by Robert W. McDonald

Created on: November 04, 2009   Last Updated: November 06, 2009

With the exceptions of deaths occurring as a result of an unforeseeable accident or after a sudden catastrophic illness, most families have a period of time to plan for the eventuality of a loved one's passing. For many, such preparations will include both preplanning and prepayment of the appropriate final arrangements.

Perhaps the foremost reason to preplan end of life services is the awareness that the first twenty-four hours after a death has occurred can be among the most stressful periods in the lifetimes of the surviving family members. Although a death may have been anticipated for some time, such as in a terminal illness, the emotional impact following the loss of a family member is always difficult to predict.

Preplanning will also lead to an earlier awareness of legal matters, such as the provisions of one's will and the potential impact of estate and inheritance taxes. Such planning will also often lead to a clear understanding of one's desires related to end of life medical care, which can be important if organ donation or some other form of anatomical gift is anticipated or desired.

In practically all cases, preplanning of funeral arrangements will also include attention to the advance payment of the relevant financial costs that will arise. Such final expenses include the cost of the necessary burial containers, such as the casket and burial vault, transporting the deceased from the place of death to the mortuary, and any necessary preparation of the body prior to burial. Preplanning can also include the purchase of a burial space in a cemetery of choice, or of a crypt in a mausoleum. In many instances, the purchase of an adjoining grave space or crypt for the surviving spouse or other family members may be arranged at the same time. If cremation or some other method relating to the disposition of the body is desired, this may also be addressed at the time prearrangement is discussed.

In all states, the security of the financial prearrangement is strictly regulated by an appropriate agency such as a state funeral services board or commission that has a legal duty to protect the interests of the consumer. Such protection includes assuring that if a mortuary or funeral services business is sold, any contracts and other such arrangements that it has a duty to honor will be assumed by the purchaser of that establishment or be transferrable to another business.

Psychologists say that there is no "right" time to discuss preplanning of funeral arrangements because, in our society, the reluctance to recognize the inevitability of death remains strong. Many people, however, have said that the death of a family member, or that of a friend, will often lead to a discussion regarding their personal desires relating to their own final services. In addition, these discussions will often result in the satisfaction of knowing that the emotional and financial burdens related to their passing will be lessened.

Preplanning of funeral arrangements is recognized as a way of easing the emotional and financial burdens that can often be overwhelming, even in situations where the death of a family member has been well-anticipated. In that respect, preplanning is best thought of as a way for the deceased to make a final gift to those that he, or she, will leave behind.

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