What is Preneed Funeral Planning?
Understand the basics of preneed planning, how it works, and why it is a gift of love for your family.
Key Takeaways
- Preplanning is the act of making your funeral or memorial arrangements before the need arises.
- It relieves your family of emotional and financial burdens during a difficult time.
- Your plans can be as detailed or as simple as you wish.
Preneed funeral planning is the process of making your funeral and burial arrangements in advance. By recording your wishes and making key decisions today, you give your family a clear roadmap to follow when the time comes.
A Compassionate Step
Planning ahead is not about focusing on death. It is about organization, peace of mind, and relieving your family of difficult decisions during a time of intense grief.
Why Preneed Planning Matters
When a death occurs, grieving families are faced with making over 70 decisions in the first 24 to 48 hours. By planning in advance, you can:
- Lock in personal wishes: Ensure your preferred services, music, readings, and resting place are recorded.
- Relieve decision pressure: Free your spouse, children, or siblings from guessing what you would have wanted.
- Understand costs: Walk through options calmly without the urgency of an at-need situation.
Is preneed planning the same as pre-paying?
No. Preneed planning involves recording your wishes and selections. Pre-funding (or pre-paying) is an optional second step where you choose to set aside funds to cover those selections using funeral insurance, trusts, or preneed contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my money safe if I pay in advance?
Yes, preneed funds are typically placed in a state-regulated trust or insurance policy.
Can I change my mind later?
Most preneed contracts offer flexibility to change certain details or transfer the plan to another provider.
You have completed Planning Basics
Great progress! You are ready to move forward in your preparedness journey.