Pre-planning can feel overwhelming at first, but meeting with your chosen cemetery to talk about your final wishes doesn’t have to be daunting. Many people find pre-planning their final resting place to be easier than they expect.   Let’s talk about how you can prepare for this meeting and make sure that you have everything you need to ensure your final wishes are put in place.  

3 Steps for Preparing for Your Pre-Planning Meeting

1.   Bring important information and documents.

To fulfill your final wishes and assist your loved ones in their time of grief, the cemetery staff will need certain information. This information can be used to ensure that your memorial marker has the proper information and that all internal documentation for your burial is correct. If you’re a veteran, the cemetery may also need information related to your service to ensure you receive the honors you deserve.   The cemetery also needs the name and contact information of your next of kin, as in most states, the next of kin is who is allowed to make decisions regarding your care. If your state allows you to name a personal representative instead, the cemetery must be made aware of this and have their contact information.   Information needed at your pre-planning appointment includes:

• Full legal name
• Current address
• Date of birth
• Preferred gender
• Social security number
• Occupation
• Marital status
• Name and contact information for next of kin or personal representative
• Armed Forces information

  If you’ve already pre-planned for your funeral service with a funeral home, you should also bring information on your pre-planning policy with them and inform the cemetery of your chosen funeral home so they can be prepared to work with them to care for you and your loved ones.

2.   Write down a list of questions.

Sometimes, we forget to ask important questions because we get focused on other topics, so it’s important to write down a list of questions to ask in advance. Some questions you may want to ask include:  

• What types of services can I have at the cemetery?
• What types of above-ground and below-ground burials are available?
• If I want to be buried with my spouse, are two-person plots available?
• If I pass before my spouse, can they be buried with me later?
• I have this special memento. Can I be buried with it?
• Can I be buried or interred at this cemetery if I’m cremated?
• What kinds of payment options are available?

 

3.   Consider bringing a loved one.

Once you have your information and questions ready to go, it’s time to go to your meeting. Although this step is optional, you might consider bringing a loved one with you. They may make you feel more at ease during the meeting. They might also ask additional questions that you might not have considered. If they are your next of kin or personal representative, it can especially be helpful to bring them with you, as it’ll help them get to know the cemetery staff and learn about your final wishes firsthand, which will be beneficial for them later when they have to enact those wishes.   ccacem.org