How to Pre-plan Funeral and Cemetery Expenses

Pre-planning your funeral and cemetery expenses is a way to ensure that your loved ones will not have to deal with making these arrangements while consumed with grief. Follow these steps to help with planning your final expenses.

Instructions

1. Obtain a list of local funeral homes and cemeteries. Make an appointment with the pre-need or pre-planning department of the funeral home and cemetery.

2. Know how much you are willing or able to spend. Many different services are offered in a variety of price ranges. Knowing your price limits will help you choose the plan that comfortably fits into your budget.

3. Determine the disposition of your remains. Make a decision on whether you will be buried or cremated.

4. Learn about ground burials. The following items are necessary for ground burials: a plot, a vault (this goes in the ground before your casket and is sealed to prevent the grave from collapsing) and a marker or monument, if you choose. You also need to pay opening and closing costs. These are the costs to open and close your grave.

5. Know the necessities if you choose cremation. In addition to the cost of the cremation, you will have the choice of purchasing a special urn and a niche, which is where your urn will be displayed at a cemetery monument. This is similar to a gravesite for ground burials.

6. Visit two to three funeral homes and cemeteries. You will be able to compare prices and services offered and choose the cemetery and funeral home that offers you the best services and prices.

7. Research your choice of funeral home and cemetery. Check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints filed against the funeral home or cemetery.

8. Make an informed decision. When you have received price quotes and conducted the research, you will be ready to make an informed decision.

Tips & Warnings

• Always shop around. Final expense prices vary from funeral home to funeral home and cemetery to cemetery. Just like any other major purchase, shop around to get the best deal.

• Talk about it with your family. It is important for you family to know your final wishes so there will be no confusion at the time of your death.

• Pre-need selling of funeral and cemetery expenses are state regulated. Make sure the people you are dealing with are licensed professionals with no complaints lodged against them. Contact your state's Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

• Be sure about you decision. Most pre-paid funeral and cemetery expenses are non-transferable if you should move to a different city or state.

• Don't forget to designate fund overages. Be sure to designate that any leftover funds will go to your estate. If you don't, the funeral home, cemetery or the mortician may keep those excess funds.