Preneed Funeral Planning: What It Is and Why It Matters
Planning a funeral in advance — also called preneed funeral planning — is a thoughtful way to make sure your wishes are honored and to ease the burden on your loved ones. Whether you’re exploring options for yourself or talking with family, understanding the benefits of preplanning can help make these important decisions with clarity and confidence.
Remembering A Life is here to help support families through this process with free guides, tools, and meaningful conversation starters designed to make preneed planning easier and more personal.
What Is Preneed Funeral Planning?
Preneed funeral planning is the process of making your funeral arrangements ahead of time — before a death occurs — so you can:
- Document your preferences for burial, cremation, or celebration of life
- Choose meaningful elements like music, readings, or traditions
- Ensure your wishes are clearly communicated to the people you care about
- Reduce stress for family members during a difficult time
- Make informed decisions without pressure or urgency
Many families also enjoy using tools like conversation starter cards to support open, thoughtful dialogue about life, remembrance, and preferences.
Why Families Choose to Preplan a Funeral
Peace of Mind for You and Your Loved Ones
Preplanning helps relieve the emotional and decision-making burden from loved ones when they are grieving. By documenting your wishes ahead of time, families can focus on support and remembrance rather than logistical decisions.
Meaningful Conversations Start Here
Remembering A Life’s free “Start the Conversation” guide and conversation cards help families talk about life, legacy, and funeral preferences in a natural and supportive way — whether over dinner, on a walk, or at a family gathering. These tools make conversations about preneed funeral planning more comfortable and meaningful.
You Have Rights as a Preneed Consumer
When you choose to preplan your funeral, you have protections and rights as a consumer. Ethical funeral homes will:
- Provide clear pricing and written statements
- Explain your contract in plain language
- Guarantee substituted goods or services of equal or greater value if needed
- Clarify where your funds are held and how they’re managed
- Outline cancellation and refund options
These assurances help protect your decisions and your family.
Personalization and Legacy
Planning ahead gives you the time to think deeply about how you want to be remembered. From personalized music and readings to specific traditions or themes, preneed funeral planning lets you choose elements that reflect your life and values.
Free Guides and Support Resources
Remembering A Life offers free downloadable guides and checklists to help you begin preneed funeral planning at your pace:
- Start the Conversation guide
- Funeral Planning Conversation Cards
- Ideas to help honor and remember loved ones
These tools support well-informed choices and meaningful dialogue with those closest to you.
How to Get Started
Whether you’re ready to preplan a funeral or just exploring your options, you can begin with:
- A conversation with a licensed funeral director: Find one near you.
- Free planning guides and conversation tools
- Asking questions and taking your time to learn more
Funeral professionals are here to help you navigate every step with respect and clarity.
Your Wishes. Your Way.
Preneed funeral planning isn’t just about logistics — it’s about creating peace of mind and honoring a life well lived. Start the conversation today and make decisions that bring comfort and clarity to you and your loved ones.
According to recent research we conducted with Bridge Market Research, 75 percent of Baby Boomers have communicated their preferred funeral plans to family members. Doing so is a great first step in ensuring that when there is a need, family members are aware of how their loved one wanted to be remembered.