Pre-Need Funeral Planning
Funerals can be one of the most expensive purchases a consumer will make.
A traditional funeral including casket and vault costs about $7,000 and the addition of items such as flowers, obituary notices, limousines, etc.
can add thousands of dollars to that cost.
These numbers may be further increased due to the fact that many people may "overspend" on a funeral because they feel it is reflection of their feelings for the deceased.
As a result of these trends, there is an increasing movement toward pre-need planning which is when people make funeral arrangements and even payments for that funeral in advance.
This suggests that consumers want to compare prices and services with the goal of creating a funeral that reflects a personal and meaningful experience as well as a well-informed purchasing decision.
Many think of funeral planning as an extension of an Advance Directive as well as Will and Estate Planning.
In addition to the informed and thoughtful decision-making that pre-planning offers individuals, this process also spares surviving family and friends the stress of making those types of sensitive decisions under pressure and at a time of strong emotions.
There is little time between the death and burial of a loved one so pre-planning helps to eliminate the stress of decision making for the survivors.
Arrangement decisions may be made in advance but do not have to be paid for in advance.
Prices may change over time and changes may occur with the actual business so it is wise to review decisions every few years.
Laws of individual states govern the prepayment of funeral goods and services.
A useful organization for determining these laws is the Funeral Consumers Alliance.
The Federal Trade Commission a government agency to investigate and eliminate unfair and deceptive practices in business, enacted the Funeral Rule on April 30, 1984, and amended it effective 1994.
The Funeral Rule was designed to protect consumers by requiring that they receive adequate information concerning the goods and services they may purchase from a funeral provider.
All such providers must comply with The Funeral Rule.
The Funeral Rule defines such terms as funeral goods, funeral services and specifies various consumer rights, as well as specific parameters in which funeral industry goods and service providers must respect consumer rights and conduct their business.
For example, the Funeral Rule requires funeral directors to give you itemized prices in person, and if you ask, over the phone.
Other recommendations from the Federal Trade Commission include: 1.
Shop around in advance - compare prices 2.
Ask for a price list - the law requires funeral homes to give you written price lists for products and services 3.
Resist pressure to buy goods and services you do not want or need 4.
Avoid emotional overspending - you do not have to overspend to properly honor your loved one 5.
Recognize your rights - protections vary from state to state and some offer little in the way of protection.
Most states have a licensing board that regulates the funeral industry.
You may contact the board in your state for information or help.
If you want additional information about making funeral arrangements and the options available, you may want to contact interested business, professional and consumer groups such as those listed below: Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Blvd.
, Suite 800 Arlington, VA 22203-1838 www.
bbb.
org Better Business Bureaus are private, nonprofit organizations that promote ethical business standards and voluntary self-regulation of business practices.
International Cemetery and Funeral Association 1895 Preston White Drive, Suite 220 Reston, VA 20191 1-800-645-7700 www.
icfa.
org ICFA is a nonprofit association of cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories and monument retailers that offers informal mediation of consumer complaints through its Cemetery Consumer Service Council.
Its website provides information and advice under "Consumer Resources.
" It is also advisable to alert family members about your wishes and plans.
Putting your preferences for a traditional burial or cremation including memorials wishes like Urns, ash depositing or cremation jewelry in writing, giving copies to family members and your attorney will assist your family at the time these documents are needed.
Keep a copy in a handy place, not just in a safe deposit box, so that it is easily accessible.
Let your loved ones know where the documents are filed.
The less guess work for family and friends the better.
Planning ahead, making decisions and even prepaying all or some of the expenses are all steps to ensure that your wishes are respected and followed.
The time you spend pre-planning and the communication you ensure will ease hearts and minds both before the time of death and after.
A traditional funeral including casket and vault costs about $7,000 and the addition of items such as flowers, obituary notices, limousines, etc.
can add thousands of dollars to that cost.
These numbers may be further increased due to the fact that many people may "overspend" on a funeral because they feel it is reflection of their feelings for the deceased.
As a result of these trends, there is an increasing movement toward pre-need planning which is when people make funeral arrangements and even payments for that funeral in advance.
This suggests that consumers want to compare prices and services with the goal of creating a funeral that reflects a personal and meaningful experience as well as a well-informed purchasing decision.
Many think of funeral planning as an extension of an Advance Directive as well as Will and Estate Planning.
In addition to the informed and thoughtful decision-making that pre-planning offers individuals, this process also spares surviving family and friends the stress of making those types of sensitive decisions under pressure and at a time of strong emotions.
There is little time between the death and burial of a loved one so pre-planning helps to eliminate the stress of decision making for the survivors.
Arrangement decisions may be made in advance but do not have to be paid for in advance.
Prices may change over time and changes may occur with the actual business so it is wise to review decisions every few years.
Laws of individual states govern the prepayment of funeral goods and services.
A useful organization for determining these laws is the Funeral Consumers Alliance.
The Federal Trade Commission a government agency to investigate and eliminate unfair and deceptive practices in business, enacted the Funeral Rule on April 30, 1984, and amended it effective 1994.
The Funeral Rule was designed to protect consumers by requiring that they receive adequate information concerning the goods and services they may purchase from a funeral provider.
All such providers must comply with The Funeral Rule.
The Funeral Rule defines such terms as funeral goods, funeral services and specifies various consumer rights, as well as specific parameters in which funeral industry goods and service providers must respect consumer rights and conduct their business.
For example, the Funeral Rule requires funeral directors to give you itemized prices in person, and if you ask, over the phone.
Other recommendations from the Federal Trade Commission include: 1.
Shop around in advance - compare prices 2.
Ask for a price list - the law requires funeral homes to give you written price lists for products and services 3.
Resist pressure to buy goods and services you do not want or need 4.
Avoid emotional overspending - you do not have to overspend to properly honor your loved one 5.
Recognize your rights - protections vary from state to state and some offer little in the way of protection.
Most states have a licensing board that regulates the funeral industry.
You may contact the board in your state for information or help.
If you want additional information about making funeral arrangements and the options available, you may want to contact interested business, professional and consumer groups such as those listed below: Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Blvd.
, Suite 800 Arlington, VA 22203-1838 www.
bbb.
org Better Business Bureaus are private, nonprofit organizations that promote ethical business standards and voluntary self-regulation of business practices.
International Cemetery and Funeral Association 1895 Preston White Drive, Suite 220 Reston, VA 20191 1-800-645-7700 www.
icfa.
org ICFA is a nonprofit association of cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories and monument retailers that offers informal mediation of consumer complaints through its Cemetery Consumer Service Council.
Its website provides information and advice under "Consumer Resources.
" It is also advisable to alert family members about your wishes and plans.
Putting your preferences for a traditional burial or cremation including memorials wishes like Urns, ash depositing or cremation jewelry in writing, giving copies to family members and your attorney will assist your family at the time these documents are needed.
Keep a copy in a handy place, not just in a safe deposit box, so that it is easily accessible.
Let your loved ones know where the documents are filed.
The less guess work for family and friends the better.
Planning ahead, making decisions and even prepaying all or some of the expenses are all steps to ensure that your wishes are respected and followed.
The time you spend pre-planning and the communication you ensure will ease hearts and minds both before the time of death and after.
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