The Importance of Memorial Instructions
Discussing your memorial wishes is one of the more difficult aspects of estate planning. We find that it is often a part of a client’s estate planning that gets pushed aside to be discussed later. Loved ones just don’t want to broach this tough topic. However, we don’t suggest putting off something as important as your memorial wishes. As painful as it is, death is a part of life. By taking the necessary steps to ensure your memorial wishes have been spelled out, you provide your surviving loved ones with some peace of mind during a difficult time and guidance as to what you would have wanted. Here’s why it’s important to have your memorial instructions in place before your passing:
Makes Things Easier on Your Family
Having everything arranged and in order before your passing eases the burden on your surviving loved ones. Without memorial instructions in place, your family has to make difficult, and oftentimes expensive, decisions on their own. This adds stress to your loved ones during an already arduous time, and allows them less of an opportunity to properly grieve. Documenting your wishes can also serve to avoid arguments or disputes amongst your loved ones about how to handle the memorial arrangements. By arranging your memorial plans ahead of time, you are doing your family a great service.
Keeps Your Family from Added Financial Stress
Funerals and memorial services are expensive. According to a 2021 report by the National Funeral Directors Association, the national median cost of a traditional funeral with a viewing is $7,848. If you don’t have your memorial plans in order before you pass, your family members will be responsible for the planning of your funeral, and could even be on the hook for the cost of your funeral if they don’t have immediate access to the assets of your estate. The last thing you want is for your loved ones to worry about money while they grieve their loss, so make sure you plan ahead.
Choose How You’re Remembered
If you’re the one to plan your own funeral, you know it’s going to be the way you wanted. By having memorial instructions as part of your estate planning, you’re ensuring that what you feel is most important regarding your memorial will happen.
Don’t overlook memorial instructions when completing your estate plan. Borakove Osman LLC includes Memorial Instructions as part of the estate planning process. Please contact us if you need to update your current estate plan to include your memorial instructions, or if you are a new client wanting to get started on your estate plan. The attorneys at Borakove Osman LLC are here to help!