Record Your Wishes

Why Plan Ahead

There are many benefits to end-of-life planning. Here are our top reasons why you should consider making your funeral arrangements ahead of time:

It's easy.

Pre-planning lets you choose and create the perfect services for yourself. If allows you to make choices and ask special people to participate in your services. Perhaps you have a special scripture you'd like read or a beautiful song you'd like sung. Planning ahead allows you to make those choices and selections. Later on, should you decide to change the details, it's easy as pie.

It takes the burden off of your family and friends.

When a loved one dies the survivors are thrown into a whirlwind of emotions. Couple that with the stress of planning and coordinating a funeral, and you have the perfect recipe for disaster. Arguments, power plays, and hurt feelings can separate a family and even destroy them for generations to come, if not forever. Pre-planning takes their burden away and allows your family to begin preparing themselves for recovery rather than adding road blocks and difficulties along this difficult and long journey of life without you there, with them, and comforting them.

You can pre-pay and take away the burden of inflation from your family.

If you decide to purchase a pre-funded funeral contract (a.k.a. Pre-Need) you will not only take away the burden of planning and organizing your services, you will take away the financial burden as well. Families are not always financially able to spend multi thousands of dollars out of their budgets. Most families are living within their means and do not expect a large expense like a funeral to set them back or throw throw them into debt. Pre-funding also takes the burden of inflation off of you and places it onto the funeral home. Pre-funding your services is a wonderful gift to your family.

What if I move?

This is such a good question. If you have pre-planned your funeral, we can transfer your plan to your new funeral home of choice. All we need is their business name and address. If you have pre-funded your funeral, your funds will be assigned to your new funeral home of choice. They will have an assignment form for you to sign that will notify us that your funds will go to cover your expenses upon death. A Pre-Need is an insurance policy, and just like your auto insurance, it goes to cover your expenses where ever your services are provided.

CAUTION: Because the pre-funded contract is with the original funeral home, the second funeral home is not subject to it. Therefore, the burden of inflation transfers back to you. The second funeral home will use whatever monies are within your policy toward your funeral expenses, but they are not obligated to the original funeral home's prices.
ALSO: When purchasing a pre-funded funeral contract, be sure to READ THE FINE PRINT BEFORE SIGNING. Not all funeral homes are created equal when it comes to integrity. Some pre-need policies are actually trust funded policies. In certain circumstances, the original funeral home (if trust funding) may slip in language that favors them rather than you. If you are uncertain, ask to take the funding contract home where you can sit down and read it slowly, highlighting any areas of concern, and then call them (even better call a different funeral home as well) via phone, and ask each funeral home to explain your concerns.
REMEMBER: A trust funded policy is not an insurance policy. If you are purchasing a trust funded policy, be sure that you have absolute trust in the funeral home.

What if the funeral home goes out of business?

This is another excellent question. If you have pre-planned your funeral, just contact the funeral home and ask them either for a copy of your plan, or to send a copy of your plan to your new funeral home of choice. If you have a pre-funded funeral contract (Pre-Need) INSURANCE POLICY, simply go to your new funeral home and do an assignment. The insurance company will then know that you are going to use your funds elsewhere. If you have purchased a TRUST FUNDED POLICY, you'll need to check to make sure the funds are still there. If the funeral home has gone out of business, they may have declared bankruptcy and your funds may no longer be available.

Getting started.

To get started, contact the funeral homes that you want to consider for your services. Ask them for a General Price List (GPL) and take them home for comparison. After you narrow down your list to just two or three, go by and meet with them. Funeral homes have personalities just like your family members do. You'll want to find a funeral home that fits your family's personality and be responsive to their needs. Ask for a tour of the funeral home and ask any questions that you might have. Once you decide on the funeral home that's right for you, schedule an appointment to pre-plan or pre-fund your services.

Get it Done... and Then Relax

End-of-life planning makes sense. Call us today to learn how we can help or get started now with our online pre-planning tool, Pre-Arrange Online.

For statewide general information and FAQs, please visit www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov

Advance Directives

We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of living responsibly, which involves preparing for the realities of life. While we believe making the decisions involved in funeral pre-planning is one reflection of a responsible mindset, we also know the critical importance of completing an advance directive.

What is an Advance Directive?

Sometimes called advance care directives, these document ensure that your wishes will be carried out in the future.

Defined as "a written statement of a person's wishes regarding medical treatment," advance directives, when properly signed and witnessed, will provide guidance for medical and health care decisions in the event the individual becomes incompetent and can no longer make such decisions.

Other Things to Know About Advance Directives

Advance directives are legal throughout the United States.
Governing laws vary so be sure to obtain an advance directive that complies with your state's laws.
You do not need an attorney to complete an advance directive.
If you reside in more than one state, you should complete an advance directive for each state where you spend a significant amount of time.
There are no time limitations on advance directives. A signed advance directive remains in force until a new one is completed.
Periodically review your advance directive to make sure it still reflects your desires. If it doesn't, don't try to amend it; simply complete a new one.
Paramedics and emergency medical technicians cannot recognize or honor a living will or medical power of attorney. They are obligated to do their best to stabilize the patient and get them to the hospital. When you are in the care of hospital personnel, your advance directive becomes valid.

What's Involved in Preparing an Advance Directive?

It requires thoughtful introspection and conversation with family members. The American Bar Association describes the process this way: "Good advance planning for health care decisions is, in reality, a continuing conversation about values, priorities, the meaning of one's life, and quality of life."

There are many resources available online to assist and guide you in writing your Advance Directive.

Where to Obtain an Advance Directive Form

It's fairly easy to get a copy of the advance care directive form for your state. Your local hospital is a reliable source, as federal law requires every hospital to not only provide information about advance directives to people in their service area, they are also required to share valuable information about the related laws in your state. Contact your local hospital to learn more. Your family physician may also have advance directive forms available for patients.

You will need to have the advance directive witnessed and notarized. If you do not have access to a notary, you can find one using either of the following websites:

Once your advance directive is completed, signed, witnessed, and notarized, you may wish to upload a copy to your state's advance directive registry. This service allows healthcare providers quick access to your advance directive should they need it. Locate the advance directive registry for your state online or visit the website for the U.S. Living Will Registry.