Making of a funeral plan in advance

Pre-planning your funeral: it’s worth making arrangements in advance

You have probably heard many times that a new service is gaining popularity in Western Europe and the USA: funeral planning, which is the ability to personally agree on the funeral scenario, details and payment. Increasingly, funeral planning means that the individual creates his or her own funeral plan and chooses the services he or she wants to use, paying the deposit or the full cost of the funeral ceremony. In this case, these worries do not fall on the shoulders of the people close to him after his death.

In Lithuania, the subject of funerals is avoided and usually postponed, even though many decisions have to be made before the goodbye is said. As a result, at the time of bereavement, relatives have to make many delicate and often complicated decisions that they simply do not have the knowledge and experience to consider. Although in such situations a consensus is sought, the situation is further complicated by ignorance and the shock of bereavement. Only a very small minority of people who bury their loved ones know the exact wishes of the deceased: what clothes to wear for the funeral, what music to order, where to order the grave, and whether to bury or cremate.

We suggest making a funeral plan before making a will

If you plan your funeral in advance and have a funeral plan in place, this means that you can think about and agree on the details of the funeral with your relatives. It is also possible to calculate in advance exactly how much money you will need to spend on such a plan. Alternatively, you can sign a pre-funeral services contract, which may include a schedule of advance payments. A funeral plan could be compared to making a will in advance – the relatives no longer have to consider and guess what the deceased would have wanted, nor do they have to worry about the funeral costs. This is the main reason why people in foreign countries try to make advance burial contracts with advance payments. The clearer the funeral plan is, the more responsible the relatives are. When the deceased’s will is clear, it avoids most of the worries that suddenly fall on the shoulders of those closest to the person when they die.

Lithuanians are only beginning to talk more openly about the last journey scenario

We are increasingly hearing from people who want to discuss the details and cost of the funeral procedure in advance. Most often, older people contact us to discuss their wishes and options, to find out about prices and to view the facilities. The subject of death is not to be avoided; on the contrary, it is essential to talk to loved ones about it. Even if you have decades to live, planning a funeral is an important process that is worth exchanging views and discussing the things that concern you. Try to have a constructive conversation, be businesslike and practical and prepare in advance for the conversation with your loved ones.

Where to start?

Often, this conversation with your loved ones is followed by the next logical step – calculating how much the ceremony might cost. Our funeral home experts can help you draw up a precise funeral plan that shows you what the costs will be, so you can prepare in advance. Choose professionals who will not only answer your questions, but also recommend solutions and make the choice easier. Once you have made a funeral plan, you will need to decide whether you want a pre-funeral service contract with advance payments or whether you want to entrust this to one of your relatives. We advise you to inform as many people close to you as possible of these decisions, and to arrange for a notarised power of attorney for the person to whom you entrust the funeral planning, provided that he or she is not a first-degree relative of yours.

Benefits of making funeral plans in advance:

The price you set will always be valid in the future, regardless of inflation;
Your wishes and preferences will be listened to;
Your loved ones will have less stress and strain in preparing for your funeral;
The possibility to pay in instalments without appreciation.