Pre-Planning

Funeral Pre-Planning

Funeral pre-planning is something that everyone should take seriously but few seldom do. Many people will often acknowledge that they know it’s important As funeral directors, we often get asked when the best time to plan a funeral is? Truthfully, the answer is any time before you have to plan a funeral. You wouldn’t wait to plan a wedding or a baby shower until a few days before, so why wait to plan a funeral? Preplanning a funeral not only allows you to record your wishes, it gives you and your family the peace of mind to know that everything is taken care of.

There are two types of funeral plans, preneed and at-need (sometimes referred to as immediate need). At-need funeral plans are made by the surviving family members after a death has occurred. It can be a difficult experience for the survivors because emotions are high, time is short,
and their grief needs to be managed. Not only that, but the imminent financial concerns can add to the stress of everything. 

Preneed funeral plans are much less stressful and more advantageous. Rather than rushing to complete arrangements, you can think about what you want your service to include and talk about the options with your family. Making funeral arrangements in advance also offers several benefits which we’ve outlined below.

Funeral Pre-Planning Benefits

Make Sure Your Wishes Are Followed

Making funeral arrangements in advance ensures that your family follows how you want to be honored when you die. First, you can explicitly state that you would like to be cremated vs buried. Then you can specify if you would like a ceremony to honor your life and what that ceremony would look like and include. You can get very detailed with your instructions such as detailing where you would like your ashes scattered. Preplanning your funeral ultimately gives you control and power to make important decisions.

Remove the Stress From Your Family

Trying to plan a funeral immediately after a loved one’s passing is very difficult. Family members are overcome with grief and not necessarily thinking clearly. By preplanning a funeral, you can relieve your family of the burden of making these arrangements. Instead, when death occurs, your loved ones can focus their energy on comforting one another and mentally preparing for the service.


It’s also common for family members to disagree on a loved one’s final arrangements. Clearly communicating your wishes in your plans can quickly resolve disputes. Preplanning a funeral is an easy way to avoid disputes and remove the stress from your family.

Lock Into a Price and Avoid Inflation

Inflation impacts every industry and funeral homes are not exempt. When you preplan a service and pay in advanced, you can lock into a price on the day you sign the contract and potentially avoid the impact of inflation or rising costs.

What's Included When You Pre-Pay for Pre-Need Funeral Plans

So, you’re ready to start funeral pre-planning, but you have questions about what you receive when the arrangements are finished. Once the contract has been signed, the funeral director will provide you with a written statement that outlines the goods and services you have purchased (along with pricing for each). You will also receive a copy of the preneed contract discussing the terms and conditions, this includes:  
  • A guarantee that if the goods and services you selected are not available at time of service, a substitute of equal or greater value will be provided at no cost. 
  • The geographical boundaries of the firm’s service area. 
  • Under what circumstances the contract can be transferred to another funeral home. 
  • State where the funds are held until the funeral service. 
  • Explain who is responsible for paying taxes on any income or interest generated by the preneed funds you invest. 
  • Discuss whether, the price of goods and services is guaranteed. 
  • The terms if you wish to cancel your preneed contract. 

 Using the Online Pre-Planning Tool

Our website features a step-by-step interactive online pre-arrangement form that can be used to record your end-of-life plan. You'll be asked to create an account with a username and password so you can login at any time to complete or change the plan.
Pre-Arrange Online
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