ASD is pleased to share this guest blog post written by Whitney McGee on behalf of the Cremation Society of Washington. Family owned and operated, Cremation Society of Washington was founded in 2012 and is a leading provider of simple direct cremation services throughout the state of Washington.
The Emotional and Financial Benefits of Planning Your Funeral
The only thing that is certain in life is that it will one day come to an end. Although it may feel uncomfortable to think about, planning your own funeral may come with a number of emotional and financial benefits for yourself and your family. Let’s take a look at some of those benefits as well as some variables to consider when prepaying for your funeral.
The Potential Financial Benefits of Being Proactive
Perhaps the greatest financial benefit of planning your funeral before you die is that you know the money will be there to pay for it. If you’d like, you can pay a funeral home directly after choosing your urn and other items that are to be used in the ceremony. Payments can be made over a period of several months or years. Alternatively, you can put money into a bank account left to a beneficiary who can use the cash to pay for your cremation.
Selling assets to fund your funeral is often much easier before you pass than after. Unless those items are kept in a trust, it may be impossible to liquidate them until probate is over, which could take weeks or months. Typically, you’d be cremated days after your death, meaning that family members or others would need to pay out of their own pockets prior to being reimbursed.
Finally, it might be possible to lock in a lower rate by negotiating a price today than you might get several years or decades into the future. This is because the cost of a funeral will typically go up over time just like the cost of eggs, a new car, or health insurance.
The Potential Emotional Benefits of Proactive Cremation Planning
The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest experiences to process in life. Therefore, planning your funeral before you go can make it easier for friends and family members to get used to the idea that you won’t be around forever. It will also help your process any feelings that you have about death such as regret that you won’t see a child or grandchild get married or have kids of their own.
It can also help you create a legacy and pass down your values to the next generation. For instance, as part of your funeral planning, you can talk to your children about how you view death and how you’d like them to live their lives after you’re gone. Planning your funeral can also inspire conversations about potential inheritances or other issues that you might not otherwise find a natural way to bring up.
What to Consider When Preplanning Your Funeral
It’s critical to have a backup plan in case your life takes an unexpected turn. For instance, if you move, you’ll want to be sure that the funeral home you’re working with can transfer or refund any payments made. You should also consider whether you want to pay cash or if funeral insurance is more appropriate. Funeral insurance typically covers about $10,000 of expenses, and it can cover more or less depending on your needs.
What Happens if You Fail to Plan?
A failure to plan today might result in a financial emergency for your loved ones when you pass. It’s possible that they will need to come up with thousands of dollars or more with little notice to ensure that you have a proper funeral. Even if your family can come up with the money, a lack of planning simply adds stress to their lives during a period of mourning.
Planning your funeral today can make it easier for yourself, your famil, and others you care about to process your eventual passing. Whether you create a plan on your own or enlist the help of an estate planning professional, don’t hesitate to shop around and ask questions to ensure that you get the most for your time and money.
Written by Whitney McGee a Digital PR Specialist for the Cremation Society of Washington
Related Reading
7 Stories of Individuals Who Preplanned Their Goodbyes in Unexpected Ways
10 Years Later: A Scattering Story
Fast Funeral Facts with Todd Harra
