You might want to make decisions about what will happen to you after you die, including planning your own funeral. Not everyone wants to do this, but for some, planning ahead can help those close to you celebrate your life in the way you want. There are things to consider, such as paying for the funeral and who should tell about your plans.

 

 

Some people might think about funerals after being diagnosed with a terminal illness or when they’re reaching the end of their life, but you can start to think about it at any time. A funeral director can give you advice to help you plan, organise, and pay for your funeral.

 

Telling Others About Your Decisions

You can tell your friends and family about what you want for your funeral. It’s a good idea to write down your wishes so they can remember what you told them after you’ve gone. If you decide to plan your funeral with a funeral director, ask them to send copies of the arrangements you made to you, your solicitor, and your family.

 

You could also write down your wishes in an advance care plan or advance statement. Writing down your wishes like this in an advance statement should make it easier for those who have to arrange your funeral to understand your wishes and follow them. In this document, include how you want any religious or spiritual beliefs to be reflected in your funeral.

Another way to share your wishes with your loved ones is to include them in your Will. However, you should be aware that this part of a Will is not legally binding. If you have specific wishes, it’s also a smart idea to have your wishes in a separate document as well as in the Will, in your Will is not discovered until after your funeral. If you make arrangements with a funeral director, they could keep a copy of this document safe for you and share it when the time comes.

 

Once you have decided what you want to happen, make sure your wishes are recorded and stored somewhere safe and easy for your family to find. Tell your family where you have stored these documents so they can be found when you’ve gone.

 

Paying For Your Funeral

You can put plans into place to pay for your funeral too. Some people like to do this as it can be a big help for your family, especially if there are any delays in them getting access to any money that you have left to them to cover funeral costs.

 

You could think about paying for your funeral yourself in advance, with a pre-paid funeral plan or with insurance. You could leave money in your estate to cover the cost of your funeral after you die. After your death, the executor of the estate will take care of the bills from your funeral.

 

If you don’t have a pre-paid funeral plan or your family can’t afford a funeral, there are lots of options out there that can be used to help reduce the costs. If the person paying gets certain benefits, they can get some help to pay for your funeral by applying for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the government.