It is a busy week, and you have just been notified that a family member with a terminal illness has passed on. At this very moment, you may be in disbelief. However, once you take time to process the loss of your loved one, it may be best to take a few things into consideration before planning funeral arrangements. Doing so can provide financial preparedness and emotional clarity for reduced stress. 

Schedule the Arrangement Conference

To start, scheduling an arrangement conference can help you begin planning funeral arrangements. This is the primary step in gathering essential information. You can expect to meet with the funeral director and the immediate family members of the deceased. Each individual can then coordinate various aspects of the memorial service.

For example, the arrangement conference will help everyone agree on the location, date, or time. Your family will then choose an urn or casket, select flowers and decorations, and decide whether to bury the body or the cremated remains. If the traditional burial is selected, the responsible party will then select the clothing and overall appearance of your loved one for the upcoming viewing.

The Role of Burial Funds in Preplanning Funeral Arrangements

According to the Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Advice (FTC), the cost of the memorial service depends on several factors. Factors include the chosen location, the funeral director, and cash advances, which are fees charged by the funeral home for outside vendors on your behalf. To ensure you or your family does not miss anything while planning funeral arrangements, it can be helpful to check off the funeral pricing checklist.

Funeral Arrangements: Embalming

It is common for some funeral homes to require embalming. This is a procedure that injects chemicals (usually formaldehyde-based) into the deceased’s body. Doing so helps preserve your loved one’s body for viewing, funeral services, or transportation. This type of service is typically not necessary to incorporate into your funeral arrangements if your loved one’s body is buried or cremated soon after death. Opting out of this service can save you and your family a significant amount of money.

Funeral Arrangements: Caskets

The average casket costs more than $2,000. Some high-end options, such as caskets made from mahogany, bronze, or copper, can cost up to $10,000 or more. Keep in mind that although caskets are sold at the funeral home, you may have the option of purchasing one from a third-party dealer and have it shipped to the funeral home. This can also save you and your family money. 

Funeral Arrangements: Cremation

To eliminate the cost of buying a casket, some families choose to cremate their loved one and rent a casket from the funeral home for the visitation. Cremation is the process of reducing a human body into bone fragments in a retort. Temperatures range from 1,400 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Nevertheless, there is no requirement to use a casket for cremation. You and your family can simply choose a plain box, cardboard container, or cloth shroud if the family does not choose to rent a casket. Some families simply spread their loved one’s ashes, place them in an urn, or incorporate their loved one’s cremated ashes into jewelry for lifelong sentimental preservation. 

Funeral Arrangements: Burial Vaults or Grave Liners

Aside from embalming, caskets, or cremation services, burial vaults or grave liners are also important. Burial vaults help support the ground above as the casket naturally breaks down over time. This prevents the casket from sinking or caving in. Grave liners cover only the top and sides of the casket. 

However, in comparison to a grave liner, a burial vault is a more durable but more costly option. It completely encloses the casket in concrete or another sturdy material. Sometimes, this service is offered with a warranty for its protective strength. 

How Burial Payment Assistance Can Help With Funeral Arrangements

Understanding that several factors impact the cost of a memorial service, setting aside a burial fund of up to $1,500 can help. However, this money may or may not count as a resource for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In most cases, using money from a burial fund for anything other than approved burial expenses in your funeral arrangements plan may result in a penalty.

Depending on the state, if you do not contribute to your burial fund, burial payment assistance can provide valuable financial support. When mandatory copayments, estate, or more are limited, burial assistance may be available. This can help cover your expenses related to a body donated to a medical school. Take into account, the burial assistance application must be completed within 10 business days or fewer following the donation placement, burial, or cremation process.

Agencies to Notify When Someone Dies Before Finalizing Funeral Arrangements

According to USAGov, as soon as a loved one passes, it is important to notify the government programs and businesses your loved one used as soon as you can. Once you have the deceased’s Social Security number and certified copies of their death certificate, you can then contact government agencies and programs. Cancelling benefits payments and closing or transferring the accounts they used is also critical.

Doing so can prevent fraud or identity theft, stop benefit overpayments, and settle the estate properly. Closing accounts can also transfer essential benefits, such as pensions or survivor benefits to a spouse or child, file life insurance claims, or help you gain access to your loved one’s financial accounts or employer benefits. Government agencies and programs to contact include:

• Social Security and Medicare
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Motor vehicles office
• U.S. passport
• Voter registration office
• State social services benefits
• Military retirement benefits
• Veterans benefits
• Federal employee benefits
• Death of a U.S. citizen abroad

Arranging Aftercare for the Family

Aside from managing your loved one’s life insurance plan, freezing their credit, or memorializing social media accounts, taking your mental health into account is important. Family support groups, grief counseling, bereavement resources, managing estates, and planning annual remembrance events are all resourceful services.

Considering different resources for help can aid you and your family in navigating the emotional and practical challenges that follow the loss of your loved one. Different channels of care can provide comfort, guidance, and connection during the grieving process. Support services can also assist with long-term healing while honoring the memory of your loved one for closure.

Thinking Carefully Before Moving Forward

When a loved one dies, making funeral arrangements while grieving can be both emotionally taxing and mentally draining. For that reason, tension can build up as not everyone may come to an agreement during the arrangement conference.

To avoid conflict, in unique circumstances, pre-need funeral planning can be a great option. This is where one makes funeral arrangements in advance before their family member passes away.  Some families even pay for the funeral in advance. The individual or family members can communicate with third parties to not only lock in current prices but also ensure personal wishes are addressed. Additional things to consider when planning funeral arrangements for your loved one include: 

• Collecting vital statistics
• Choosing a headstone
• Completing and signing the required forms
• Planning the reception
• Completing the obituary
• Collecting photos
• Deciding on pallbearers
• Choosing musical readings and selections
• Comforting the family
• Providing amenities