Cremation has become a more popular option over the last few years, and will continue to be a very reasonable option. Cremation arrangements are made with a funeral director also you will be asked to select an urn at this time.
Most people don't realize that cremation still allows for traditional viewing, visitation, and chapel services. It is up to the family if they would like to have the casket present or wait until after cremation has taken place and hold a private ceremony with the urn.
Now you need to decide what to do with the ashes. There are many more options than just putting an urn on your mantle these days. You can choose to place the urn in a glass front niche, mausoleum niche, columbarium niche, boulders, benches, bird baths, jewelry, artificial reefs etc.. just to name a few.
Also, the ashes can be divided up to fulfill several family members wishes. You could place half of the ashes in a niche, and the other half scattered for example. Ive seen people make diamond rings, and earrings with the ashes.
Check out my cremation tab for more information about cremation options.
Monday, December 31, 2012
If Choosing Burial
Check to see if your loved one already owns a burial plot. If a burial plot has been chosen in advance, a deed will have been issued to them. Contact the funeral director, or cemetery to verify if they own property. Deeds may often be stored in safe deposit boxes along with wills.
If a burial plot has not been chosen consider buying two side by side plots at this time for you and your spouse. If you would like your children or other family members buried beside you now it the correct and appropriate time to buy these plots as well. Too often people put this off and say "we'll do it later" and when they come back the property has already been sold.
Often purchasing plots before "time of need" will have additional savings with them. You may also choose to finance out the additonal plots and pay them off over a period of a couple of years. When you purchase a plot "at need" there is no discounts, or finance options, and they will be required to be paid in full before any burial can take place.
If a burial plot has not been chosen consider buying two side by side plots at this time for you and your spouse. If you would like your children or other family members buried beside you now it the correct and appropriate time to buy these plots as well. Too often people put this off and say "we'll do it later" and when they come back the property has already been sold.
Often purchasing plots before "time of need" will have additional savings with them. You may also choose to finance out the additonal plots and pay them off over a period of a couple of years. When you purchase a plot "at need" there is no discounts, or finance options, and they will be required to be paid in full before any burial can take place.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Check for Pre-Arrangements
While any funeral director will take care of making most funeral, and burial arrangements, you'll want to first check and see if your loved one has a pre-arranged funeral, and cemetery arrangements in place. These wishes, and instructions my be kept with the will, in a safe deposit box, or on file with a funeral home, or attorney. In some cases the entire arrangement will already be pre-paid.
Most funeral homes, and cemeteries require that you pay for all expenses prior to the service. There are several ways to pay: cash, check, credit card, and life insurance assignments. However it is best to pay with cash if possible, and then be reinbursed with the life insurance to avoid a fee for using a assignment.
If your loved one was a veteran, take advantage of veteran's benefits. Veterans, and their spouses can be buried in any national cemetery for free, or possibly receive an allowance toward burial expenses. Other benefits include a free ceremonial flag, a memorial, and a presidential memorial certificate.
Most funeral homes, and cemeteries require that you pay for all expenses prior to the service. There are several ways to pay: cash, check, credit card, and life insurance assignments. However it is best to pay with cash if possible, and then be reinbursed with the life insurance to avoid a fee for using a assignment.
If your loved one was a veteran, take advantage of veteran's benefits. Veterans, and their spouses can be buried in any national cemetery for free, or possibly receive an allowance toward burial expenses. Other benefits include a free ceremonial flag, a memorial, and a presidential memorial certificate.
Death Certificates
While you are meeting with a funeral director they will ask you how many death certificates do you need. These will be use as proof of death, and for handling the estate, collecting life insurance, transferring titles and deeds, obtaining discounted airfare if possible for family members flying in. Make sure to check the accuracy of the information provided, and store the death certificates in a secure location.
In Oklahoma the cost of each certified copy of a death certificate is $15.00 each. There are many reasons why you will need death certificates. The following is just a brief example of why you will need them, and to help you estimate how many to pay for at the time of the arrangement.
1. Life Insurance- You need 1 for each insurance company, regardless of the number of policies.
2. Banks- You need 1 for each bank. Particularly if the accounts are in the deceased name.
3. Stocks- If held by the individual or jointly owned, you need 1 for each company. If held by a broker then you need 1 for each broker.
4. Bonds- You need 1 for U.S. Savings Bonds. Bonds can be reissued to new co-owners. If you have corporate bonds, you will need 1 for each company.
5. Real Estate- You need 1 for each county in which property is owned.
6. Secretary of State- You need 1, this may be used for automobile, boat, and/or mobile home.
7. IRA's (Individual Retirement Accounts)- You need 1 for each financial institution where funds are maintained.
8. CD's ( Certificate of Deposit)- You need 1 for each financial institution where funds are maintained.
9. Pension- You need 1 for each pension fund.
10. Health Insurance- You may need 1 if insurance is employer provided.
11. Current Pay- You may need 1 if they are still actively employed.
12. Vacation Pay- You may need 1 if they are still actively employed.
13. 401 K/403 B Retirement Plans- You may need 1 for each depository.
14. Federal Income Tax- You may need 1.
15. State Income Tax- You may need 1.
16. Local Income Tax- You may need 1.
17. Probate- If there is to be a Probate of the Estate, you'll need at least 5.
In Oklahoma the cost of each certified copy of a death certificate is $15.00 each. There are many reasons why you will need death certificates. The following is just a brief example of why you will need them, and to help you estimate how many to pay for at the time of the arrangement.
1. Life Insurance- You need 1 for each insurance company, regardless of the number of policies.
2. Banks- You need 1 for each bank. Particularly if the accounts are in the deceased name.
3. Stocks- If held by the individual or jointly owned, you need 1 for each company. If held by a broker then you need 1 for each broker.
4. Bonds- You need 1 for U.S. Savings Bonds. Bonds can be reissued to new co-owners. If you have corporate bonds, you will need 1 for each company.
5. Real Estate- You need 1 for each county in which property is owned.
6. Secretary of State- You need 1, this may be used for automobile, boat, and/or mobile home.
7. IRA's (Individual Retirement Accounts)- You need 1 for each financial institution where funds are maintained.
8. CD's ( Certificate of Deposit)- You need 1 for each financial institution where funds are maintained.
9. Pension- You need 1 for each pension fund.
10. Health Insurance- You may need 1 if insurance is employer provided.
11. Current Pay- You may need 1 if they are still actively employed.
12. Vacation Pay- You may need 1 if they are still actively employed.
13. 401 K/403 B Retirement Plans- You may need 1 for each depository.
14. Federal Income Tax- You may need 1.
15. State Income Tax- You may need 1.
16. Local Income Tax- You may need 1.
17. Probate- If there is to be a Probate of the Estate, you'll need at least 5.
Protect Yourself Against Burglary
Unfortunately in today's times we have people out there looking to take advantage of others. So due to public knowledge of your absence from home due to service notifications, obituary notices, social networking updates etc... I HIGHLY recommend leaving someone at your home during any absence.
If you have items of significant value in the home, consider notifying your local police department of your absence especially if the funeral is in another town. You may also consider placing your valuables in a safety deposit box, or storing them at a friend's house.
If you have items of significant value in the home, consider notifying your local police department of your absence especially if the funeral is in another town. You may also consider placing your valuables in a safety deposit box, or storing them at a friend's house.
A Death Has Occured. Now What?
While the news of your loved ones death is still fresh in your mind, you will be called upon to contact family members, employers, attorneys, funeral homes, and financial advisers to inform them of your loved ones passing. You will also be called upon to start making very important decisions.
Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones who's loved one was willing to detail all of their vital statistics, financial, and benefit history. Also, about how they would want to celebrate their life, including funeral arrangements, memorial services, how they would like to be interred etc... If your not one of the lucky ones, you may not know where to start.
In addition to being faced with mounds of paperwork, learning new terminology, and making major decisions that will affect your family for generations to come, you are going to be struggling with grief. In fact, your grief will include overwhelming emotions which can make it very difficult to make major decisions, and concentrate on any information regarding money, property, and other details that are not going to be the first thing on your mind. No matter how smart you may be, your grief will dominate and make focusing on routine tasks seem next to impossible.
Widows, and widowers often make huge errors in judgement because they are thinking with their hearts, and not with their heads. That is why I strongly suggest that you bring a trusted friend, or family member along with you to any meetings you have with attorneys, banks, financial advisers etc... to ask questions on your behalf.
In the hours following the passing of your loved one you will need to notify, or assign someone to notify the following people:
1. Relatives
2. Friends
3. Church members, and Clergy
4. Their business associates
5. Their attorney
6. Their executor/executrix
7. Any financial advisers they may have
8. Their accountant
9. A funeral director
10. Their employer
11. Insurance agents
12. Hospital/Organ bank if they are a organ donor. (check their drivers license, or see if they have a organ donor card in their wallet/purse).
The first few hours are often the hardest to deal with. Contacting the above listed people will help ensure a smooth start to dealing with all of the 100 + decisions that are going to need to be made in the first 36 hours.
Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones who's loved one was willing to detail all of their vital statistics, financial, and benefit history. Also, about how they would want to celebrate their life, including funeral arrangements, memorial services, how they would like to be interred etc... If your not one of the lucky ones, you may not know where to start.
In addition to being faced with mounds of paperwork, learning new terminology, and making major decisions that will affect your family for generations to come, you are going to be struggling with grief. In fact, your grief will include overwhelming emotions which can make it very difficult to make major decisions, and concentrate on any information regarding money, property, and other details that are not going to be the first thing on your mind. No matter how smart you may be, your grief will dominate and make focusing on routine tasks seem next to impossible.
Widows, and widowers often make huge errors in judgement because they are thinking with their hearts, and not with their heads. That is why I strongly suggest that you bring a trusted friend, or family member along with you to any meetings you have with attorneys, banks, financial advisers etc... to ask questions on your behalf.
In the hours following the passing of your loved one you will need to notify, or assign someone to notify the following people:
1. Relatives
2. Friends
3. Church members, and Clergy
4. Their business associates
5. Their attorney
6. Their executor/executrix
7. Any financial advisers they may have
8. Their accountant
9. A funeral director
10. Their employer
11. Insurance agents
12. Hospital/Organ bank if they are a organ donor. (check their drivers license, or see if they have a organ donor card in their wallet/purse).
The first few hours are often the hardest to deal with. Contacting the above listed people will help ensure a smooth start to dealing with all of the 100 + decisions that are going to need to be made in the first 36 hours.
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