plan ahead
You can decide NOW, what will happen to your body AFTER death. Without a plan in place, those who survive you may:
TWO TOOLS TO HELP YOU PLAN Funeral Consumers Alliance of Minnesota has developed two tools to help you plan, and to put your plans in writing.
8-Step Planning Process The 8 Planning Steps for After-Death Arrangements can help you get started. It may be helpful to review them before you fill out the After-Death Arrangements form. You can download a detailed copy of the 8 Planning Steps below. After-Death Arrangements Planning Form Putting your plan in writing will help prevent unnecessary stress -- and potential family conflict and disagreement -- during an already emotional time. Funeral Consumers Alliance of Minnesota has produced a simple, 2-page form called After-Death Arrangements Planning Form. Good to remember In thinking about your plan, keep in mind that there are three primary after death decisions:
A note about Health Care Directives If you have a written Heath Care Directive, you can check a box on the form if you want your designated agent to carry out your after-death plans and wishes. That space can be found under the section titled Additional Powers of My Health Care Agent at the end of Part 1 of the form. It reads: □ Arrange for and make decisions about the care of my body after death.
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Death planning is a Funeral Shopping Tips Here are some tips to help you shop for funeral services: ● Compare prices from at least two funeral homes. Remember that you can supply your own casket or urn. ● Ask for a price list. The law requires funeral homes to give you written price lists for products and services. ● Resist pressure to buy goods and services you don’t really want or need. ● Avoid emotional overspending. It’s not necessary to have the fanciest casket or the most elaborate funeral to properly honor a loved one. ● Recognize your rights. Laws regarding funerals and burials vary from state to state. It’s a smart move to know which goods or services the law requires you to purchase and which are optional. ● Apply the same smart shopping techniques you use for other major purchases. For example, you can cut costs by limiting the viewing to one day or one hour before the funeral; or by holding a visitation with cremated remains in someone's home. ● Shop in advance. It allows you to comparison shop without time constraints, creates an opportunity for family discussion, and lifts some of the burden from your family. Source: Shopping for Funeral Services | Federal Trade Commission |
8 PLANNING STEPS for After Death Arrangements
You can download the 8 PLANNING STEPS in Word or PDF format.
You can download the 8 PLANNING STEPS in Word or PDF format.
1. EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS
There are three primary after death decisions::
2. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS The FTC Funeral Rule spells out what funeral homes are required to do, as well as your right to choose only those after death products and services you want. The Minnesota Health Department's manual, "Choices" on the regulations and requirements of the final disposition of a dead human body in Minnesota, spells out a number of choices Minnesotans have in choosing, among other things, how they may care for their own dead with the minimum involvement of a funeral home. See Your Rights on our website to learn more. 3. HAVE A CONVERSATION With the person or persons you want to carry out your plans, and with your closest family members. It's especially important to talk with those who may disagree with your plans, say, for religious reasons, or because the family's always done it this way. It's possible your family avoids any talk about death and dying. That's OK. It's the same with many American families. So it may help to get some coaching, perhaps from a trusted friend. And it may help to put in writing what you’ll say to family members. Don’t forget to sound out friends. If you know someone who was involved in making and carrying out after death arrangements for a loved one, ask if they’ll talk about the experience. Their insights may help as you prepare to talk with your family members. |
4. DECIDE ON A PLAN
Decide what you'd want to have happen in the best of all possible worlds: perhaps that's dying in your bed at the ripe old age of 104. Then consider whether that plan would similarly work if you died unexpectedly. Decide who you want to carry out your plans. It may be your spouse, or oldest child, or a best friend. Whoever you name has to agree to do it. Choose someone who will be able to take on the pain of your death while carrying out your plans. Not everyone can do that. And there's no dress rehearsal for it. So choose wisely. The person you choose may change over your lifetime. Redo your plan to keep it current. 5. PUT YOUR PLAN IN WRITING Use the two-page After-Death Arrangements Planning Form available on the FCA of MN website or some other pre-printed form, or a form you've created yourself. The important thing is to put it in writing. You can change it anytime. Signed and witnessed, it becomes a legal document. 6. SHARE YOUR PLAN Once you've put your plan in writing, give a copy to the person who will be responsible for carrying out your plans, as well as to your closest family members. 7. PUT MONEY ASIDE, IF POSSIBLE However simple your after death arrangements are, they're going to cost some money. If you're plans are elaborate and costly, and you die without enough money to cover them, the person you appoint to carry out your plans is not obliged to pay the difference. You may have heard of pre-paid funeral plans. See Costs on our website for information about pre-pay plans, and other ways to put money aside. As you plan, compare today's prices for say, cremation, or natural burial. Prices will change over time, and new options may become available in the future. 8. CHANGE YOUR MIND, ANYTIME Many people put off the task of making after death arrangements with one or more excuses. Remember, if you die without a plan, your after death arrangements become a guessing game for those who will bear the burden of carrying them out. Remember: You can change your mind anytime. Simply redo your planning form and let others know about it. |