January 2005

A New Year is Time to Plan for the Future

A new year is a time when many of us take stock of our lives and make plans for the future. We make resolutions to improve our habits and review our life circumstances to see where we can make positive changes and provide for the future.

It is also an excellent time to think about preplanning our funeral if we haven't already done so. There are many advantages in preplanning one's funeral. It is a simple procedure that doesn't take much time but ensures peace of mind and relieves loved ones of making decisions at a stressful time. If the funeral plans are also prefunded, then the family will not have to deal with the issue of paying for the funeral.

Preplanning provides an opportunity to make funeral service choices based on our personal
preferences. And it is important to remember that changes can be made in preplanning agreements. These arrangements are portable and can be revised at the consumer's direction.

The New York State Tribute Foundation, the educational and philanthropic arm of the New York State Funeral Directors Association, offers several publications that can assist a consumer who wants information about preplanning a funeral.

The "Consumer Checklist for Prefunding a Funeral" lists questions consumers should ask before they sign a funeral preneed agreement. It can be downloaded from "www.nysfda.org" by going to the "Preplanning A Funeral" page and clicking on its title under Preplanning Resources.

"Preplanning, Prefunding a Funeral" is a comprehensive brochure which consumers may order for a nominal postage and handling fee of $3.50. This brochure explains different types of funeral agreements and consumer protections, and includes sample preplan documents. It also features information for SSI and Medicaid recipients who are allowed to set funds aside for their preplanned funerals.

Another helpful brochure is "Personal and Financial Affairs Checklist for End-of-Life Planning." This checklist has been designed to organize important information so that it will be in one
convenient form readily accessible to survivors. It has room for details about funeral arrangements, biographical information that will make it easier to write an obituary, location of the will and attorney's name, plans for pets, and financial data such as the Social Security number, bank accounts, insurance policies, etc.

Either of these publications and others that feature helpful consumer information may be ordered from the Bookstore at "www.nysfda.org" or by sending a check or money order in the amount of $3.50 for each brochure ordered payable to NYS Tribute Foundation, 426 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205.

When preplanning a funeral, it is a good idea to include family members in discussions and to make sure that they know where the relevant documents are kept. Copies should be given to a spouse or next-of-kin, and never placed in a safe deposit box or attorney's office as they will not be readily accessible immediately after death.

Preplanning your funeral now will take only a few hours of your time but will bestow an enormous benefit on your survivors by relieving them of the burden of guessing about your last wishes.