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Questions & Answers ObituariesToday.com has also compiled a list of frequently asked questions from many who, like you, have considered Pre-Planning their or a loved one's funeral service: |
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It is the act of preparing in advance for your funeral or the funeral of a loved one.
If you are discussing advanced planning with any funeral home or company, plans should be flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of wishes (i.e. different religious or cultural customs), as well as all financial circumstances.
2) What is the difference between Pre-Arranging and Pre-Paying?
- A Pre-arranged Funeral Service is when the details of the service are arranged prior to the time of a loved-one's death, but no money is paid until the time of the funeral. This is often helpful when a family member is very elderly or suffering from a terminal illness. It can give families peace of mind in knowing that all the details have been arranged.
- A Pre-paid Funeral Plan is when you arrange and purchase your funeral in advance at today's prices. This means that you make all the important decisions yourself, taking away the emotional and financial burden from your family. Funeral homes can assist you in planning your funeral and help you to arrange a Pre-paid Funeral Plan.
Young or old, single or married, pre-planning is beneficial for everyone at any age or life cycle. Pre-Planning is not just about planning your own funeral. Many people today are finding themselves caring for their parents, grandparents or other family members. Handling other people's responsibilities is difficult at the best of times. Without the benefit of planning ahead, many find themselves financially and emotionally burdened when having to deal with a death. Since the late 1980’s pre-planning funerals has increased significantly as more and more people understand the peace of mind that comes with Pre-Planning. Encouraging and helping others you love to plan their own funeral needs - before the need arises - is something you can both do together, today.
4) Why should I Pre-Plan?
- Pre-planning gives you the opportunity to reflect and outline your final wishes. It allots people the capacity to have input into the final conclusion of their lives. A pre-arranged funeral also minimizes the anxiety and pressure that your loved one’s may experience when making funeral arrangements on your behalf. Considering the difficulty of dealing with the death of a loved one, those left behind often make decisions based on sheer emotion. Family members may end up spending a significant amount of money on funeral arrangements, more than their loved one would have wanted them to spend. Pre-planning gives you the option to manage the financial responsibilities involved in planning your funeral and providing a detailed guide of your final wishes. This may help ease many of the financial and emotional pressures on family members. Pre-arranging and pre-paying for your funeral is a safe and guaranteed investment.
- When you pre-pay, you are actually paying for the entire arrangement based on current day prices. Did you know that the average cost for a funeral can range between $3,000.00 and $10,000.00. Pre-Planning allows you the opportunity to determine the type of funeral that best suits your budget and personal desires. Your investment will be absolutely guaranteed. As your investment increases in value over time, it will counter balance inflationary increases, providing adequate funds for the future cost of the funeral. Pre-Paying funeral expenses helps get your affairs organized and it is a responsible part of protecting your family's future.
When you meet with a Funeral Director or Pre-need Specialist at your home or at a funeral home to discuss Pre-Planning you will want to express to them in detail the type of service you or your loved one’s may desire. Once they have organized all the details, they will record and file your wishes for future reference, which may be revised upon request. (We would caution against only recording your wishes in your will. Many times it is difficult to have the will available when needed.) At this point they will determine what costs will be associated with the type of funeral service you wish to have. This information will allow you to make an informed and intelligent decision about your last wishes or those of a loved one.
- The laws and regulations for Pre-Planning a funeral may differ from Province to Province and from State to State. It is advisable that you contact a local licensed funeral home or Provincial or State Association to ensure you are receiving accurate information.
- Be sure to select a funeral service provider that is reputable and that you feel comfortable with. If you sense that you are being pressured to purchase something that you are not comfortable with always consider the option of walking away and reporting your experience to the proper authorities.
- In Canada the money received for Pre-Paid funerals are deposited into a trust account under the Guaranteed Funeral Deposits of Canada www.gfd.org. All monies paid on a Pre-Paid contract remain the property of the investor until services are provided for. In the event you should change your mind, and wish to withdraw your investment all your money plus the interest earned will be refunded to you less an administration fee.
- In the USA a good resource for more information on how your money is invested and the advantages is the National Funeral Directors Association www.nfda.org.
There are many advantages to Pre-Paying once you have made your arrangements. Such as:
- locking in costs at today’s rates
- avoiding inflation
- relieving family of the financial and emotional burdens
- plus many more…
