Posts Tagged ‘legal issues’

Funerals by Sea…and Air?

Tuesday, July 5th, 2016
Funerals by Sea…and Air?

Funerals by Sea…and Air?

Funerals by sea are fairly common in this day and age. While your opportunities to send a body out to sea with a Viking funeral pyre or with a military farewell are not always possible, you can scatter ashes into the ocean (or lake) or opt to have cremated remains encased in a coral reef. (more…)

Why Do Funeral Homes Close?

Wednesday, June 15th, 2016
Why Do Funeral Homes Close?

Why Do Funeral Homes Close?

If you have ever shopped for a funeral home, you probably noticed that many of them make some mention of how long they have been in the business (and in the community). There is something about an establishment that has been serving the same area for 20, 50, or even 100 years that makes us feel good about giving them our business—especially when it comes to pre-planning a funeral. After all, we want some kind of guarantee that the funeral home will continue to be there when we need their services. (more…)

What to Do When a Funeral Home Goes out of Business

Monday, April 4th, 2016
What to Do When a Funeral Home Goes out of Business

What to Do When a Funeral Home Goes out of Business

One of the biggest warnings against pre-paying for a funeral is what happens if the funeral home goes out of business. The entire point of pre-arrangement is that you can solidify your funeral plans ahead of time, leaving you worry-free and able to spend your money however you wish. So, the idea that a funeral home might someday terminate services and leave you holding a useless contract is one that may be understandably frightening. (more…)

Do You Have to Disclose a Recent Death when Selling a House?

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016
Do You Have to Disclose a Recent Death when Selling a House?

Do You Have to Disclose a Recent Death when Selling a House?

When a parent or loved one dies, their home is often one of the first items to be put on the market. Because a house is considered part of their estate, the sale of the house can be used to help pay for the funeral, settle debts, and serve as an inheritance for the family left behind. (more…)

How to Manage a Loved One’s Affairs After They are Gone

Tuesday, January 21st, 2014

From time to time, those of us at iMortuary find great resources from within the industry we are delighted to share. Une Belle Vie Memorial Urns, is a company we admire for their commitment to customer service and quality to the consumers they serve online and over the phone.   They empathize with their customers’ challenges in managing estate finances and administration; to help families facing these tasks, they have developed a free downloadable guide to managing a loved one’s finances after they’re gone.

When a loved one passes, the family’s first and most pertinent task is to organize the funeral and/or memorial, which can be daunting during this time of mourning.  After the funeral, families often struggle with what to do next regarding their loved one’s possessions, property and, most importantly, their finances.

How to Manage a Loved One’s Affairs After They are GoneUne Belle Vie Memorial Urns, a company that offers unique and custom cremation urns, offers a free downloadable step-by-step guide to managing a loved one’s finances after they are gone. The guide includes how to contact the appropriate government and financial agencies, how to close or transfer accounts, and how to claim death benefits.

Especially during a time of mourning, everyone can use some guidance and direction.

The free guide is available for download at http://decorative-urns.com/cremation-blog/estate-planning/free-download-une-belle-vie-guide-to-managing-a-loved-ones-finances/.

 

 

Funeral Planning and Healthcare Directives

Saturday, July 7th, 2012

Funeral Planning and Healthcare DirectivesAlthough funeral plans and healthcare directives don’t always overlap, they cover issues that many people address at the same time. While funeral plans provide financial support and instructions for after death occurs, healthcare directives address these issues while you’re still alive…and too ill to make the decisions on your own.

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Who Has the Legal Right to Make Funeral Decisions?

Monday, July 2nd, 2012

Who Has the Legal Right to Make Funeral Decisions?If a loved one dies and there is contention within the family, it can be difficult for everyone to agree on the right decisions to make regarding funeral planning and other burial decisions. While many families are able to work this sort of situation out for themselves, some struggle with finding a way to stay true to the wishes of the deceased and adhering to their own individual views on death.

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Working with Hospice to Plan a Funeral

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Working with Hospice to Plan a FuneralMost people associate hospice with issues related to end-of-life care, not funeral planning. After all, hospice is supposed to be about coping with terminal illness as a family and enjoying whatever time is left together.

However, because hospice exists to make the transition to death easier, it’s actually quite common for organizations to offer support and resources for funeral planning. The better prepared you are for the aftermath of death—including the social, emotional, spiritual, and financial ramifications—the easier it is to say your goodbyes while you still have time.

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Writing a Letter of Last Instructions

Monday, April 30th, 2012

Writing a Letter of Last InstructionsThere are many different types of official arrangements for funeral planning and other end-of-life issues. From wills and living trusts to funeral insurance, the right amount of preparation can leave a clear and easy path for the loved ones you leave behind.

Of course, not everything is always so formal. For many people, a discussion about burial wishes or resuscitation orders is enough. These require a lot less planning and legal work, leaving you to enjoy life while you still have it.

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Writing an Ethical Will

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Writing an Ethical WillEthical wills are one of the oldest funeral planning tools in existence—even though they have a lot less to do with funerals and a lot more to do with leaving a legacy behind. Historically popular in the Jewish culture as a way to pass ethical values from one generation to the next, ethical wills are now being adopted by a large percentage of the population, across generations and religions. In fact, the American Bar Association recommends writing an ethical will as an addendum to traditional estate planning.

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