By If you’re thinking about planning burial services for your loved one, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the right information. Whether you’re planning to bury a loved one in a cemetery or a funeral home, there are a few things you’ll need to know.
Prepare for the funeral
If you’re planning a funeral for a loved one, you might have a lot of questions. The emotions involved can make you feel overwhelmed. However, there are steps you can take to make sure you’re prepared for the burial service.
One of the first things you should do is make arrangements for transportation. A funeral director can arrange this for you. They may also offer you a package to reduce costs. You can ask for a price list.
When you’re ready to pay for the service, you can choose to pay with cash, credit cards, or a loan. Some funeral providers will allow you to pay with the proceeds from your deceased’s life insurance policy.
Funeral services include a variety of options, including viewing the body, embalming, cremation, and ground burial. Each option will have its own rules and expenses.
Find out if a loved one has pre-planned their funeral in advance
Preplanning a funeral is one of the most thoughtful gifts a family can give their loved ones. It allows the family to say goodbye in style while providing a sense of security. In addition, it minimizes the stress and burden on the surviving members of the family.
When a loved one passes, the family may find themselves with a mountain of decisions to make. Funeral costs are one of the biggest stumbling blocks. A pre-paid funeral plan can be the solution to this problem.
Aside from saving the surviving family from the stresses of planning, preplanning offers a number of other advantages. For instance, it gives the family a chance to think about what they want.
Planning in advance can also help to avoid conflict between loved ones. One of the main reasons for this is because it allows people to make decisions based on their own values.
Obtain a statement when contracting for services with a funeral establishment
When you contract for services with a funeral establishment, you must obtain a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected. This statement is an itemized list of your choices. It contains the cost of each item selected. You can make changes to this list as you proceed. The statement also includes contractual language.
You may be asked to sign a contract if the contract is over $5,400. In addition to the price of merchandise, you must be told about the escrow agent’s compensation. If the contract is funded by life insurance proceeds, you must be able to tell the difference between the amount of life insurance proceeds and the amount of money you will need to pay for the funeral.
If the contract is funded by life insurance proceeds, the provider of the burial agreement must provide you with a copy of the agreement. The statement must also include information about the identity of the agent.
Compare funeral and cemetery services
You will want to compare funeral and cemetery services to get the most for your money. Prices can vary greatly, but with a little research you will be able to figure out which provider is the best fit for your loved one. Some may have a free service, while others charge an up front fee. There are a few online sites that will help you to compare funeral and cemetery services without having to sift through the slush.
The general price list is a great starting point. Many funeral homes and their associated vendors don’t post their prices on the internet, but you can still do your homework. One good resource is Funeralocity, a website started by Ed Michael Reggie. Using the site’s comparison calculator you can compare funeral and cemetery services side by side and see which providers are the best deal.
