Making pre-arrangements is a thoughtful way to spare your loved ones the burden of making difficult decisions during a time of grief. But preplanning your own funeral can feel like a daunting task. Here are a few tips to help you get started on making pre-arrangements.
Prepare a Pre-planning Funeral Checklist
Anticipate The Necessary Paperwork
There is a lot of paperwork involved in planning a funeral, from death certificates to cremation permits. By preplanning your funeral, you can gather all of the necessary documents in advance and keep them in a safe place. This will save your loved ones the hassle of having to track down the paperwork during an already difficult time.
Gather Personal Info and Contacts
Make sure you bring your insurance information, the name and number of your primary care physician, and a contact list of family, friends, and organizations you’d like to be contacted in the case of your passing. It can also be helpful to gather some personal details about your family, such as your parents’ dates and places of birth, and the names of those you might like to be included in your obituary. If you have a will, make sure to include information about how to access it.
Preparing Your Final Wishes
What are your thoughts and final wishes after you die? Do you want to be cremated or buried? Do you want a traditional funeral service or a more informal gathering? Making your wishes known in advance will help your loved ones make the arrangements you desire.
Choose a Funeral Home and Types of Services
Here is where you start to get down to the most important details. Make sure to name the funeral home where you would like your services to take place. Do you want to be cremated or have a traditional burial? If you are choosing a traditional burial, include details about where you will be buried, whether you want to be embalmed, etc. If you are choosing to be cremated, make note of whether you’d like a funeral to be held beforehand, or if you’d prefer a memorial service to take place afterward. Do you have any particular music, photos, or videos that you’d like to be played at your service? Perhaps you have an idea of who you would like to eulogize at your funeral. You may also have a preferred place of worship where you’d like the service to take place. All of this information is relevant and should be included in your pre-arrangements.
Anticipate The Funeral Financial Costs
Funerals can be expensive, so it's important to preplan how you will cover the costs. You may have life insurance that can be used to pay for the funeral, or you may set aside money in a dedicated account. In addition, many funeral homes offer pre-paid funeral plans that can help reduce the financial burden on your loved ones.
Pre-Payment Information
If you choose to make pre-arrangements, you will never be required to pay ahead of time. Your plans will simply be kept safe with the funeral home and can be transferred anywhere in the country if necessary. However, it is encouraged to consider paying ahead. This can prevent your family from being stuck with the financial burden of paying for a funeral in the case of your passing. By pre-paying, you will also be able to lock in the current rates for funeral services. Rates will rise over time with inflation, and by paying ahead, you can avoid these rising costs. Your payments will be kept in a trust account that can be transferred to any funeral home in the country if you decide to move.
In short, to help make the preplanning process as smooth as possible, here is a funeral checklist of important items to consider:
- Your personal information, including your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
- The contact information for your next of kin or designated executor.
- Your funeral preferences, including any religious or cultural requirements.
- Your burial or cremation instructions, including any specific requests for your funeral service.
If you have already made the decision to begin
preplanning for your final arrangements, you have made a wise choice. When you’re ready to contact your funeral home near Woodstock, GA, this list can be a tool to help you prepare. Your family will be grateful that you had the foresight to
make your arrangements ahead of time, and you can have peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be carried out.
Funeral and Cremation FAQs
- Where Can Funerals be Held in Woodstock, GA?
- There are a few different places you can have a funeral in Woodstock. You could have it at the funeral home or at a church. If you're looking for a non-traditional funeral, there are also a few outdoor spaces that can be used for funerals, including a park and a nature reserve.
- Why Do Funerals Take So Long?
- There are a few reasons why funerals tend to take longer than other types of events. First, funerals are typically held soon after the death of the person being memorialized. This gives relatives and friends limited time to make arrangements and travel to the funeral. Secondly, funerals usually include a lot of rituals and traditions that can take time to complete. Some of these rituals may include things like paying respects to the body, eulogies, viewings, and burials. Lastly, funerals are often emotional events that can take longer than anticipated as people process their grief.
- How to Ask Funeral Directors About Funeral Arrangements?
- Funeral directors are used to fielding all kinds of questions about funeral arrangements, and they're more than happy to help you through the process. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when contacting them. Be sure to have as much information as possible about the deceased - including their full name, date of birth, and date of death. Also, you should be prepared to answer some questions about yourself as well. funeral directors will need to know your relationship with the deceased and more.
