You’re a planner. You’ve made all the arrangements for your funeral long before it’s necessary, selecting the right package and payment plan and getting your affairs in order with plenty of time to spare. According to all the rulebooks, you’ve done things right and can rest comfortably knowing that your family won’t have to deal with the financial and emotional stresses of planning a funeral.
Archive for the ‘Legal’ Category
How to Discuss Your Pre-Plan Funeral Arrangements with Family
Friday, June 22nd, 2012Resources and Contacts if You Have Funeral Complaints
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
There are times when the unthinkable can occur…when your family, already strained due to death and the stress of funeral planning, is treated unfairly by a funeral provider.
Funeral homes, cemeteries, and other companies in the funeral industry are held to certain national standards, but that doesn’t mean that a bad experience can’t happen to you. Whether due to a misunderstanding, neglect, or malicious intentions, there may arise a situation in which you question the ethics and legality of your treatment. If this happens, there are resources and organizations you can turn to for help.
How to Pay for a Funeral
Friday, June 15th, 2012
Although rates of advance funeral planning are on the rise, the majority of people aren’t financially prepared to pay for a funeral. With a price tag of anywhere from a few thousand to up to $10,000, it’s not easy to come up with the money necessary to make the final arrangements—especially if you’re forced to wait weeks or even months for a life insurance policy to pay out.
Age Caps and Health Restrictions on Burial Insurance
Sunday, June 10th, 2012
While burial insurance (also known as funeral insurance) is a great option for those who want to pre-arrange a funeral for a low upfront cost, it isn’t available to everyone. Like most other types of personal insurance (health and life), your age and health will determine your premium rates and whether or not you qualify for that policy as all.
Leave Behind a Legacy
Thursday, May 17th, 2012
The iMortuary team thanks guest author, George Shaw for this blog post.
As we age, we begin to think more deeply and realistically about how we would like to be remembered in the future. Certainly, for those who have substantial financial means, there is the possibility of leaving large charitable donations to organizations that have meaning in return for recognition. Yet, in the case of most other individuals, it may be necessary to get more creative in terms of leaving a future legacy.
Writing a Letter of Last Instructions
Monday, April 30th, 2012
There 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.
Writing an Ethical Will
Friday, April 27th, 2012
Ethical 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.
How to Choose a Funeral Service Provider
Saturday, April 21st, 2012
There are no laws in the United States that require you to choose a funeral home for all your funeral planning needs. Technically, you could coordinate the entire interment on your own (or under the guidance of a licensed provider), as long as you adhere to all the legal requirements in your county and fill out all the appropriate paperwork that accompanies death. For more in depth guidance, download our guide “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning”
Women and Funeral Planning
Friday, April 6th, 2012
When it comes to traditional financial planning, the majority of long-term fiscal decisions are made by men. For years, financial professionals have been trying to create specialized programs that focus on women and how they can plan for retirement or life after the loss of a spouse.
Funeral planning, on the other hand, is a process that has long been dominated by women. In fact, an estimated two-thirds of funerals are planned and paid for by women—usually because a wife outlives her husband, and is called upon to determine how to best lay her spouse to rest. Adult female children are also the ones most likely to act as caretakers for their aging parents, so the task of funeral planning often falls to them.
What is a Home Funeral?
Thursday, March 15th, 2012
When it comes to funeral planning, the modern consumer has more options than ever before. From cremation and green burial to traditional interment, there is a ceremony for every type of person—and every budget.
Those hoping to reduce funeral costs even more—and to put the focus back on family—have one more option: the home funeral. Once the only way to say goodbye to those we love, a home funeral is exactly what the name suggests. Instead of having a memorial service at a funeral home and burying the deceased in a cemetery, the entire process takes place at home.
