While estate planning may seem decades off if you are in your 20s and 30s, your funeral probably seems impossible to consider. However, the point of all this planning is preparation for the unexpected and expensive.
You have the option of planning early, securing peace of mind, and investing in agreements like funeral trusts or preneed contracts.
How much does a funeral cost?
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, a Middle Atlantic funeral may cost you between $7,563 and $8,093. The main difference between these two figures is whether you decide on cremation or burial. However, there are other costs the NFDA does not commonly calculate into this figure. For example, some cemeteries require burial vaults which may cost as much as $1,500 more on top of the median estimates.
Why plan early?
With inflation on everyone’s minds these days, it is easy to grasp how prices fluctuate and often rise over time. When you lock into a preneed contract today, you do so with today’s prices in mind rather than the prices at a future date.
What is the best way to plan?
Having a will, no matter your age, is an important piece of legal documentation to prepare. However, the process of handling a will does not often happen within the window of your death and your funeral. That is why a designated trust or preneed contract with a funeral home may provide you with a better option to plan for the unexpected cost of your funeral services.
Each of these options involves documentation and legal language designed to convey your wishes. It is important to learn more about the subject and lean on your resources to make sure these agreements support your life plan.