By Barry Zimmer on November 16th, 2021 in Burial planning, Estate Planning, Funeral planning
A well-constructed estate plan will be holistic in nature. If you take the right steps, you can assert your choices and simplify things for your loved ones during a time that will be very difficult for them.
Final Arrangements
Imagine hearing that a close family member has passed away. There is really no way to be ready to accept this type of news without an emotional reaction of some kind. If you have already been in this situation, you know how hard it can be.
Everyone in the family will have their own way of dealing with the loss, but practical responsibilities will be beckoning immediately. Final arrangements must be made, and someone has to step up to make the plans.
Obviously, this is not a unique situation, but it can be taxing, and family members may not be on the same page. You can prevent disagreements and make sure that your own preferences are honored if you express your wishes in advance.
Letter of Final Instruction
You can use a letter of final instruction to express your final arrangement wishes. There are different approaches that can be taken, so you can put a personalized stamp on the proceedings.
Some people will go the traditional route with a viewing, a wake, and burial, and a memorial service in a house of worship.
Others will keep it simple and have a single gathering where people pay their respects to family members, provide support, and celebrate the life of the decedent.
This is one of the matters that can be addressed in the letter of final instruction, and there are others. The executor or trustee that you have designated to administer your estate will need certain information to complete the tasks.
You should share the location of keys to property, vehicles, and storage units, and you have to let them know where to find all the relevant documents. The administrator will need access to financial accounts that you manage online, blogs, websites, and social media accounts.
The letter should include the names and contact information of people that should be notified about your passing.
In addition to friends and extended family members, the list should include professionals that may play a role of the estate administration process. These would include your accountant, attorney, insurance agent, clergyman or woman, funeral director, etc.
Prepaid Funeral Plans
If your family has a long-standing relationship with a certain funeral home, you can feel confident making arrangements. However, a lot of people enter uncharted waters when they purchase prepaid funeral plans, and they can be treacherous.
There are unscrupulous types that radically overcharge for items and services, and there have been outright scams over the years. We do not want to disparage all companies that sell prepaid funerals, but you should definitely do your research if you want to go this route.
Access Our Free Worksheet!
In addition to the many blog posts that you can explore, we have other written materials on this site that you can access. One of them is our estate planning worksheet, and this tool has been carefully prepared to give you a more complete understanding of this important process.
There is no charge for this valuable resource, and you can get your copy right now if you head over to our worksheet access page.
Need Help Now?
If you already know that it is time for you to work with a Cincinnati estate planning attorney to put a plan in place, we are here to help. There are different estate planning approaches that can be taken, and the ideal way to proceed will depend on the circumstances.
When you choose our firm, we will put you at ease from the start. After we understand your situation your objectives, we will provide recommendations, and your plan will be carefully crafted to provide for you to your loved ones in the optimal manner.
You can request a consultation appointment if you send us a message, and we can be reached by phone at 513-721-1513.