Funeral Documents

Preplanning your funeral is one of the smartest and kindest things you can do for your family. Rather than force them to make very difficult decisions, and come up with funds to pay for the funeral, you can alleviate many issues by getting your own funeral documents together ahead of time.

A funeral director will do most of the paperwork for all funerals, and some of your funeral documents won’t be able to be created until after your death. But there is still a lot you can do beforehand!

What Funeral Documents Do I Need to Get Together Now?

Do as much preparation as you can ahead of time to make things much easier for your family and friends later. Just make sure all of your funeral documents are available for them to see.

A Will

By creating a last will and testament with a lawyer, you’ll be able to make all of your preferences known before and after your death. In your will, you can list all of your funeral preferences, including where and how you’d like your funeral to take place. Also, you can explain who you’d like to speak at your funeral, if you’d like to be cremated, and dozens of other personal options that might otherwise go unknown.

Burial Forms

You’ll need to get an application form to buy the deed of a new grave, or to reopen an existing plot. Normally, this would happen after death, and a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death would have to be issued.

Cremation Forms

In some states, a self-authorization cremation form can be completed while preplanning your funeral. This would serve the same purpose as a cremation authorization form most families would have to fill out after the death of a loved one. For the latter, the spouse would need to sign it, or the living children/family members if there is no spouse.

Insurance Policy Information

Not only should your life insurance policies be collected ahead of time, but your funeral insurance plan or funeral trust should be readily accessible for your family members, as well. These documents are integral in helping your family follow your preplanned funeral arrangements, as they will help pay for the services.

Accounts Information

While you gather your insurance policy information, you should also collect your account information for investments, bank accounts, and credit card information. You should keep all of this together in a safe place, along with your birth certificate, marriage license, and any military records, all of which will help with your funeral preplanning.

If you are preplanning your funeral in the South Florida area, you can talk with the staff at The Gardens of Boca Raton Cemetery & Funeral Services. They’ll be able to help you track down the types of funeral documents you might need. Call them with any questions at (561) 989-9190, or visit them in Boca Raton.