Advanced Funeral Directive - Planning a Funeral

ADVANCED FUNERAL DIRECTIVE

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Independent Funeral Choice - Sudden Death

Advanced Funeral Directive - Planning a Funeral – evansaboveonline.co.uk

The funeral is our final opportunity to say goodbye to a loved one, an occasion for family and friends to come together to support one another and an important element of the grieving process. The funeral is also important as a reflection of the person who has died, and it may be important that the funeral is meaningful to them. I am aware that this can be achieved through the completion of a funeral directive that has been considered in advance.

Funeral wishes, whether in a Will or as described below, are not legally binding after death. It is, therefore, sensible to identify who will give instructions for your funeral, so you feel confident that

your wishes will be followed. If you have a partner to whom you are not married and they are not appointed your executor, consider their needs carefully. It is not unusual for parents to take control when an unmarried person dies, and the partner’s wishes can then be ignored. It is also helpful, and often therapeutic, if your partner, family and friends can follow your wishes after death. Meeting your wishes is part of the grieving process for them, and forms part of their separation from your life. It is also a process in which you can consider their needs and perhaps integrate them into the funeral in some way. Having his or her names mentioned at the service might help, or perhaps someone might like to be a bearer or read a eulogy at the service. Once these opportunities have passed, they can never be recovered. I would recommend familiarising yourself with the content of the Charter for The Bereaved before arriving at any decisions. This can be downloaded at http://www.iccm-uk.com/downloads/Reference%20Charter.doc

This document also enables you to ask pertinent questions about the kind of funeral you want, and ensures that you have some control over the arrangements. There is nothing worse than having to ask these questions at the “crisis” time of a death. You will also be able to price the various options. The costs will arise in two areas. The first is “disbursements” - the sums you will pay to doctors (for cremation), the cemetery or crematorium and the minister.

The second area is the “funeral” arrangements.

If you are using a funeral undertaker, these include the cost of collecting and handling the body, the coffin, viewing, the hearse and cars, and all the professional services. It is advisable to obtain some quotes as soon as you have decided what you require. In general, the more you use the funeral undertaker or the more complex the funeral, the more expensive it will become. Conversely, “green” funerals tend to be less expensive.

Keep these documents with your Will or somewhere known to the person arranging your funeral. This point is important! It is not unusual to have the wrong type of funeral because the Will, which contained funeral directions, was not read until after the funeral. You can amend this form however you wish, and add pages if you need to. Delete sections that do not apply. The form can be downloaded, however due to technical problems I am unable to attach to web page.

Please email me to acquire a free copy that will be sent to you via email.