has made it easier for consumers to comparison shop.
- The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral directors to give pricing information over the phone, as well as provide you with a readily available General Price List if you visit them in person. This FTC Funeral Rule also allows you to purchase caskets, which are the single largest funeral expense, from outside vendors without the threat of a carrying charge. Get more information now about The FTC Funeral Rule.
