Pre-planning a funeral raises a lot of questions, and finding out about the particulars isn’t always easy. To help, we’ve compiled a list of the most common inquiries we’ve heard over the years. These come from folks who, like you, are looking for a few answers before making any decisions.

Of course, we always recommend starting a plan online, consulting with your local expert, or subscribing to our blog and YouTube channel.

I was just curious, but I’m not sure I’m ready to pre-plan.

You’re in the same boat as most people. Making a plan feels like a commitment, like you’re setting it down in stone. The good news is that once you’ve put a plan in place with a funeral home, you can always amend or change it. The staff who run funeral homes are by and large some of the kindest people out there, at least in our experience. 

The other thing is, we’ve tried to make it easy. You can create a personalized plan and get a cost estimate in as little as five minutes with Planning Daisies’ online planning tool. You could also schedule an over-the-phone consultation to talk through your options and get help building your plan.

This sounds like it takes a lot of time.

Actually, it’s surprisingly quick. You can start a basic plan for your funeral in as little as five minutes’ time. This will give you a great framework that includes most of the important details and an estimate of the cost. On the other hand, with an over-the-phone consultation, you’ll work with a local planning expert who will go into more depth. It’ll take slightly more time, with the trade-off being a more complete plan and better peace of mind. 

Can’t my kids take care of this? After all, I won’t be there.

For several different reasons, people leave the details of planning a funeral up to their loved ones. Maybe it’s because the topic is too difficult, or they think there’s nothing to worry about because the costs will be covered by an insurance policy or benefits.

But making final arrangements can be demanding and stressful when you’re grieving. The downside to waiting and not planning now is that your kids or loved ones are forced to bear that burden. There are hundreds of decisions to be made, and they won’t necessarily know what you wanted or how you’d like to be remembered.  

What if I already have a will?

Having a will or living trust is a great way to spell out how your assets will be divided and distributed. What it won’t include is a plan for your funeral. Wills are usually read after the funeral, and meeting with a professional funeral planner can help you make sure your funeral plan and your will are aligned.

Won’t my veterans benefits take care of my funeral costs?

Yes, as a veteran you may be eligible for the Veterans Burial Allowance that will cover the costs of services, including the funeral, burial, and transportation. It’s important that you receive these benefits, and part of making a funeral plan should include determining what you’re entitled to. Our local planning experts can also help you find out what your benefits will cover during your consultation.

Will my life insurance policy cover my funeral costs?

It depends. The time between filing a claim and receiving a payout on a life insurance policy can be weeks or sometimes months. This means your loved ones initially have to cover the expense of a funeral out of pocket. Part of planning ahead often includes a prepaid funeral insurance policy with your local funeral home. It’s one of several options you can discuss during a consultation with an advance planning expert.

You can read more about life insurance, and other ways of financing a funeral, in our free financial guide.

How much does it cost to pre-plan a funeral?  

Putting together a plan doesn’t cost anything, and you can do so using our online planning tool or by scheduling a free consultation with a local funeral planner. However, an important part of any plan should include how your final expenses will be paid for. More and more often, people are prepaying for their funerals, usually through a preneed insurance policy. This both alleviates the financial burden on your loved ones and allows you to pay today’s prices instead of future prices that are subject to inflation. You can find out more when you speak with your local funeral planner.

What if I can’t afford to prepay for a funeral right now?

No problem. The important thing is that you have created a plan for your final arrangements that you can share with your loved ones. It helps to also have it on file with your local funeral home, and we’re happy to direct you to one of our funeral home partners in your area. All of our partners meet the Planning Daisies criteria for excellence, which is based on their exceptional customer service and outstanding reputation in their communities.

What if I’ve moved but I have cemetery property back home?

This is fairly common. Having cemetery property means you’ve already taken care of some very important details. It will still be necessary to coordinate with your local funeral home to handle transportation and other arrangements. Our local planning experts can help make sure these details get taken care of and that nothing else gets overlooked. Simply schedule a consultation to get started.  

Would it be a good idea to discuss this with my spouse and children?

Of course. The people you’re closest with will be those most affected by your loss. Discussing your intentions ahead of time can help as you begin thinking through your plan. These discussions usually end up being quite meaningful, and your loved ones will appreciate knowing the reasons behind the choices you’ve made for your final arrangements.

What if my spouse or loved ones don’t want to talk about it?

That’s completely understandable. We know that discussing final wishes, for some, can be a difficult conversation. We have a free guide for tips on discussing death with your loved ones, family, and friends.

Talking about death can be really hard. Still, planning ahead is intended to help your loved ones at a time when ignoring the topic will be impossible. They’ll be grieving and forced to manage the details of planning a funeral. When you speak with an advance planning expert, your loved ones can simply sit in on the consultation. Even if they choose not to participate, they will at least know your wishes.

I’m not ready for a consultation. Isn’t there anything I can just fill out myself?

Yes. In fact, we created the online planning tool for this very reason. Many people want to go at their own pace and begin building their plan after they’ve had the time to think it through and have discussions with their loved ones.

Questions often still come up, so you can always reach out for a consultation. Explain that you’ve already started a plan, and your local planning expert will be able to guide you through whatever you need help with.

I’m going to move soon. Should I wait to pre-plan my funeral?

Not necessarily. The reason we plan ahead is to prepare for the unexpected. Getting your plans in place as soon as possible will give you peace of mind, and you can always make changes. Plus, any plans you make with a local funeral home can be easily transferred once you move, a process our planning experts are well acquainted with.

What if I haven’t made up my mind about my final wishes?

You’re not alone here. Most people are not well versed in the specifics of funeral service, thinking it basically boils down to a choice between burial or cremation. One of the benefits of pre-planning your funeral is that you become much more knowledgeable. You’ll learn which options and services will be meaningful to you and your loved ones, and as with anything, being better informed leads to better choices. Learning by doing is the key here. The sooner you start your plan, the sooner you’ll be able to start making up your mind. 

You can always listen to folks who have already pre-planned talk about it in their own words.

I made it to the end of this FAQ article — what if you didn’t answer my question?

We love questions. We want to answer your questions. So please email us and subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we answer all of your questions and dive deeper into these topics.