How to Pre-Plan Your Funeral

Preplanning your memorial service is a loving gesture to those you leave behind.

Most importantly, planning ahead of time will relieve your family from having to guess what your wishes were during a very emotional time following your death.

Before visiting a funeral home to discuss your prearrangements, give some thought to your preferences for a celebration of your life.

Try to identify religious elements, songs or readings and personal touches you would like made part of your service.

When you meet with the funeral director, they will guide you through the different services and merchandise available so you can select those that match your personal preferences and beliefs.

Your funeral director will give you a printed copy of their “General Price List” to show the cost of services and merchandise.

This will enable you to create a meaningful service that meets your preferences and financial considerations.

Once the details have been finalized, your funeral director will prepare a preneed agreement and fully-itemized statement for your review.

You’ll get a copy to take home with you.

Pre-payment is not required, but it is an easy and secure option should you choose to do so.

In New York State, your funeral director is required by law to deposit your prepaid funds into an interest-bearing government-backed trust account.

The principal – and the interest earned – will remain yours.

It is important to discuss your decision to pre-plan and/or pre-fund your funeral with your loved ones.

Discuss with them which funeral home you have made your arrangements with and consider providing them with a copy of your preneed documents.

There are several pieces of information you want to have handy when you sit down to plan your celebration of life.

Military history, education, life experiences and even your philosophy can all be elements of a meaningful memorial.

Would you like a list of documents you should identify and other important details that will help make your planning easier?

Click Here to request our Funeral Planning information packet.

We mail it free of charge to New York State residents with no obligation.