With the Internet, it’s a new world for pre-planning your final wishes and making advance arrangements. Many sites offer pre-planning advice, guides, and more. Good pre-planning resources can also be found on our resource section at www.iMortuary.com. But, when it comes time to make your burial pre-arrangements, there is something new – burialplanning.com.
It used to be that consumers visited a number of cemeteries to learn about their options and make purchases based on their plans. Along the way, they dealt with a myriad of sales people and mingled alongside grieving families making arrangements for someone who had recently passed. The entire process of pre-planning is changing dramatically.
(more…) Online Store for Burial Pre-Planning
May 11th, 2010
With the Internet, it’s a new world for pre-planning your final wishes and making advance arrangements. Many sites offer pre-planning advice, guides, and more. Good pre-planning resources can also be found on our resource section at www.iMortuary.com. But, when it comes time to make your burial pre-arrangements, there is something new – burialplanning.com.
It used to be that consumers visited a number of cemeteries to learn about their options and make purchases based on their plans. Along the way, they dealt with a myriad of sales people and mingled alongside grieving families making arrangements for someone who had recently passed. The entire process of pre-planning is changing dramatically.
(more…) How to Discuss Pre-Arrangements and Estate Planning
March 20th, 2010
By definition, pre-arrangements are any funeral and burial arrangements made before the time of death, much like creating a will. They can range from a few simple requests (preferred music at the ceremony or the burial method) to more elaborate plans (including all the details and payments of the burial). Like estate planning, they , leaving little room for conflict and confrontation between the loved ones you leave behind.
People choose pre-arrangements for a variety of reasons. Some people prefer to make the decisions in advance as a way to ensure their needs and wishes are respected. Others wish to relieve their family of the burden of decision-making during a difficult time. Still others prefer the peace of mind of knowing that all the financial planning has been taken care of. No matter what the reason, however, one thing remains true for almost anyone: the topic of funeral arrangements can be one that is difficult to navigate.
How to Broach the Subject of Pre-Arrangement
(more…) Why Send Sympathy Flowers?
March 10th, 2010
These days, sending flowers and funerals seem to go hand-in-hand. Gorgeous floral arrangements, sympathy funeral flowers, and ornate sprays transform the somber space of the funeral home to a more personalized commemoration of those we have loved and lost. Friends and family members often send flowers as a way to indicate that their thoughts are with the bereaved. Flowers have become so mainstream, in fact, that some specialty providers deal only in funereal flower arrangements.
The reasons for sending flowers either to a funeral home or directly to the family are good ones. Although you may wish to set yourself apart from the crowd by attempting something less mainstream, flowers continue to be one of the best ways to send your condolences without making a difficult situation harder to bear.
The Origins of Sympathy Funeral Flowers
Originally, the practice of sending flowers to attend the burial of the deceased was to eliminate odors associated with the practical disposal of a loved one's remains. Flowers were also believed to emulate a garden setting, setting the tone with a visible representation of eternal springtime. As modern technology increased and allowed families more flexibility in their options, the desire to order funeral flowers persisted as an important part of the tradition.
(more…) Legal Issues That May Arise After Death
January 14th, 2010
The death of a loved one can be one of the most trying times in a person’s life. Between planning for the funeral, gathering friends and family together to grieve and dealing with your own emotions, it can undoubtedly be an exhausting and trying time. However, it’s important to remember that the time after your loved one’s death is crucial to your own financial and legal well-being, and there may be several issues and affairs of the estate that need to be addressed once the funeral is over.
Of course, one of the most common legal issues that arise after the death of a loved one is that of finances, especially when it comes to any debts or unpaid bills that are left behind. If your loved one leaves behind a will and an estate with clear instructions as to how assets should be allocated, then there shouldn’t be many legal ramifications for you and your relatives. If there’s no will, however, then it might be a good idea to hire a lawyer and an accountant, as you’ll encounter several legal and financial issues when dividing assets amongst relatives, creditors and lenders.
(more…) Simple Preparations For The Day Of The Funeral
January 4th, 2010
Planning a funeral can be such a grueling and stressful task, especially during such a sad and trying time. Between arranging which funeral home the service should take place at, ordering flowers for the service and coordinating the arrival of friends and family members, you may dread the additional stress that the day of the funeral may bring. However, if you’re planning a funeral for a dearly departed loved one, there are tips and techniques that you can use to make the day run more smoothly – so you can spend more time with friends and loved ones who are there to support you.
Take Care Of Little Details. This is where a funeral home can come in handy, since you’ll need assistance in making sure that all little details are seen to with exacting care and attention. For example, will you use family members as pallbearers, or will the home provide their own? Have you already chosen music to perform at the service? What about any eulogies that may be read during the service? Go over the details one last time with the funeral director to make sure that nothing is skipped over. Staff members at the funeral home will usually take you aside before the beginning of the service to make sure that everything will go according to plan, so wait for them to take the initiative.
(more…) Planning Your Travel To A Funeral
December 13th, 2009
Planning your travel to a funeral can be a stressful and burdensome task; between grieving for the loss of a family member or loved one and alerting others to the service, comparing the best airfare hardly seems like an activity that you want to give your time and energy to. However, there are certain tricks that you can use to not only get the best airfare, but to make traveling to a funeral a smooth and stress-free experience for everyone involved. Use these techniques when it’s time to plan your travel, and you’ll spend less of your precious time playing part-time travel agent and have more time to grieve and remember the life of the deceased.
Unless your loved one was gravely ill for some time, purchasing airfare to attend a funeral can often be quite costly, as funerals are usually held less than a week from the date of death. You can end up paying a lot of money for last-minute airfare tickets – unless, of course, you ask for bereavement airfare discounts. Bereavement airfare is typically available for family members of the deceased who are traveling to a funeral, and can be booked right up until departure time. You won’t be able to secure bereavement airfare through travel websites, so call airlines and ask about their special discounts. You can grab airfare for a discount of up to 50 percent off, with some airlines even offering 75 percent off a full fare. However, if your travels require more than one airline, your bereavement airfare will only be available on the requested flight. Call the other airlines to ensure that you’re being offered discounted airfare.
(more…) Moving On: How To Prepare Yourself For Life After The Death Of A Loved One
December 1st, 2009
Losing a loved one can be one of the most incredibly trying experiences of a person’s life. Between funeral planning and alerting relatives and friends to the death, it can often seem like a huge relief once the funeral is finally over. However, the month after a loved one’s death is a crucial time for settling the deceased’s finances – and for ensuring the protection of your own. If you need advice on how to financially move on after the death of a spouse, parent or other relative, then read on to find out what you need to know on making the change as smoothly as possible.
One important note: it can often be tempting to push aside sorting out any financial matters in the midst of your grief, so if you need help with any of these steps, enlist the aid of friends and family members. They’ll provide much-needed emotional support as well as assist you with any legal or financial difficulties you may encounter. Additionally, contact professionals who can give you the best advice on how to manage your finances and settle any debts that were left behind by a loved one.
(more…) How to Write Your Own Will
November 12th, 2009
How To Write Your Own Will
No one likes to talk about his or her own death. However, unless you hire an estate lawyer or write your will yourself, you could end up leaving your family and other loved ones with a massive legal bill and other problems that could prove to be a difficult burden.
Wills are not just for those with an extensive amount of assets; wills can cover everything from how you’d like certain heirlooms and trinkets distributed to loved ones, who you want to look after your children should you die before them and what assets you’d like liquidated in order to pay for any debts that you might leave behind. In short, a will is absolutely essential for both your family’s peace of mind, and that of your own.
Yet if you’re not sure of where to begin, writing a will can seem like a daunting if not downright impossible task. This is why many individuals choose to hire a lawyer for assistance, as a good lawyer can answer any difficult questions about legal processes that happen to your estate upon your death. Before you choose a lawyer, however, make sure you arrange a time to meet where you can ask certain questions that will help clarify if they have your best interests at heart:
(more…) How To Write A Moving And Heartfelt Eulogy
November 1st, 2009
For many, writing and reading a eulogy at a funeral is a way of not only paying homage to the life and memory of the deceased, but also as a way to say farewell to a loved one. A moving eulogy allows the audience to become at peace with the memory of the deceased, as it gives ample opportunity to celebrate what made that person so special and unique. A eulogy can be as simple as reciting the person’s favorite poem, or as personal as reading special memories out loud to the audience. Whatever option you choose, if you decide to write a eulogy, you’ll have the opportunity to give a fitting tribute for your loved one, since the eulogy marks the process in which family members and friends can become closer to the deceased while letting go at the same time.
However, many people find writing and giving a eulogy to be a burdensome task, especially if they’re dealing with their own grief. In this respect, a moving and heartfelt eulogy can be difficult to compose and recite, so if you feel as though you won’t be able to handle the task, then you shouldn’t feel pressured into giving one.
(more…) Caskets: Should You Buy at The Funeral Home or Online?
June 26th, 2009
Choosing a casket for a friend or loved one is not a simple process – between choosing a special casket that represents the tastes of the deceased to deciding what materials the casket will be made of, many grief-stricken family members are too exhausted to object to the price. While funeral planning is a trying time for all, it’s important to remember that you do have certain rights when choosing a casket, which are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission – and it’s important to know what exactly those rights are.
Consumer advocates and funeral homes lobbyists have long battled over the rights of individuals to purchase third-party caskets, since many consumers found the inflated prices of funeral home caskets to be particularly deceptive. In response to complaints, the Federal Trade Commission passed the “Funeral Rule” in 1984, which states that a consumer has the right to purchase a casket from a third-party vendor – and the funeral home must use that casket according to your requests. While many funeral homes have grown to accept this new law, many homes will only mention these cheaper alternatives when you request more information. It’s worth knowing the FTC’s “Funeral Rule” and your rights before meeting with a representative about your loved one’s service, especially if you want to secure as fair a price as possible.
If you’re still not sure whether or not you’d prefer to buy online or at the funeral home, here are a few important points to consider:
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