We know that you don’t like thinking about this subject. But at some point, someone will have to plan your funeral. Funeral preplanning is when you make your own funeral arrangements before you die. At-need funeral plans occur when a person dies with no funeral plans in place. So let’s compare preplanning vs at-need cremation. 

Differences Between Preplanning vs At-Need Funerals

If you’ve never had to plan a funeral, you may not know all the important decisions that must be made during the process.

Here are the differences between preplanning a funeral vs making at-need funeral arrangements.

Preplanning a funeral allows a person to record their preferences.

Does your family know if you prefer cremation or burial? One of the critical differences between pre-need funeral plans and those made immediately after death occurs is that when plans are pre-made, the deceased can leave behind instructions for burial or cremation.

People sometimes avoid the method of disposition conversations because they are unpleasant. But then, when it is time to plan funeral services for their loved ones, the family doesn’t know how to answer this fundamental question.

If you prefer burial or cremation, you must leave written instructions behind.

Preplanning a funeral reduces the stress caused by having to make decisions at the time of death. 

If a person dies without making funeral plans, their surviving family members will be forced to complete arrangements on their own. This means the family must agree on the funeral home or cremation center – and pay for the funeral arrangements. 

Preplanning a funeral can reduce funeral expenses.

There are sometimes economic advantages to prepaying for funeral costs. For example, your local funeral home or cremation provider may allow you to lock in current prices when prepaying for services. 

Prepaying also reduces the likelihood of emotional overspending that sometimes occurs after a family member’s death. 

funeral arrangements

Immediate need services are paid for by the surviving family members.

When a funeral is prepaid, it reduces the imminent financial concerns of the survivor’s family after death. Instead of worrying about paying the funeral home, they can focus on comforting one another and sharing memories of the deceased.

Preened funeral plans allow you to be as specific as you wish with your funeral ceremony.

When working with an experienced funeral director, you can discuss these options and costs as you make preened funeral plans. For example, if you would like to serve your favorite foods in a reception following the funeral or collect contributions for a favorite charity, you can do so when you leave instructions behind. 

Philadelphia Creation Society Offers Pre-Planning Options

Philadelphia Cremation Society knows many people prefer to plan for significant expected life events. If preplanning for your final expenses would ease your mind, contact a team member today to discuss your options.

Philadelphia Cremation Society offers affordable direct cremation services in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Key Takeaways About Funeral Arrangements

  • Preplanning a funeral allows a person to record their preferences.
  • Preplanning a funeral reduces the stress caused by having to make decisions at the time of death. 
  • Preplanning a funeral can reduce funeral expenses.