How Can I Ease the Burden on My Family in Funeral Planning?

You’ll be doing your family a big favor with funeral planning, if they can avoid some stressful decisions immediately after you die.

Kiplinger has published an article, “Plan Your Funeral as a Gift to the Kids.” It says that “No detail is too small.”

You can name your preferences for a funeral home, songs, those to invite to a service and the location of a get-together for mourners. It can be a great gift to let your family know what you want.

First on your funeral-planning checklist should be your choice for burial or cremation.

You should also draft your end-of-life plans and include funeral instructions and advance-care directives.

Many people say they don’t want to be a burden on their adult children, but they’re talking in financial terms. They need to do the same with end-of-life planning—to reduce the stress and burden on their children.

Leave money in a payable-on-death savings account, so your executor or beneficiary has immediate access to it. Another option is a prepaid plan, where you sign a contract with a funeral home and pay in advance.

Let your family know if keeping down funeral costs is important to you. Funeral homes are businesses, and many directors try to persuade stressed heirs to buy high-cost packages to show their love for the deceased relative.

To help loved ones avoid making rash decisions, you can get quotes from several funeral homes.

Stating your preferences on even small details, can help loved ones’ in distress. A person who wants to be cremated or doesn’t want a visitation or viewing can direct that the family should skip the casket or buy an inexpensive one.

Reference: Kiplinger (May 31, 2019) “Plan Your Funeral as a Gift to the Kids”