When you pre-plan with a cemetery, you’re giving a gift to not only yourself but also to the people you love. When the time comes, you can rest easily, knowing that your wishes will be fulfilled. Meanwhile, your loved ones can begin their journey through grief with less stress and more togetherness without the worry of wondering if they’re doing right by you.
Now that you’ve taken the first steps to pre-planning at the cemetery, what comes next?
Next Steps After Pre-Planning at a Cemetery
Now that you’ve planned your final arrangements, the next step is to make sure that your loved ones have everything they need to fulfill your wishes. The most important person who needs to know about your plans is your next of kin, as your next of kin is most likely going to be the one who brings your plans to fruition. Each state has a different set of rules as to who the next of kin is, but in most cases, that person will be your spouse, provided they have not already passed themselves. Most often, you also cannot be separated at the time of your passing.
In most states, if you are separated or your spouse has passed, your next of kin will be your children. You should familiarize yourself with the next of kin laws in your state to be sure you know who will most likely be the one fulfilling your wishes. In some cases, you may also be able to elect a personal representative who can supersede your next of kin and be the one to make final arrangement decisions on your behalf.
Even beyond your next of kin or personal representative, it’s a good idea to ensure that your immediate family is familiar with your final arrangement plans. Losing you will begin a journey through grief for them, and there can be some comfort to them in knowing your final wishes are being followed, even if they won’t necessarily be the ones to fulfill them themselves.
While talking about your plans with your loved ones is a wonderful starting place, it’s crucial that you also have documentation for your final wishes and that these documents are accessible to those who will see your plans through. Organize all your records related to your final arrangement plans, and be sure that your next of kin or personal representative knows that they are there. In this location, they should be able to find:
- Your written funeral plans and any documents provided by the cemetery
- Important legal documents, like your birth certificate
- Other meaningful items that you’d like to be included in the funeral or burial services, such as photographs you want displayed at your services or a letter you’d like to be buried with
You’ve built a blueprint with your cemetery to guide your loved ones through a very difficult time. The next step is to make sure they have everything they need to see those plans through. You might also consider bringing your loved ones to the cemetery so they can familiarize themselves with your final resting place and meet the staff that they will work with to see your plans through.