How to Arrange Funeral Financing

Many people choose to plan their own funeral and burial for several reasons. Some people make the plans in advance to make sure that their wishes are carried out after they pass. Others arrange their own funeral as their way of helping out their family after they die. When you arrange your funeral and burial you can also choose to pre-pay, or finance, the expense.

Instructions

1. Contact the funeral home that you would like to handle your funeral. Let them know that you wish to arrange your funeral in advance. They will have you choose your casket and make your other arrangements. A list of prices will be provided at current rates for the various goods and services.

2. Consider paying the funeral home for your services at this time. If you are going onto public assistance there will be restrictions put on the amount of money that you can have set aside for funeral expenses. Paying for the services before going onto public assistance may allow you to have the funeral you choose without being limited by finances.

3. Get everything in writing before giving any money to the funeral director. Ask him what happens if your plans change or you move and need to change funeral homes. Ask him where the money goes until the funeral is paid for and who gets the interest that is earned by the money while it is sitting waiting to be used. Talk to an attorney for advisement if you are unsure.

4. Put the money into a separate account on your own, designated to be used to pay for funeral expenses instead of giving the money to the funeral director in advance if you are not going onto public assistance. This can eliminate a lot of problems later if you do need to change your plans.

5. Inform your family that your funeral arrangements and financing have been handled and let them know where all the paperwork is that they will need when you pass.