Pre-Planning Funerals Helps Make Decisions Easier

Friday, March 1, 2002

Pre-Planning Funerals Helps Make Decisions Easier (NAPSA)—When a loved one dies, grieving family members and friends often are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral—all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional duress. Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars arranging more than two million funerals for fam- ily members and friends. The increasing trend toward pre-need planning—when people make funeral arrangements in ad- vance—suggests that many consumers want to compare prices and services so that ultimately, the funeral reflects a wise and well-informed purchasing decision, as well as a meaningfulone. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers seven steps to help shop for funeral products and services pre-need: 1. Shop around in advance. Compareprices from at least two funeral homes. Rememberthat you can supply your owncasket or urn. 2. Ask for a price list. The law requires funeral homesto give you written price lists for products and services. 3. Resist pressure to buy goods andservices you don’t really wantor need. 4, Avoid emotional overspending. It’s not necessary to have the fanciest casket or the most elaborate funeral to properly honor a loved one. 5. Recognize your rights. Laws regarding funerals and burials vary from state to state. It’s a smart move to know which goods or services the law requires you to purchase and whichare optional. Pre-need planning can help people make wise and well- informed funeral decisions. 6. Apply the same smart shopping techniques you use for other major purchases. You can cut costs by limiting the viewing to one day or one hour before the funeral, and by dressing your loved one in a favorite outfit instead of costly burial clothing. 7. Plan ahead.It allows you to comparison shop without time constraints, creates an opportu- nity for family discussion, and lifts some of the burden from your family. In addition, if you are planning your own service, it’s a good idea to review and revise your decision every few years. The FTC also offers a consumer guide to funeral planning, complete with a price checklist, glossary of terms, a description of services, information sources and a list of questions to ask. To request a copy of Funerals, A Consumer Guide, or for additional information, call 1-877-FTC-HELPorvisit the Website at www.ftc.gov.

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