Thinking about what you want to happen after your death may not be easy, and it’s not something anyone wants to dwell on. But taking a little time now to share your wishes and make a few important decisions can be a meaningful gift to those you love. Planning ahead can bring you peace of mind today and help ease the burden on your family when they need it most.
Pre-planning can begin with a conversation, a few notes about your wishes, or learning what options are available to you. When you move forward with your plans, making these arrangements in advance has many benefits, both emotionally and financially.
What Does Burial Pre-Planning Involve?
This process can be as detailed or as straightforward as you want it to be.
That may mean deciding between burial or cremation, what the process is like, and communicating that preference to family. Or you may want to make more specific arrangements in advance.
Planning ahead gives you time to think clearly, without the urgency that accompanies a death. You can ask questions, compare options, and take time to decide what feels right for you.
Pre-arrangements formally document those decisions and allow you to prepay for certain services or expenses. You can start by discussing your preferences and gathering information, then choose your final resting place, including the location, burial type, and memorial headstone.
How Pre-Planning Can Help You and Your Family
Your Final Wishes Are Clear
Planning your own funeral or cremation lets you communicate directly about what matters to you rather than leaving those decisions to your family.
Your Family Has Fewer Decisions to Make
Pre-planning doesn’t make dealing with the loss any easier, but it will reduce uncertainty. Having your wishes documented means your loved ones won’t need to handle any of the details while also processing their loss. By handling arrangements in advance, your family doesn’t have to guess or make decisions under pressure. They can follow what you have already decided.
You Have More Time to Consider Costs
One of the biggest benefits of planning ahead is that it gives you time to ask questions about costs and learn which expenses you can cover in advance. Prepaying for certain burial expenses, like the cemetery plot, takes that financial burden off your loved ones. It also gives you time to review your options, compare costs, and decide how you want to prepare for the expenses associated with your arrangements.
Is Prepaid Cremation a Good Idea?
While these factors can also apply to traditional burial plans, prearrangements are particularly helpful if you decide you want to be cremated because they eliminate any confusion about what will happen to your remains afterward. Planning your cremation lets you choose where you want your urn to rest and avoid potential internal conflict between family members.
You may also want to think about where you would like to be laid to rest or memorialized. If you have a specific cemetery in mind, or already have a family plot there, you can make arrangements in advance and plan for your place within a family estate or columbarium. Taking care of these details ahead of time can bring peace of mind and help ensure your wishes are honored.
What Should You Have in Place When Pre-Planning?
After you have taken the steps to make your burial arrangements in advance, make sure you have the following so your loved ones have all the necessary information to carry out your plans:
- What you’ve already arranged: After you’ve made your burial or cremation plans, make sure that is saved in an official capacity.
- Relevant documents: Keep important documents and instructions accessible and make sure whoever will be overseeing the details knows their location.
- Financial information: Keep receipts for any prepayments so your loved ones know what has been paid for and can account for those when finalizing any necessary details.
- Location of your plans: Make sure your paperwork includes the cemetery, funeral provider, or other organization where you have made your arrangements.
- A person who can help: Have a designated person who knows how to access your information and can communicate your wishes when necessary.
Your circumstances, family situations, and personal preferences may change over time. Reviewing your plans periodically gives you a chance to update them if something no longer reflects what you want.
How to Get Started With Pre-Arranging Your Burial or Cremation
Once you’ve figured out your preferences, you can take the next step and make formal pre-arrangements at whichever cemetery you choose. If you’re wondering how to preplan a funeral or cremation, you can get started by:
- Meet with a cemetery or funeral provider
- Review the costs
- Document your arrangements
- Let your family know
- Keep your information accessible
- Review your arrangements when needed
If you’re interested in making pre-arrangements, Troost Cemeteries can provide information about our local cemeteries and available options.
Give Yourself and Your Family More Clarity
There isn’t one correct way to approach burial or cremation planning. Pre-arranging your final plans lets you think through your preferences, communicate them clearly, and prepay for certain services or expenses.
Having your plans in place before they’re needed not only gives you peace of mind about what will happen after you pass but also means your loved ones won’t have to make these difficult decisions under pressure.
The staff at Troost Cemeteries can help you get started with preplanning. Start with a conversation, ask any questions you may have, and create a plan that reflects your wishes and gives your family something clear to refer to when they need it.