Today, many people and families are deciding on prearranging their funerals more than before. Due to many factors, like; as unexpected accidents, inflation, and a family member who lives a distance away. Planning a funeral instantly can be hard, especially given the emotional imbalance everyone would be going through. Many agencies offer prepaid funeral plans to mitigate your burden and give you the time to be up with your family.
How Prepaid Funeral Plans Work
Take note, that the courses of action have no specific order. Many of these decisions are not obligatory but should be taken into consideration that nothing is underestimated in the planning process. Here is how the agencies that offer prepaid funeral plans make the process easier.
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- They get a legal pronouncement of death from the doctor on duty or a hospice nurse. Alternatively, call 911.
- Make arrangements for the transfer of the body to a funeral home. Here an autopsy can be conducted if there is a need for one.
- Make arrangements for an embalmment and prepare the body if there is a need for that.
- Put together all the necessary information for the obituary.
- Pick a funeral home.
- Decide on the burial type: traditional burial, cremation, green burial, or interment.
- Choose the casket, grave marker, location for internment, and inscription.
- Decide on a location for the service and the type of service. It could be a memorial, awake, or a celebration of life.
- Make florist arrangements and photos shown during the service, even videos if available.
- Prepare the obituary and send them out to a few newspapers as well.
- Decide on songs to be played during the funeral and passages to be read. Passages can include scriptures, poems, and other heart-touching readings.
- Choose the outfit for the deceased; get memorial cards and a memorial register, including the funeral program.
- Make transportation arrangements to the service and back for family members. Remember to make arrangements for the transportation of the casket.
- Choose an officiator to lead the service like a religious leader, family member, or friend.
- Decide who will read the passages and the eulogy. Also, select the pallbearers.
- Get several copies of the death certificate.
- Check if there are any burial advantages or services the deceased may be qualified for, like; veterans, religious group, fraternity, or military honors.
- Get a burial permit; make arrangements for service time and the date plus refreshments during or after the service.
Funeral Costs
Normal service fee
The general fee covers all service expenses, including the funeral home service charge, the expenses for the funeral director, home attendants, burial coordination, cemetery arrangements, death certificates, and securing permits for prepaid funeral plans.
Optional service charges
These fees are evaluated and set aside for extra services, including transportation of the body, the embalmment procedure, using the funeral home for wakes, car arrangements, and the cremation process.
Money allocation
This fee covers expenses at the funeral home, which could come from vendors and unforeseen circumstances based on a mutual agreement. This could include flowers arranged for clergy services, pallbearers, caterers, and musicians.
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