Cremation Preplanning Information

Cremation pre-planning gives you the opportunity to make critical decisions when you are calm and focused. And there's this: when pre-planning cremation, you can even save money by selecting one of our prepaid cremation plans.

Putting pen to paper in the effort to record your cremation intention is one way to ensure your final wishes will be carried out by your survivors; but paying for cremation services ahead of time can do even more to guarantee your intentions (and save you money at the same time). However, there are some things you should be aware of when you purchase a prepaid cremation plan. Naturally, we believe prepaid cremation offers individuals an abundance of benefits; but you really should do your "due diligence" before putting any money on the table.

A prepaid cremation plan is basically a contract for the future delivery of specific cremation services and related merchandise, which also features a funding instrument in place to pay for the goods and services. Each state has specific laws relating to prepaid funeral and pre need cremation plans, but as a general rule, the funeral home or cremation provider will place a percentage of the plan payment in a state-regulated trust fund. Another option to insure the proper handling of prepaid funds involves the purchase of a life insurance policy with benefits assigned to the funeral home or cremation services provider. And in some cases, these prepaid contracts guarantee the price of the goods and services will cost no more upon delivery than what was paid for at the time the contract was signed.

Let's be honest; if someone were to ask you, "what's the benefit of planning ahead?" you'd probably answer quite simply: "it helps prevent mistakes". It's true in all areas of our lives; when we take the time to plan ahead, we can save ourselves time, energy and, of course; quite often planning ahead can also save us money. This is especially true in relation to cremation preplanning. If we agree on the answer to the question "why plan ahead?" it's easy to see the enormous value of the decision to plan ahead for cremation services.

Unfortunately, there's a great deal of misunderstanding about prepaid cremation plans, which compels us to bring a few important points to your attention. When you make the decision to purchase a cremation plan and pay for it in advance, you should always:

Compare providers, plan features, and prices.

There's no doubt; costs for cremation services and related merchandise can vary drastically. We urge you to do your due diligence; investigate your options thoroughly.

Review plan(s) carefully.

After selecting a provider (or when deciding between providers) you should request a copy of the proposed contract. If applicable, ask for the trust-related financial details. Take the time to review all documents with an attorney; and if you have a financial advisor or accountant, we recommend you consult them as well.

Investigate the provider's reputation.

Before signing any contract or committing any funds, be sure to check the company out with the Better Business Bureau, the state funeral board, attorney general's office and/or consumer protection agency.