Funeral Planning Guide

Funeral planning is the process of making arrangements for a funeral or memorial service for yourself or to honor a deceased loved one. It involves making decisions about burial or cremation, the type of service (e.g., traditional, religious, or personalized), selecting the venue, casket or urn, music, readings, and other details. It also includes logistical aspects like budgeting, coordinating with funeral homes, and handling legal requirements such as death certificates or permits.

The best time to plan a funeral is before you need it. Planning allows you to create a meaningful tribute that truly reflects the life, values, and wishes of the deceased while helping to provide closure and comfort to those grieving. Funeral planning reduces the stress for the family of the deceased and ensures that your wishes are met. It can also help you manage costs.

The key steps to planning a funeral are to: 1) Decide how the body will be handled (interment). 2) Select the type of service (funeral, memorial service, etc.). 3) Calculate the cost and budget. 4) Share your plan with your family. 5) Arrange financing. 6) Organize your paperwork and personal information. For more information on planning a funeral, Visit our Funeral Arrangements page.

Yes! When you preplan, you give a very generous gift to your loved ones: the freedom to begin their path through grief without the added emotional and financial stress of trying to decide what you would have wanted.

The time it takes to plan a funeral varies depending on the type of funeral you have in mind. You will need to make a lot of decisions, and the complexity of the service will determine how many details you must arrange. If you are collaborating with others, it can take some time to come to an agreement on the details. In general, a straightforward traditional funeral with a viewing typically takes one to two weeks. If you are planning well in advance, the availability of the funeral home you select will probably not be a factor. If the person has already passed, their schedule will affect the timing. You will also have to consider the travel arrangements for family coming from out of town. Another factor that can influence the timing is religious and cultural requirements. Some cultures require burial within 24 hours. Others include a multi-day ritual. For more details on making funeral arrangements, visit our Arrangements page.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the average cost of a traditional funeral with burial was $8,300 in 2023. For a funeral with cremation, the cost was $6,280. The exact price will depend on a lot of factors, such as the location, the type of service, and the funeral merchandise you select. For more details on what a funeral costs, visit our page on funeral costs.

A funeral is a service where the body is present. It will typically happen shortly after death. A memorial service occurs without the body present. A memorial service can take place anytime. Learn more about the elements of a funeral or memorial service. A celebration of life is a more personal or informal event focused on honoring the person’s legacy. These days, many people choose to have a portion of the funeral include a celebration of life. In these cases, the formal structure of a funeral include elements that are more personalized. More on Celebrations of Life.

When choosing a funeral home or funeral director, approach it the same way you would approach any significant purchase. First, you’ll want to research your options. You can do this online. It’s also a good idea to ask people you know for recommendations. Once you have created a list of possible funeral homes, check reviews and confirm their credentials. Take tours and compare the services they offer. Request price lists. You want to find a company or funeral director you are comfortable with, so consider things like location, communication, and services. For more information on funeral homes, funeral directors, and how to choose them, visit the Funeral Homes and Funeral Directors page.

In most states, a funeral director is required for certain services (like embalming or transport), but direct cremation and home funerals are legal in many areas. To confirm the regulations for your state, check with the funeral service commission in your state.

In the best of worlds, there is money set aside for this specific purpose. Even if there are funds available, it may not be enough, especially if the death is unexpected. But there are ways to make sure that you have sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs. Several financial tools are available to help cover the cost of a funeral. These work best when you plan ahead. These include funeral/burial insurance, final expense insurance, pre-need funeral contracts, and funeral trusts. Each of the financial tools listed above can be complex and justify further research. We suggest clicking on the links for each to learn more about them.