Prepaying Funeral Expenses; Preparing for Your Own Death

Talking about prepaid funeral expenses is not something most people want to do, but planning ahead for your funeral is extremely important. Prepaying for the necessary expenses of a funeral takes some of the financial burdens off your next of kin when you pass away. It also helps them to take care of the planning process so they are not emotionally distraught when you die. Prepaying for funeral expenses also saves your family money in the long run.

Life Insurance Option

Life insurance is always the number one option when it comes to preparing for death. Burial insurance is a life insurance policy for elderly people that comes with a guarantee through the aarp burial insurance policy. There are no health questions to answer or medical tests to pass. You will be accepted if you fulfill the age criteria.

You can receive up to $50,000 of life insurance coverage if you qualify for the AARP life insurance simplified issue policy. If you do not qualify, you can still receive $25,000. That may not sound like a lot of coverage but it is enough to pay the basic funeral expenses so your loved one does not have to have that extra concern once you pass.

What are Prepaid Funeral Expenses

Prepaid funeral expenses are when you pay in advance to cover the costs of your funeral services and goods, such as embalming, burial or cremation, a casket or urn, cemetery marker, flowers, or condolences cards. Some prepaid funeral homes will include religious services in the package, while others will just provide for the necessary goods to lay you to rest.

Why Should I Prepay My Funeral Expenses

Prepaid funeral expenses are becoming more popular because it takes the financial burden off your family when you pass away. Some people don’t have very much money saved up, leaving their family with a big bill when they die. If you prepay for your funeral, your family doesn’t have to worry about the expenses. Your services and goods are covered in advance so they can focus on grieving instead of paying a huge bill.

Prepaying for funeral expenses using a funeral service provider such as heartsfuneralsg.com also helps out your next of kin with the planning process. They don’t have to make any quick decisions while they are grieving because everything is already taken care of. It takes some stress off them while they are still in shock over your death.

Prepaying for funeral expenses also helps to save money in the long run, since it secures the current rate instead of your family having to pay a higher one just after you pass away because prices go up every year. If you are able to prepay for your funeral, usually the current rate is guaranteed so you can save money even after death.

You should only plan on prepaying for your funeral expenses if you have enough money in your savings account to cover them or if you can set up a payment plan. Make sure that when pre-planning for your next of kin that they understand the process, so they can figure out what you prearranged. If not, there are a few pre-planning companies that will help your loved ones with funeral plans and everything else.

Find a Reputable Funeral Home to Make Arrangements

To find a reputable funeral home, you should ask your family and friends for referrals. Your next of kin will also need to be involved with the preplanning process. You can contact a pre-planning service that will help to help you plan your funeral.

Interview the funeral home to make sure that you feel comfortable in prepaying for something that will be handled after you pass away. You should also visit the funeral home to see if it is in a place that you feel would be a good fit in assisting your loved ones when you are gone. You can also check online reviews for the funeral homes in your area to see how they handle clients and families when they are grieving.

When preplanning, make sure to research different services and packages so you know exactly what you want and what the costs are. Get everything in writing, so your family doesn’t have any surprises when it comes time to plan. You should also make sure that your next of kin fully understands the funeral plans and how they will be put into action after your passing.

Plan ahead and get everything taken care of while you are still alive to take some stress off your next of kin. Find a reputable funeral home to make arrangements with and get everything settled in advance so you can rest in peace.

Sign a Contract and Be Sure to Keep a Copy of the Contract and Receipt

When you decide to prepay for your funeral expenses, you have to sign a contract. Make sure that when you sign a contract with a pre-planning company you get a copy of the contract and receipt.

Your next of kin will not be able to find the paperwork if you don’t keep copies of them. They will lose all proof of any contract you signed and will not be able to claim your guaranteed rate. They will then have to pay the higher current rates that funeral homes charge and could end up with a huge bill.

It is important to talk about prepaid funeral expenses with your next of kin so everyone knows your wishes for when you pass away if they have to make a split-second decision while you are still alive. Make sure that they understand the prepaid funeral expenses, so they aren’t shocked when you die and can properly grieve your death instead of worrying about how to pay for your funeral.

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