Planning a Funeral in Advance

Rather than leaving the arrangements for your funeral in the hands of your loved ones at the time of your death, it can be immensely beneficial to do a bit of planning ahead of time. Of course, no one wants to plan their own death, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Take the attitude that by planning your funeral ahead of time you’re sparing your family the pain of having to do it at a time when they will be emotionally drained and somewhat incapable of making the decisions they’ll need to. It also gives you a chance to make sure that you say goodbye in the way you wanted to.

Making plans for your funeral can relieve your family of a good amount of strain and anxiety. You might be surprised how many people struggle with basic decisions such as burial or cremation. Often they have never discussed death with their loved one, let’s face it, it’s not a really popular subject. Making these types of decisions are much less difficult when you’re of sound mind and body.

Write Down Your Funeral Wishes

When planning a funeral for yourself or someone else, keep in mind that, although a funeral is primarily about the person who has died, it is also for the living. You may have lots of ideas about what you want, but your loved ones may also have needs that should be addressed. Discuss your funeral plans with your family, or the family of the person you may be planning it for, they may want to contribute, and your inclusion of them will be much appreciated. Beware of too tightly organising your things so that no one else can contribute. When you have everything written down, leave the documentation with a responsible family member, your solicitor, or even the funeral home that you wish to handle your services.

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Planning Payment

There is no greater heartbreak than a family not being able to bury their loved one because of financial constraints. It can be a big help if you leave some money behind to contribute to the cost of your funeral. Many people take out specific investment plans such as high interest bank accounts, life insurance policies which cover funeral costs, or even pre-paid funeral plans. If taking out a bank account, open it with a specified next of kin as a joint holder, as a sole account will usually be frozen upon a person’s death.

Appoint an Official Next of Kin

The law allows for different family members to be appointed as next of kin at the time of a person's death, depending upon the circumstances, but you can nominate anyone you choose as your next of kin. This is especially helpful if your spouse has pre deceased you, or if you have no children. A next of kin has no legal liabilities or any rights to your personal belongings or records, and it does not affect who your heirs will be.

It simply designates someone who would be informed in the event of an accident or your death, and who would be consulted regarding your medical condition and treatment.

Appoint a Funeral Guardian

Sometimes a person dies and the family or whoever organises the funeral "misses the mark" and fails to capture their spirit or personality in the funeral arrangements. Many times have friends left a funeral only to say, "She wouldn't have liked that", or "that wasn't him at all". Appointing a funeral guardian will ensure your wishes are met, as well as take a bit of pressure off of your family. Sadly, we are often better known by our friends than our family, but this is quite natural, and who better to have overseeing the arrangements than a trusted friend who will respect your wishes while being sensitive to the needs of your family.