Death is an unavoidable part of life. While it often comes as a surprise, your wishes for the arrangements you would like your friends and family to make after you’re gone should not. Pre-planning your funeral now can help ease some of the planning and financial burdens. Below, the team at Evans Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services share some of the mistakes you’ll want to avoid when pre-planning a funeral.

The best time to make pre-planning decisions is when you are young and healthy. Well before your health turns or an accident leads to an unexpected death is the best time to think about what you will want done with your body and assets after death. Putting off planning until you are older can be a costly mistake. Do you want to be cremated or buried? Will you want a viewing, visitation or service? Decide these things now so that not only can you lock in a lower rate for things like funeral plots and caskets in advance, but you can also make your wishes clear so there is no misunderstanding.

The time following the death of a loved one can be filled with sorrow and grief that clouds judgment and often leads to miscommunication. By sharing your desires with your loved ones early, either verbally or through formal legal documents, you can ensure that your wishes are honored exactly as you planned. Gather all information in one place so that nothing is missed, disagreements between family members can be settled in advance, and all contacts are able to be communicated with when the time comes.

While death arrangements can be costly there are a wide variety of offerings on the market to suit every budget. However, funeral expenses continue to rise. The sooner you begin pre-planning, the lower the price you can lock in and the longer you potentially have to cover the costs of your funeral arrangements.

If you don't have at least a will, your family members are unlikely to know how to distribute your assets and what your wishes are regarding funeral arrangements. This can lead to unnecessary stress, arguments, and heartache for the people you hold closest.

It can be difficult to think about your passing but verbalizing your wishes and pre-planning in advance can relieve a large burden on your loved ones. The team at Evans Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services is here to assist you in the planning and executing the best possible service. To learn more about our provided services, contact a team member, visit our website, or call one of our locations today.