Talking about death is often difficult. Yet a death in the family may create problems for survivors, which can sometimes be alleviated by discussion and pre-planning. Funeral and burial arrangements are an important consideration and should be discussed openly and frankly. Pre-arranging and sometimes pre-financing a funeral is a method some people choose to assist their survivors after death occurs.

In many things, which are pre-planned, there can be unforeseen developments between the time of planning and of putting the plan into affect. This is especially true in the pre-arranging of funerals, since there is no way of knowing beforehand exactly when, where, how and under what circumstance death will come. And these unknown factors could alter original plans substantially.

Careful counseling with an experienced funeral director can avoid unwise planning or even fraudulent schemes involving particularly the financing of funerals in advance of death.

There are many different reasons for pre-arranging a funeral. Some persons, especially those who are alone in the world, may want the assurance of a funeral and burial which meet their personal beliefs, standards or life-style. Others feel a responsibility to assist survivors by arranging approximate funeral and burial cost guidelines. Still others have moved to distant places, or maintain both summer and winter residences. They may want to make sure that certain recommendations are heeded as to where the funeral and burial or other final disposition will take place. Actually, there are almost as many explanations for pre-arranging funerals as there are people requesting them.

Advantages or disadvantage of funeral pre-arrangements depend upon the individual circumstances and cannot be generalized. What may be satisfying for some could be impractical for others. Pre-arranging a funeral is often a tentative plan contingent upon the belief that circumstances will remain relatively stable during the remaining lifetime of the pre-arranger and of those whom he or she involves in the arrangements.

Before prescribing a definite kind of funeral or type of final disposition, it is always wise to consider and consult those survivors who will be most affected by the death. Grant them the opportunity to be active planning participants, not just passive spectators. This is prudent because when death comes it may have strong emotional impact upon the other members of the family. Permitting them to assist in making funeral and burial arrangements could serve as a healthy outlet for their grief and anxiety. Giving them the privilege of performing a last act of recognition, honor, and respect for the deceased will dramatize eloquently to all the reality that a life has been lived.

Aside from the specific personal reasons for discussing funeral arrangements in advance of need, there is an additional benefits. The subject of death is brought out in the open and the family is afforded an opportunity to mutually share their thoughts about its important considerations. Mental health is never sustained by the denial of death, but by the frank acknowledgement of this reality of life. Entering into a pre-arrangement agreement with a funeral director also provides an opportunity to indicate one's wishes in writing. It ought to be prefaced by a review and evaluation of current funeral costs, funeral ceremonies and alternate funeral and burial procedures. Thus counseling with a funeral director could well be a significant educational experience.

All funeral homes have access to a pre-arrangement form. Some have plans designed for their own use. Together, you and the funeral director can discuss all necessary details. Once the pre-arrangement is completed, the client should notify some responsible person that such an agreement exists and where it may be found. If desired, the funeral director will supply additional copies for them.

WHY PRE-FINANCING

In many instances persons who re-arrange a funeral will also wish to take care of pre-financing at the same time, either for the entire amount or a portion thereof.

Various state regulatory agencies govern the control and mandate the requirements for per-financing a funeral with a funeral home. Your funeral director is well aware of the laws governing pre-financing funerals and is the most suited person to professionally guide you in this area.

There are a variety of investment products available in which one may place pre-financed monies. Passbook accounts, Certificates of Deposit, and trust accounts are among banking institutions deposit possibilities. Today insurance and annuities have also played a significant part in the pre-need investment market.

LEGAL ASPECTS OF DEATH

The earthly possessions, known as the estate of the deceased, must be distributed after their death. Their assets must be used to pay any debts, and any balance left must be lawfully distributed after payment of estate or death taxes. If the deceased owned or operated a business, the business must be administered and maintained in an orderly manner or must be liquidated.

In order to accomplish this process of distribution, legal proceedings are necessary to decide how any property should be distributed and who is to be in charge of this distribution. Because of the technical nature of this proceeding, it is advisable that a lawyer be consulted.

WILLS

A will is the only way a person is sure all of their assets and possessions are distributed in accordance with their wishes.

One of the more important aspects of drawing up a will is the appointment of an executor. Someone who you have the utmost confidence in and a person who will use good sound judgment in their decision making.

As time changes one's life, a will should periodically be reviewed to determine if your original desires still exist.

If there is a will, the deceased died testate. The executor must file the will in Probate court, and proceed with the distribution of the assets according with the wishes of the deceased.

If there is no will, the deceased died in testate. This involves the appointment of an administrator and the assets are distributed according to the State Statute of Descent.

SELECTING A CEMETERY PLOT 

In the brief period between death and burial, cemetery plots and graves are sometimes purchased by a family without careful thought and often without a personal visit to the cemetery and later found to be inadequate or undesirable. It is recommended that cemetery plots be purchased ahead of need.

Quite often persons buying cemetery plots in haste will not buy enough and to many for the family to utilize in the future. To avoid this mistake the utmost consideration should be given to this decision.

When purchasing a cemetery plot, one should determine just what restrictions, if any, the cemetery might enforce in regard to the kind of outside burial vault to be used and the type of monument or memorial to be erected.

Buying a cemetery plot for investment purposes is considered an unwise practice. The majority of all cemeteries retain the right to repurchase a plot at the original purchase price.

Perpetual care on a cemetery plot is more often than not included in the purchase price.

PURCHASING A MONUMENT

To give all cemetery plot owners general protection, most cemeteries retain the right to approve the type of monument to be placed on a grave. Some cemeteries have restrictions on size and design of monuments, while other require that only a flush-with-the ground bronze plaque be placed.

After determining if any cemetery restrictions prevail and deciding just what your individual needs and desires are, a reputable retail monument dealer should be contacted.

The quality, material, and design of a monument you are going to have erected permanently upon your cemetery plot deserve very careful consideration.

STATE BOARD OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS MANDATES THE FOLLOWING  

No person other than a licensed funeral director shall, directly or indirectly, or through an agent, offer to or enter into a contract with a living person to render funeral services to such a person when needed. If any such licensed funeral director shall accept any money for such contract, he shall, forthwith, either deposit the same in an escrow account in, or transfer the same in trust to, a banking institution in the Commonwealth, conditioned upon its withdrawal or disbursement only for the purpose for which such money was accepted.