Question: Is it a good idea to pre-arrange my funeral, and should I discuss it with my family? Answer: Absolutely!? Friction among family members often develops at that very sensitive time, and it’s best to make decisions now in order to avoid that. Some may not be happy with your decisions, but they can be angry at you and not each other. In addition, it’s an excellent idea to appoint one person to be in charge of carrying out your wishes. That is done in a Declaration of Disposition of Remains, a document that is separate from your Last Will and Testament or Trust (which aren’t typically even opened until days, weeks or months after your passing). Lastly, prepayment of your funeral and burial arrangements can protect those funds from the cost of nursing home care, if done properly. This should all be discussed with your estate planning attorney.
-Jack N. Alpern, Esq.
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