Preplanning Your Own Funeral
While preplanning your own funeral isn’t exactly the most enjoyable of tasks, it is a necessity. It ensures your wishes are followed and deals with the logistics and financial aspects of the process in order to remove the burden from your loved ones’ shoulders. There are a variety of factors to consider when planning end-of-life care and actions, but taking the time to do so will help your family members when that day comes.
Paying for funeral expenses
Funerals are costly; the modern funeral in the United States can cost upwards of $10,000. If you don’t already have life insurance or a dedicated savings account that will cover these exorbitant costs, it is important to come up with a way to pay for the proceedings. Otherwise, that cost will fall onto the shoulders of your loved ones during a time that will be already emotionally exhausting. Consider opening a new savings account and funneling money into it each month or checking out the senior’s life insurance at burialinsurance.org. Insurance can cover the cost of burial, medical expenses and more, and is especially important to consider if you have dependents.
Consider donating your organs
If you want to donate your organs to those in need after your death, it is important to speak to your loved ones about your wishes and carry an organ donation card on you. If you can, keep a second card with your will and other important documents so it can be found with immediacy should your passing come suddenly. In most states, you can elect to become an organ donor when you renew your driver’s license. Your organs could mean the difference between life and death for someone else, and it is always a worthy topic to consider.
Getting your will in order
It is important to draft a will that designates what will happen to your property after you die. Be sure to pick the right executor, as this individual will handle your estate after your death, including finances and any debts you have. You can find simple online templates for a will at SmartLegalForms, but if your finances are complicated, it may be in your best interest to pursue help from estate planning legal counsel and financial advisors. This will ensure your wishes are followed exactly as laid out after your death and will better ensure your estate is divided the way you intended between your loved ones.
End of life care
There inevitably comes a day when we can no longer live on our own without care and support, whether that comes from a family member or hired care professional. Most of us would love to stay in our own homes at the end of our lives, but this isn’t always financially feasible. Don’t assume that Medicare or Medicaid will cover the costs associated with this type of care and begin saving as soon as possible for these expenses. You may also choose to craft a living will, which will provide power of attorney to your chosen loved one should you become unable to make decisions for yourself. This is especially important when it comes to care concerns, so pick someone you trust and be clear about your wishes as the will is drafted.
The facets of the funeral
Preplanning a funeral will take a look at a variety of facets surrounding this traditional ceremony. This is the time in which to make your wishes known about a variety of topics. These may include your thoughts on burial versus cremation, whether you would like your family to host a viewing for loved ones and whether or not you prefer the service to be a funeral, memorial service or celebration of life. Other common aspects to cover include the presence of religious ceremonies, where you would like to be buried and all the financial aspects that come along with the above-mentioned factors.
The last thing your loved ones need during their grief is to be saddled with numerous bills and payments they never prepared for. By following these strategies and getting your affairs in order long before they become necessary, you can save yourself and your family undue stress and live with the peace that your wishes will be carried out to your specifications when that day inevitably arrives.
Article by Melissa Frank
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.