2 minute read
Make pre-need arrangements
How to...
he National Funeral Directors Association shares that “more adults are finding that funeral pre-planning offers great emotional and even financial security for them and their families.”
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Georgia law allows an individual to state in advance his or her wishes and preferences for final disposition. “Final disposition” is a term that means what ultimately happens to the body of an individual at time of his or her death. Thinking about final disposition is fairly emotional for most people; it is difficult to realize that each one of us will someday face this reality. Pre-planning your own, or your loved ones, final disposition in advance allows you the greatest amount of say-so as to your own preferences. Some people also find that it removes a burden for their loved ones; if you state exactly what your preferences are, families are not left to make decisions at a very difficult time. Pre-planning also removes uncertainty and conflict among family members who might have different views; they no longer have to guess what you would prefer, or have someone else impose his or her ideas on the process. It is important to note that you have the option of pre-paying for your funeral or simply putting your wishes down in writing. Either way, your wishes are protected under law. Your wishes must be followed whether or not they are paid for in advance. Georgia law protects your family by further stating that if you have selected final disposition arrangements that your estate cannot financially cover, the family can demonstrate your estate’s lack of financial resources for your wishes and change the arrangements to something your estate can handle.
Some people have questions about their Final Will and Testament. Your Will can of course be used as a general statement of wishes in the absence of any other document attesting to your wishes about your final disposition. Please remember, though, that there are times that a Will may not even be brought forth until after the funeral is over because the Will primarily deals with how your estate will be handled. A Will doesn’t typically give exact instructions about your funeral wishes; it would typically only state “Burial” or “Cremation”. A funeral service contract takes precedent over your Will and gives additional instructions. It is a good idea that your Will and your funeral contract match in terms of burial or cremation. Most people “pre-plan” their funeral by going to a funeral establishment and creating a written record of their wishes in a funeral services contract. Again, this may be pre-paid through cash, a payment plan, an insurance product or other similar arrangement. You may also elect to state your wishes without pre-paying.
We hope you have found this information helpful, and informative. Whether you select burial or cremation pre-planning makes a difficult time easier for all involved.
Special to The Covington News Make pre-need arrangements T
