Making Your Own Funeral Arrangements

Aug 02, 2010  /  By: Michael Bonfrisco, Estate Planning Attorney  /  Category: Funeral Arrangements

Sounds a little morbid, doesn’t it? It’s not something that’s pleasant to think about, but planning your own funeral can be a great service to your loved ones. Think about how much grief they’ll experience when you pass away, and then think about how much energy, stress, and anxiety you could save them if you made some of the decisions concerning your funeral ahead of time. They wouldn’t have the guess-work of trying to decide what you would have wanted; they would just have to put your plan into motion.

How do you do it? Here are a few ideas:

  • Decide what kind of service you’d like: should it be traditional funeral service, a memorial service, or even a casual party celebrating your life instead of mourning your passing?
  • Decide on the size of the gathering and whether there are specific people you’d like to attend.
  • Choose where the service should be held. It’s a good idea to choose several alternate locations.
  • What would you like to have happen at the service? If there’s a song you’d like to have sung, let your loved ones know. On the other hand, if there’s anything you don’t want done, let them know that, too.
  • Do you want to be buried or cremated? Choose a cemetery, if that’s your wish. Let your loved ones know where you’d like your ashes scattered, if that’s your preference.
  • A great service to your loved ones is figuring out how to pay for your funeral. Avoid pre-paid funeral arrangements. Instead, check to see if you have death benefits available to you. If not, or if you don’t think they’ll be sufficient, consider putting money aside in a special fund.

Most importantly, after you’ve made your plan, make sure you communicate it to your loved ones. It’s a good idea to put it in writing and to let them know where they’ll be able to find it. While it may not be pleasant to think about, making a funeral plan can go a great way toward easing the burden on your family and friends in their time of grief.

The Bonfrisco Law Firm is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

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