subject: Pre-arranged Funerals: Can You Plan Ahead Your Own? [print this page] Death is such a taboo topicDeath is such a taboo topic. We can freely talk about anything except everything about funerals. It is too ghastly, too depressing and a bit scary to chat about less alone plan for it. But, whether we like it or not, death is a fact of life and we will all face the same fate. It is just a matter of time.
Though death is real, it is very uncertain. After all, no man has ever predicted his own death. If you really think about it, planning a funeral is not offensive but rather practical and cost-effective. Death is a fancy event and the cost of a modest funeral can be overwhelming. Thus, pre-arranging your funeral can help ease the emotional as well as the financial strain of those who will be left behind.
The Basics
When we talk about death, the first thing that would usually come into mind is a pre-need funeral plan which is exactly what you need. Not only that, pre-arranging a funeral also means pre-funding the memorial as well as buying an insurance policy that can cover the cost of a decent funeral when the time comes.
Of course, not all people have accepted the idea of planning their own funeral but if you have read the article this far, it means that you must have already given it a thought.
One of the major advantages of pre-arranging a funeral is the peace of mind that you can bestow upon your living heirs. With a plan ahead of time, your beloved can easily handle and deal with grief and loss without being further troubled about the finance woes greatly attributed to a funeral.
While you are still strong and able, you can make all the arrangements ahead of time. This is to spare your family from the additional burden of arranging the tedious paperwork in time of great grief, sadness and mourning. You must understand that a person going through a bereavement is emotionally and mentally weak. Imagine how unbearable the whole process is to the ones you will be leaving behind. If you still find it grim, then take pre-planning a funeral a way to make your final wishes known.
Other Things to Consider
Planning a funeral is not just all about arranging the expenses, more importantly, you also need to take care of these two other things:
The Will
Regardless of how vast or how little your wealth is, it is important to draw a will, unless you want the state to take over your assets after you die. List all your properties and assets as well as your liabilities such as credit cards, mortgage, personal loans etc.
Whatever you want to include in your list, be sure to be clear on who gets what. After you have finalised everything, sign the will and have it witnessed by two persons. You also need to put the addresses of your witnesses should the court summon them. The most important thing is to draw the will in the presence of a lawyer to guide you through the legal aspects of your Last Will and Testament.
Planning the Actual Funeral
Shop around and ask for the prices of casket, embalming and the funeral director's professional services in your local area, city, country or state. Be sure to get the best value for your money and choose a funeral director who can do all the necessary arrangements without hidden costs or extra charges that your family will be burdened with when the bell finally tolls.
There is a season for everything, even death. It may not be a good topic to be openly discussed with your loved ones but if it means putting everything into perspective, then it is totally worth it.
