Planning A Funeral As Part Of Your Estate Plan

Planning for your funeral is an important aspect of having a complete estate plan. One of the goals for any estate plan should be to make everything as easy as possible for your loved ones once you pass on. During the period immediately following your death can be a difficult time for those you leave behind. This period known as the grieving process for friends and family members is difficult enough without the added stress of planning a funeral and the burden of deciding what kind of funeral or memorial that you wanted or definitely did not want.

Planning ahead for your funeral makes things a lot easier for loved ones. Although everyone thinks that they are immortal and will never die or find it difficult to think about death, it is not your own demise that should be motivating you. What should be motivating you is making things as easy as possible for those that are still living. When funeral plans are prearranged all the family members have to do is go through the grieving process without an added job during such a difficult period of time.

Planning ahead for a funeral can be as simple as just stating in writing what kind of service or memorial you want or not want. If you want a simple funeral service or an elaborate memorial it is simple enough to just state your intentions in writing with the rest of your estate planning documents. Family members do not have to guess or fight about what they think that you would have wanted. A writing of what kind of service you want simplifies everything.

Another important aspect to at least have in writing ahead of time is what you want to happen with your remains. If you want to buried or cremated it is best to document that choice in writing so there will be no arguments or disagreements. There are also some state forms that may be filled out to be cremated to make things easier on family members so they do not have to fill them out after you die. If you want to be buried, it is easier and important to have a location picked out and even a prepaid plot. Writing out your intentions can be the minimum to planning a funeral, but their are also more steps that can be taken.

The best funeral planning as part of an estate plan is to work with a funeral home ahead of time. An estate planning attorney can suggest a funeral home that can serve your needs. A funeral home can take care of all arrangements and completely remove any difficult choices or stress for loved ones. a funeral home can work with you and take care of everything and leave family members with time and space to grieve in a stress free environment. Planning for your funeral is an important part of a complete estate plan.

Evan Guthrie Law Firm is licensed to practice law throughout the state of South Carolina.