Saving money on funerals/cemetery expenes.
I decided to write what little I know in 3 posts- General-Cremation-Cemetery
General-State Laws generally cover funerals/cemetary activities in the US.
In many cases, these laws are written by lawyers to assist the industry, there are a few that help the consumer. And, there are some Federal laws involved, one needs to be aware of these laws.
Personal Planning Guides are published by many different sources. Rest assured that if you visit the Funeral Home/cemetary you'll be able to get one, but they will want to give you the whole sales pitch. Just be firm-you want the book only right now. Completely fill it out and give copies to loved ones.
Remember, if only one person knows about it, they may be killed in the same car crash you are.
Funeral Home-Cemetery---These may or may not be the same thing, depending on your state laws etc. Many people aren't aware of this and don't find out until their money is gone and they are only half way thru the process of disposition of their loved ones remains. I've actually had people walk in to the cemetary office and say "we took care of everything at the funeral home-I don't know why they sent us here. Thousands of dollars later, they knew. If the Funeral Home is not combined with the cemetery, the Funeral home normally will take care of picking up the remains, preparing the body, arranging any funeral home, church type services and getting the remains to the cemetary. The cemetary provides the space for final interment,
vaults, preparing and handing of grave site, installation of vaults, memorials
etc. If there is a graveside service, the funeral director normally handles those details until the end of that service.
Military members or ex-military members nomally have some options provided by the government. Example, burial in military cemetery is often less expensive, and usually entitles one's spouse to be buried also. But there are
a lot of rules and paperwork requirements. Check these things in advance.
The VA has a web site with all the info you need at:
www.cem.va.gov
Some people love these cemeteries, some aren't too happy with them, but the price is normally the best in town if you have earned the right to use them.
Even if you don't use the military cemetery, you may be intitled to a military headstone or bronze; there may also be other things -the VA will do, but mostly they are not going to do anything until the paper work is done correctly. Do It Now
Obituary- Ever noticed how some are long, long long. And others are two sentences- Write your own, in advance, and it will say what you want it to say.
Leave it up to someone else and who know what they will say. Do It Now.