Preplanning a Funeral and Burial for Seniors

Make decisions your way, spare your family stress, and secure costs you can live with. Our caring team can help you plan ahead in a simple, pressure-free conversation.
An older adult and family member reviewing funeral preplanning documents at home, representing careful planning of wishes and reducing emotional and financial burden.

Why Preplan?

Planning ahead helps you:
  • Ease the emotional and financial burden on your family
  • Make choices that reflect your values, faith, and budget
  • Lock in today’s prices on many services and merchandise where available
  • Keep your plan portable if you move, with proper arrangements
  • Clearly document your wishes for burial or cremation
Quick note about wills: A will often does not control funeral decisions, and it may not be reviewed in time. Written preplanning documents and state-specific disposition forms are more reliable for ensuring your wishes are followed.

What You Can Decide Now

  • Final disposition: burial or cremation
  • Ceremony preferences: speakers, music, readings, religious traditions
  • Viewing/visitation: public, private, or none
  • Merchandise: casket, vault/liner, cremation urn, grave marker
  • Service location(s): funeral home, place of worship, graveside, home, or other
  • Military or community honors
  • Budget range and cost safeguards
  • Who is authorized to make decisions at the time of need
Tip: In some states, you can sign a disposition authorization form before death to choose burial or cremation. This can bypass family approval. Ask us if this applies in your state.

Common Questions to Consider

  • Will my chosen funeral home still be in business later? Is my plan transferable?
  • If specific items are not available in the future, will equivalent items be substituted at no extra cost?
  • If cremation is desired, do all family members need to agree in my state?
  • How will inflation be handled?
  • Can participants who live far away join virtually or adjust service timing?
  • Do all family members agree on my desired budget?
  • If I want a simple, private service with no viewing, will my family honor this?
  • What happens if I move out of state?
We will walk you through each question and document your answers in plain language.

Ways to Fund Your Plan

You can plan without paying now, or you can prepay. Here are the common options.

1) Final Expense and Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance

Designed for older adults and those with health conditions.
  • Typical coverage: 2,500to25,000
  • Health requirements: Often simplified underwriting; some policies are guaranteed issue with no health questions
  • Waiting periods: Guaranteed issue policies usually have graded benefits for the first 1–2 years
  • Pros:
    • Can be used at any funeral home
    • May build cash value
    • Helpful if health limits other insurance options
  • Cons:
    • Premiums can be high relative to the death benefit
    • If you live a long time, you may pay more in premiums than the benefit
    • Graded benefits may not fully pay if death occurs early
Typical example (varies by carrier, state, and health): A 10,000policyfora65−year−oldmayrangeroughlyfrom42 to 87permonthifmedicallyunderwritten;guaranteedissueoptionsmaycost75 to $87 per month. Rates vary. We’ll provide exact quotes.
Best for: Those who want flexible coverage and portability, especially with health concerns.
A senior adult meeting with an insurance advisor to discuss final expense and guaranteed issue life insurance, showing planning for funeral costs and health limitations.

2) Preneed (Prepaid) Funeral and Burial Plans

You select services and merchandise in advance and fund them through a trust, escrow, or a dedicated insurance policy tied to the contract.
  • Pros:
    • Peace of mind: clear direction and reduced stress for your family
    • Potential price guarantees on selected items and services
    • Inflation protection through interest-bearing funding or insurance growth
    • May include transfer options to another funeral home
    • Clearly itemized services and merchandise
  • Cons (varies by plan and state):
    • Refunds may be limited or unavailable, especially on irrevocable contracts
    • Moving out of state may require a transfer (rules vary)
    • Excess interest or growth may not always be refundable to the family
    • Some plans have waiting periods if funded by certain insurance policies
    • Item substitutions could cost more if exact items are discontinued
Best for: Those who want to lock in choices and reduce or eliminate price uncertainty.
We only offer transparent, itemized contracts, with clear transfer and substitution terms where available under state law.
A person reviewing and selecting preneed funeral and burial plans at a funeral home, illustrating advance planning, cost guarantees, and peace of mind for the family.

Legal Preferences and Authorization

  • State laws vary. About half of states legally recognize a person’s right to choose burial or cremation through a written declaration.
  • Some states allow you to appoint a designated agent for body disposition who can ensure your instructions are followed.
  • In some states, all family members must agree to cremation unless you have a valid pre-death authorization.
We provide state-specific forms where applicable and coordinate with your attorney if needed.

Medicaid Spend-Down and Irrevocable Funeral Trusts

If you are planning for Medicaid:
  • Medicaid generally allows $1,500 for funeral expenses; many states allow additional funds through an irrevocable preneed funeral trust to cover reasonable funeral and burial costs.
  • Funds must be held in an irrevocable trust (or, in some states, via irrevocably assigned insurance). The money is only for funeral services and merchandise.
  • Federal law allows you to change funeral homes before death without affecting the irrevocable status, but transfers must go to another funeral home or funeral trust program.
  • At the time of need, families can choose different goods and services, but funds must still be used for funeral expenses; any remainder typically goes to the state or county program, not the family.
We work with you and your attorney or caseworker to structure an eligible plan under your state’s rules.

Our Simple Preplanning Process

  1. Start the conversation
  • Call us or request our free Preplanning Guide.
  • We’ll ask a few gentle questions to understand your wishes and budget.
  1. Choose burial or cremation
  • Review state forms for disposition authorization, if available.
  1. Personalize your service
  • Music, speakers, spiritual or cultural traditions, visitation preferences, military honors.
  1. Select merchandise and venue
  • Casket or urn, grave marker, vault or grave liner, funeral home or place of worship.
  1. Choose a funding path
  • Pay nothing now and simply document your plan, or select a preneed plan or insurance option.
  • We explain price guarantees, transfer options, and refund rules in plain language.
  1. Document and share
  • We provide a written plan for your family and your designated agent (if applicable).
  • We store your plan securely and show you where to keep copies.
  1. Review annually
  • Life changes. We check in yearly and update your plan as needed.

Costs and Budgeting

  • We provide line-by-line pricing with no surprises.
  • Flexible choices to fit your budget, from simple direct cremation or immediate burial to full traditional services.
  • For those who prefer minimal services (no viewing, no flowers, private interment), we ensure your plan reflects this clearly and respectfully.
Ready to discuss budget-friendly options? Call

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my will control my funeral plans?
Usually not. Wills are often read after arrangements are made. A written preplan and state-approved authorization forms are more effective.
What if I move?
Many plans are transferable. We offer portable options and will help you arrange a transfer if you relocate.
What if prices rise?
Some preneed contracts lock in prices for selected services/merchandise. Others grow through interest or insurance. We explain which items are guaranteed and which are not.
Can I change my mind?
It depends on your state. Some require all next-of-kin to agree unless you complete a pre-death authorization. We provide the correct form where permitted.
Who can authorize cremation?
Choose a community with higher care levels on site or a clear plan to coordinate added services as needed.
Is guaranteed issue life insurance right for me?
It can be useful if you have major health conditions, but it often includes waiting periods and higher premiums relative to benefits. We’ll compare options for you.
How long does preplanning take?
Most families complete a basic plan in 45–60 minutes. More detailed personalization can be done at your pace.