Pre-Planning

Funeral Pre-Planning: Design Your Own Services

Many people choose to personally pre-plan their funeral in advance, just as they create their own will, arrange their inheritance, and plan their estate. In addition to giving you a say in how you will be remembered and honored, funeral pre-planning and pre-funding lifts the emotional and financial burdens of planning a service from your loved ones.

At Evans-Nordby, we know that planning your own funeral arrangements is a deeply personal process. Andrea Karels and Stephanie Stolt, our pre-planning specialists, are highly experienced and will help you make informed decisions. They will walk you through every aspect of advanced planning, giving you all the time you need to make arrangements that reflect your standards, lifestyle, interests, and budget. We promise to carry out your choices as planned and honor your wishes to the letter.

What is preplanning?

Preplanning is putting your wishes in writing, indicating a plan well in advance of the time of need. It can be a simple outline or a more in-depth record of your preferences.

Why is preplanning important?

Preplanning relieves the uncertainty that can occur for loved ones at the time of a death. It provides guidance to family during a time of stress and grief. Preplanning prevents many of the disagreements that can arise and alleviates the burden of decision-making. Planning ahead can also ensure your wishes are carried out according to your directions.

What is the best age to preplan?

While we all hope to see certain milestones within our lives, we know that our timeline is uncertain. Since unexpected deaths are often the most difficult to process, having a plan in place at an early age is especially helpful to our loved ones in making decisions during a crisis. Having conversations without the stress of health concerns makes it easier to discuss your wishes. If circumstances or preferences change over time, we can easily update your records. Your pre-arrangements are even transferable should you move or change providers.

Pre-Funding

While this is not necessary, pre-funding eases the financial burden on you loved ones and ensures the services you choose are covered.

What are the benefits of prepaying your preplan?

A prepaid funeral or cremation plan is immediately available to cover expenses, without waiting for a death certificate to claim a traditional life insurance policy, and your family is not burdened with the costs. When properly structured, a prepaid funeral plan does not count as an asset when applying for Medicaid/Medical Assistance. Evans-Nordby offers an inflation-proof guarantee on goods and services provided directly by the funeral home, and payment options are available to fit your budget.

How are prepaid funds handled?

When you prepay funeral or cremation expenses, funds are placed into a funeral insurance trust that grows tax-free. The funeral home does not collect the funds until the time of need; therefore, the funds can be transferred should you move or change funeral/cremation providers. 

What to expect in a preplanning meeting.

Expect that we will do everything to make you comfortable, working at your pace. We will ask questions to better understand your needs and how we can care for you and your family. We will collect information, document your wishes, address any concerns you may have, and provide you with a personalized estimate of costs. We will then explain options to pay your funeral expenses either in advance or at the time we provide services.

How to get started.

Contact Evans-Nordby to speak with Andrea Karels. Andrea is a licensed funeral director and pre-arranger with nearly 30 years of experience working with families to create a meaningful plan. Andrea will take the time to understand your goals and can provide you with a personalized estimate of costs. Working directly with the funeral home provides you with the most accurate information specific to Evans-Nordby and the services we offer. There is no cost to meet with Andrea.