Pre-need funeral planning allows individuals to take care of details concerning their funeral and body disposition as a means to prevent the burden from falling on family. Pre-need planning enables you to decide whether you want to be cremated or buried, the type of funeral service you want, and even what attire you want when buried. With guaranteed plans, you can lock in the price at the time the plan is purchased. Non-guaranteed plans do not lock in the costs but grow over time through interest. Experts are divided about which plan is more appropriate. Caitlin Doughty, who co-runs the funeral home Undertkaing LA, says that when “people ask for pre-need, we suggest setting up either an investment or a savings account. That way, any interest goes to them, not the funeral home or corporation.”
See Christine Colby, Want to Plan for Your Death and Funeral? Here’s How, The New York Times, February 20, 2018.
Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
