How to Ensure Your Funeral Plans Are Carried Out Perfectly
Planning your own funeral is an increasingly popular thing to do, and it's certainly sensible. For one thing, it gives you the power to decide what happens to your own body when you die, which can give you significant peace of mind while you live your life.
On top of that, it can be a huge help to your family, relieving some of the burden that comes with planning and paying for a funeral.
When you're putting your plans together, the most important thing is to ensure you actually get your wishes, as they may not always be straightforward. Follow these steps and make sure you get the funeral you really want.
Talk to a funeral home
Your first step should be to discuss your plans with a funeral home, which can help you put together a plan that covers all of the different factors you need to consider. People who understand the funeral business thoroughly are sure to think of things you haven't.
Choosing a specific funeral home means your plan has more weight to it, and you have another person to help ensure your wishes go ahead. They may be able to offer full or partial prepayment to help family members cope with the cost.
Update your will
A will is a legal document, so including a section on funeral plans is one of the best things you can do to have your wishes followed when you die.
Your executor is the person responsible for overseeing all aspects of your will, so it should go without saying that it needs to be someone trustworthy. Talk to your chosen executor about your funeral wishes and ensure they understand.
Discuss it with your family
It's best to keep your close family in the loop with all aspects of your funeral planning. They might be surprised you've made a plan at all, let alone some of the things in it.
If they know in advance what you want, they're more likely to be supportive of all your wishes and to help see them through.
Keep realistic expectations
Some people plan their own funeral because they have ideas for a humorous or otherwise unusual service, burial or cremation.
If this is the case with you, you must make sure it's actually a realistic expectation, which is another good reason to talk to someone at a funeral home. They can suggest alternatives for anything impossible or unlikely so you can put together a final plan that works.
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