Planning your funeral is not likely to be something you get excited about, but there are many reasons why you should. Making funeral plans ahead of time is a wise thing to do. One of the most significant reasons is that it will ease the burden that typically falls on your family and loved ones when you’re gone. It is a very thoughtful and caring thing to do for the people you love the most.
In general, people tend not to think about their funeral until they’re diagnosed with a terminal illness or nearing the end of their life. However, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t start thinking about your funeral now.
If you’ve never been involved in planning a funeral before, you might be wondering where to start.
Things to Consider When Planning Your Funeral
There are many things you’ll need to think about before you can make plans for your funeral. Consider the following:
- Who would you like to take responsibility for organising your funeral and contact a funeral director to make the arrangements?
- Would you prefer to be cremated or buried and where?
- Do you have a preference for the preparation of your body? For example, is there something special you’d like to be dressed in?
- If you’d like to be cremated, would you want something special to be done with your ashes? Is there someone you’d like to keep them or should they be scattered and if so, where?
- If you want to be buried, would you like someone specific to carry your coffin?
- Where would you like your funeral to be held?
- Who should be invited to your funeral?
- Is there a specific celebrant or faith leader you’d like to conduct your funeral service?
- Do you have some favourite music you’d like to be played?
- Are there any meaningful readings, poems, or speeches you want to be made?
- Do you have any preference about what people wear to your funeral?
- Would you prefer it if people made a donation to a charity of your choice rather than send flowers?
- Would you like there to be a party, gathering, or wake afterward, and if so, where?
- Do you want there to be a memorial service?
Make Sure You Let Others Know About Your Choices
Once you’ve thought about your funeral and how you’d prefer it to be, make sure you let your family and friends know your decisions. To help them remember, you could write your wishes down and make sure they know where you’ve kept the information.
If you’ve approached a funeral director to help you make the arrangements, ask them to send copies to you, your family, or your solicitor.
There’s also a legal document in which you can specify your wishes. In England, it’s known as an advance care plan or advance statement. While in Scotland, it’s called an anticipatory care plan.
When you write your wishes down, it makes it clearer for people to understand and follow them when the time comes.
Another option is to write your wishes in your Will. However, bear in mind that this will be the only part of your Will that’s not binding. It’s also a good idea to make a separate copy of your wishes, just in case your Will isn’t discovered in time for making your funeral arrangements.
Paying for Your Funeral
There are things you can do in advance to ensure the cost of your funeral is covered. It will benefit your family and friends because there may be delays in getting access to any money you’ve left to pay for the funeral.
Your options include:
- Using a pre-paid funeral plan or insurance to pay for your funeral in advance
- Leaving money in your estate to cover funeral costs when you die. When the time comes, the executor of your estate will take care of the funeral bill.
If you don’t have a pre-paid funeral plan or insurance and those close to you won’t be able to afford to cover the cost of your funeral, some options could help reduce the cost of your funeral.
You could compare funeral directors and find one whose prices suit your budget. There is also the option of arranging your funeral without a funeral director. Discretionary costs can quickly add up and affect overall costs. Discretionary costs you should consider include:
- An obituary in a local paper
- Order of service sheets
- The type of coffin or casket
- Do you want to limit funeral limousines to close family?
- Do you want flowers?
- Do you want a headstone?
For example, if they receive certain benefits, support and help are available to pay for the funeral. They may be eligible to apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the government. In Scotland, it’s known as a Funeral Support Payment.
Follow the tips above and you’ll be well prepared for what is going to happen in the future.
