Pre-Arrangement FAQ
Pre-arrangement is the planning of funeral services before the need arises, often years before death occurs. The funeral director records your preferences for the type of service desired, music and flowers, casket selection and other information. You and your family receive a copy of the preferences, and the funeral home keeps a copy as well. Keeping these records in an accessible place is important to surviving family members.
Why Make Pre-arrangements?
People prearrange funerals for many reasons. Some have definite preferences concerning the funeral service or merchandise and want their families to be informed and involved in the decisions. Others want to save their survivors from having to make decisions at a difficult and confusing time. Some individuals who have been faced with making selections for loved ones may wish to spare others from the indecision, guessing, emotion or anxiety they experienced. Still others may prearrange because no one else is capable of making responsible decisions. Many like the benefit of financial savings that come from prepaying expenses. In any case, funeral prearrangement can alleviate many concerns and is often viewed as an element of estate planning.
Do I Have To Pay For Anything?
No, although families choose to for many reasons. Pre-financing alleviates financial concerns, preventing an unnecessary burden at a time of loss because it ensures funds are available when needed. Pre-financing can help offset inflation – allowing you to pay tomorrow’s costs at today’s prices. Additionally, some people choose to pre-finance to preserve an individual’s Medicaid or SSI eligibility.
What Are Pre-financing Options?
Generally, trusts and life insurance provide ways to fund your choices. Each provides a different set of advantages and options. Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable. In most cases, they are revocable, meaning that funds can be withdrawn at any time. At the time of death, however, these funds can be paid directly to the funeral home upon presentation of the death certificate. The process assures your funeral expenses are taken care of. Trusts are often used to protect an individual’s assets and solve some estate consequences. For those in nursing homes, for example, this method helps assure that funds will be available long after all other finances are depleted and help preserve Medicaid or SSI eligibility. Taxes on earnings can be the responsibility of the funeral home and not the individual. With life insurance, coverage often begins the day you apply for a policy, and you may not be required to hold your policy for a specified period of time before you receive full benefits. This funding helps assure you’re financially cared for no matter when death occurs. Flexible payment plans may also be available. Earnings from life insurance are not taxed like trusts are. In most cases, the use of services indicated at the time of pre-financing means no additional costs should be incurred at the time of death.
What if I move?
If all or part of funeral preparations takes place at a funeral home other than the one where prearrangements were made, records of the deceased person’s preferences will be transferred. If the funds are in a trust, normally they are transferred as well. Muehlebach Funeral Home has special programs to assure the deceased person’s preferences and arrangements are protected no matter where the death occurs.
How Do You Pre-arrange?
Services can be planned for you and your family members at a convenient time by contacting a funeral planning professional to discuss the selection of merchandise and services. Simply ask our funeral planning professional to meet with you and discuss choices, either at the firm or in the comfort of your own home. This simple gesture of consideration can help your family. Funeral arranging before the need arises is thoughtful and easy to do.
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