When you are engaged in the process of estate planning you are going to have a lot of things on your to-do list, and while you are it you may want to make sure funeral arrangements are on the list.

If you make no preparations you will be leaving it all up to your loved ones, and they are going to have a lot on their minds in the immediate aftermath of your passing. You will be making things much easier on those that you love if you have taken care of this, and in addition you will be able to go forward with the peace of mind that comes along with knowing that your own wishes will be carried out.

For added incentive, in addition to the simple fact that it is a hassle to run around town making these arrangements at a time when they will be grieving family members do not always agree on exactly how to go about things. Your family should be pulling together in support of one another at such a sensitive time, and you can remove one potential cause of stress by making your own arrangements in advance.

It is possible to pick out everything that you want and pay for your funeral while you are still alive, and these prepayment options are very attractive to some people because of the turnkey simplicity that they provide.

Should you be interested in devising a comprehensive estate plan that includes final arrangements, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone to arrange for a consultation with a licensed and experienced Long Island estate planning lawyer.

Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

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Recently a new client scheduled an appointment to create an estate plan.  When we sat down with him, the first thing he said was, “The other night I couldn’t sleep, and I thought, ‘What if something happened to me?  What if I died tomorrow?  Am I ready?’”

While there is no way to be “ready” to pass away, it is possible to avoid some regrets. Here are some suggestions:

• Tell the people you love, “I love you,” on a regular basis.  Let them know now.
• Tell people you may have hurt along the way that you are sorry.  We all make mistakes. Forgiveness is probably just a phone call away.
• Make sure your loved ones know your funeral and burial intentions.  If you have specific requests, make them known.
• Make sure your estate plan is up to date and reflects your current financial situation as well as your current intentions.
• Make sure the beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, 401(k) plans, IRAs, and other financial instruments dovetail nicely with your estate plan.
• Write an estate planning letter that describes how you want personal possessions to be distributed.  If you want your son to have your watch, write it down.  Don’t force your heirs to fight over items that have sentimental value.
• Talk to your loved ones and heirs about your intentions.  Explain your reasoning.  Your loved ones may not understand why you did the things you did – take the time now to explain.

Hopefully we will all, in the words of Mr. Spock, “Live long and prosper.”  But just in case the unexpected does occur, make sure you’re ready.

Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

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A number of our clients have pre-planned their funerals. In fact, many have set aside the money to ensure sufficient funds are on hand to pay for the type of arrangements they wish to have – and to ensure their loved ones don’t have to foot the bill. Pre-planning makes tremendous sense: Not only can you make sure your wishes and desires are carried out, but you spare grieving relatives the emotional turmoil of making difficult decisions during an incredibly stressful time.

In New York you can have the funeral home deposit the money with the State. Under a pre-paid plan, you choose the services you wish to have. On the positive side, your costs are “locked in.” And when you deposit the money with New York, you are not locked in to using that funeral home.

What if the funeral home goes out of business? What if you decide in later years that you wish to be buried somewhere else? No problem, your funeral money has been deposited with New York State and your family can have it transferred if necessary.

Pre-planning is a great idea. It can really make a difficult time easier.

Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

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Many people see pre-planning their final arrangements as a way to take the burden off their loved ones during a difficult time. By purchasing the plot and casket in advance, they remove the burden of coming up with a considerable chunk of change at a time when cash flow may be strained.

And in theory, that’s not such a bad idea.

According to the National Funeral directors Association, the average price of a funeral ran somewhere in the area of $7,300, and that was in 2006. Add to that the cost of flowers and all the extras and you could be looking at upwards of $10,000. Here in New York it is not unusual to see total funeral costs of $12,000.

That’s a substantial amount for a grieving family to come up with.

In New York, you can make a deposit to cover the cost of your funeral and the money is held in an account by the State of New York. That way if the funeral home you choose isn’t in business when you die, your money is still staff. What’s more, if you or your family do change your mind later and they can choose a different funeral home and the money is still available.

When it comes to buying a burial plot, consider purchasing from an individual instead of the funeral home. Discounted burial plots are abundant, especially at online classified services such as Craigslist.

Do your research, seek out the best offers and you may find that you get your burial plot for pennies on the dollar.

To learn more about making your final arrangements and protecting your loved ones, contact our office today.

Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

Visit my website for full links, other content and more!