The
Wisdom of Preplanning
Are
You Missing a Key Part of Your Estate Plan?
There are many
important factors to consider when getting your estate plan in order. Some of
the most common things that come to mind are making sure your will and life
insurance policies are up to date. Many families though, fail to consider planning
for their memorialization. Pre-arranging your final arrangements is one of the
most considerate and practical plans you can make. You relieve your family of
emotional and financial stress at their time of grief; make choices with which
you’re comfortable; and you save a substantial amount of money through
pre-planning discounts.
Thomas A. Habitz, General Manager of Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park of Livonia
and Macomb Township, speaks of the benefits of pre-planning. “We see it
everyday,” says Mr. Habitz, “families who have pre-planned are able
to focus on their emotional needs rather than worry about the details and financial
decisions of memorialization.”
Having counseled families for decades, Mr. Habitz has developed a list of the
most common questions families ask about pre-planning. After reading them, you’ll
probably find pre-planning is right for you, too.
I
don’t like to think about dying. Do I really need to plan for it now?
My
family lives around the country. What’s the point of a memorial here?
Will pre-planning really make it easier on my family?
Will pre-planning really save me money?
What happens to my money once I’ve pre-paid? How do I know
it will still be there when I need it?
What if I pre-plan and the cemetery goes out of business?
Is a cemetery’s religious affiliation important?
I’m planning on cremation; I don’t need a burial plan,
right?
Should it really be up to me to decide how I want to be memorialized?
Isn’t that something my family is supposed to take care of?
I
don’t like to think about dying. Do I really need to plan for it now?
Planning ahead for when you’re gone is certainly not a new concept. You
probably already have a will and life insurance policy. Perhaps the number one
reason to pre-plan your memorialization is to relieve your family of difficult
decisions in their time of grief. And, when you pre-plan you can take the time
to make decisions you are comfortable with, about the setting, the options and
how much to spend.
My family lives around the country. What’s the point of
a memorial here?
Everyone wants to be remembered, and a permanent memorial acknowledges one’s
life. Christians strongly believe in families and a permanent tribute provides
future generations a setting to remember loved ones and reflect on family history.
Will pre-planning really make it easier on my family?
Absolutely! Your family will not be faced with the uncertainty of whether or
not they are carrying out your wishes. Pre-planning also helps avoid “emotional
overspending,” an expensive situation many families face when they need
to make immediate decisions at a highly stressful time.
Will pre-planning really save me money?
Pre-planning discounts save you money now and protect your family from future
price increases, conserving their financial resources. Low interest financing
is also available at today’s rates.
What happens to my money once I’ve pre-paid? How
do I know it will still be there when I need it?
The only way to ensure your purchase is to pre-plan with a cemetery that places
a portion of your grave, crypt or niche purchase in an endowment trust fund
that pays for the perpetual maintenance of the cemetery and places the full
purchase of your interment service in an escrow account to be accessed at the
time of need. The principle of your interment service purchase plus interest
is fully refundable.
What if I pre-plan and the cemetery goes out
of business?
You’re stuck; so take the time now to find out important facts about the
cemetery. Look for a cemetery that has an endowment trust fund for perpetual
maintenance of the property. Ask around about the cemetery’s reputation,
how long they have been in the community, who operates the park, and if they
are a for-profit or non-profit organization. Religiously affiliated cemeteries,
in particular, have a history of ongoing support.
Is a cemetery’s religious affiliation important?
Often the truly spiritual setting of a religiously affiliated cemetery provides
comfort as well as the beliefs and traditions with which your family is familiar.
I’m planning on cremation; I don’t need
a burial plan, right?
Cremation is a popular choice for its simplicity, dignity and affordability.
Yet there are
still many decisions to be made regarding your memorialization. Cremated remains
may be placed in a traditional burial plot or above ground in a mausoleum niche.
Many families select a glass niche to display personal mementos for a truly
personalized tribute. If scattering is your choice, cenotaph plaques memorialize
loved ones whose remains are located elsewhere. Affordable and permanent, a
cenotaph plaque gives friends and family a place to visit and a focal point
for remembrance.
Should
it really be up to me to decide how I want to be memorialized? Isn’t that
something my family is supposed to take care of?
A memorial is a personal reflection of one’s life. Preplanning gives you
and your family the time to think about and discuss the memorialization that
will be most meaningful.
Glen Eden’s Memorial Advisors provide caring and professional guidance,
fully and clearly explaining all of your options. We offer you the experience
of having worked with virtually every family preference and individual situation.
We’ll guide you through the selection process so you’ll feel certain
you’ve made the choices that are right for you and your family.