The post Funeral Insurance Quote appeared first on Funeralwise.

The Final Expense Planning Specialist Association (FEPSA) sponsors live discounted training to obtain the Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC) designation.

Please read this page in its entirety before submitting your application for the self-study course. To download a copy of the application, click the link at the bottom of the page.

The CPC Program is accredited by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP) and by the licensing boards of most states and provinces. The mission of the CPC program is to promote expertise and professionalism in advance funeral planning by recognizing those individuals who have met certain predetermined qualifications and demonstrated their knowledge of prearrangement standards through the CPC examination.

This designation will increase your credibility and help you edge out your competition with a designation that is shared by hundreds of Funeral Directors and the professional preneed sales elite.

The CPC designation:

• Promotes advance funeral planning to the public.
• Enhances your credibility and professionalism.
• Ensures recognition of your arrangement expertise.
• Adds value to your relationships with families.

Cost:

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) offers a special Funeralwise reduced rate of $395 to complete the CPC.

How to Apply:

• Applicant completes the Self-Study Application.
• Make your payment at the time of application. You must pay for the course in full when you apply.
• Once your payment is received, you will be sent the Certified Preplanning Consultant Standards Manual by mail.
• Complete and submit all chapter tests to education@nfda.org.
  • Schedule your final certification exam with a proctor near you.
  • All exams will be mailed back to NFDA and graded.
  • Course MUST be completed within six months of enrollment.
• The applicant will be notified of your exam results within 14 business days of NFDA’s receipt of final materials.

For more information on the NFDA CPC Program, visit the NFDA site: https://nfda.org/education/certified-preplanning-consultant. Please note that in order to take advantage of the discount, you must use the Funeralwise Application (link below).

Questions:

If you have questions about the CPC application, materials, or exam, please get in touch with Sara Moss at smoss@nfda.org.

>>Download the CPC Self-Study Course Application

The post NFDA CPC for Funeralwise appeared first on Funeralwise.

March 2023

Artificial Intelligence and the Funeral Industry

If you follow the news, then you’ve likely seen lots of stories lately about artificial intelligence. From bots that write essays and create images to videos where you can’t tell real from imagined, AI is everywhere these days. AI has the potential to transform many industries, including the funeral industry.

This month’s newsletter highlights the questions we are asking about the potential impact of AI on how we plan for funerals, how we memorialize our loved ones, and how some funeral homes are incorporating AI into their day-to-day operations. While it’s too early to say whether artificial intelligence will impact the funeral business for the good or the bad, it’s safe to say it will most certainly change it. We’ll keep watching as AI matures and keep you posted on how it shapes the industry.

An AI Chatbot Thinks We Should Plan Our Funeral In Advance
At Funeralwise, we often think about what the future of funerals will look like. So it’s not surprising that lately, we’ve been pondering how artificial intelligence will impact the way we plan for our own passing and honor those who go before we do.

How will the current popularity of chatbots impact the way we buy funeral services? How will they be used to tell the stories of our loved ones? Will AI help us plan our own funerals?
We recently posed a funeral-related question to ChatGPT-4, one of the most advanced chatbots available to the public. We asked, “What are the reasons I should create a funeral plan before I die?” and it gave us ten reasons to plan ahead. We encourage you to take a look. If you have thoughts on the subject, please tell us what you think in the comments area for the article.

>>Read Artificially Intelligent Funeral Planning in our Forums

Do Robots Deserve Funerals?
Giving a robot a funeral seems like a ridiculous proposition, but have you ever seen those famous Boston Dynamic Robots dance? As robots become more sophisticated and lifelike, interesting questions about what to do when they reach the end of their lifespan arise.

In our Digital Dying blog, Justin Noble recently examined the issue of giving hardworking robots a funeral. For his take on the topic, click on the link below.

>>Read “Do Robots Deserve Funerals” in our Digital Dying Blog

Are Robot Morticians Just Around the Corner?
As far as we know, there is no such thing as a robot mortician. In fact, the concept raises all sorts of concerns.

But is the idea really all that far-fetched? Our blog, Digital Dying, explored the question all the way back in 2018.

We don’t think the industry is ready for such a leap quite yet, but we suggest you read the article and see what you think.

>>Read More About Robot Morticians

Our website is chock full of resources to help make planning a funeral or memorializing a loved one easier. Below is a short list of some of the most popular. You may not need them now, but bookmarking them will ensure you have them when needed.

• How to Plan a Funeral
• Find Out How Much a Funeral Costs
• Wise Solutions for Planning Ahead
• Learning About Cremation
• Creating a Celebration of Life
• How to Shop for Funeral Insurance

DON’T HAVE A FUNERAL PLAN YET?
Why not take a few minutes to get started today? TRY THE PLANNER

ALREADY HAVE A FUNERAL PLAN?
Take a few minutes to make sure it’s up-to-date. GO TO YOUR PLAN

Funeralwise.com is the place to go on the web for everything you need to know about funerals. Whether you are planning a funeral or attending one, we will provide you with straightforward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

The post Funeral Planning Advice from a Chatbot appeared first on Funeralwise.

September 2022

PREPAID CREMATION PLANS
Prepaid cremation plans allow you to pay for cremation before you need it. In addition to the actual cremation, you can pay in advance for other elements, such as a memorial service or celebration of life. Prepaid plans are available for the full range of cremation services–from simple direct cremation (no service, remains returned to family) to a full traditional funeral with visitation before cremation.
In most cases, you will contract directly with a funeral home or cremation provider for the services you want. Depending on your chosen service provider, you can arrange to pay for services in one lump sum or a series of installments. One of the most popular methods for paying for a cremation in advance is to take out an insurance policy that will be used at your death to cover the costs of the services you purchase.

More about Prepaid Cremation Plans

If you think a prepaid cremation plan might be right for you, our Preplanning Specialists can help you decide. They can also help you find the right financial tool to fund your plan. To start, click the button below and complete the brief information request. A Specialist will get back to you with more info. Email us at support@funeralwise.com if you already have a plan with us and would like to learn more.

LET’S GET STARTED

FROM OUR MAILBAG: SECOND RITE OF INTERMENT
We get a wide variety of questions in the Forums section of our website. One question we’ve been getting a lot recently is, “Why does the cemetery want to charge me for burying two urns in the same space?”
The fact is, when you buy a burial space, you don’t purchase the land. What you buy is the right to bury the remains of one body in the space. That is called a “Right of Interment.” So when you want to bury two sets of remains, whether two urns or an urn and a casket, you must pay for the Second Right of Interment to cover the additional remains.

>>Read What is the Second Right of Interment in our Forums.

TALKING ABOUT YOUR FUNERAL
Our last issue highlighted the importance of discussing your funeral plans with your loved ones. It’s an important issue, so we want to ensure you didn’t miss our article. After all, your plan doesn’t do much good if no one knows about it.
Having the talk is not always easy, though. Our article features helpful tips on how to get started and things to consider.

>>Learn More About Having the Talk

SCATTERING ASHES
People are often surprised to hear that there’s more to scattering ashes than just tossing them to the wind.

Once you decide where to scatter, you should ensure it’s legal to scatter in your chosen spot. Choose an appropriate container. Consider wind conditions–everyone stand upwind!

>>More About Scattering

INSURANCE RESOURCES
While many people know us for our planning expertise, Funeralwise also specializes in funeral, burial, and cremation insurance.

Whether you are looking for basic information or are ready to buy, we can help you make the right decision for you and your family.

Our insurance pages are rich with information to help answer your questions and sort through your choices.

>>Learn More About Funeral Insurance

GIVING GIFT BASKETS
Sending a gift basket to express your sympathy is a thoughtful and practical way to let someone who is grieving know you are thinking about them. In some cultures, giving food items is preferred over flowers and other gifts.
You can purchase a gift basket directly through our store by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page. The link takes you to Design It Yourself Gift Baskets, for which we are an affiliate.

>>VISIT DIY Gift Baskets

DON’T HAVE A FUNERAL PLAN YET?
Why not take a few minutes to get started today? TRY THE PLANNER

ALREADY HAVE A FUNERAL PLAN?
Take a few minutes to make sure it’s up-to-date. GO TO YOUR PLAN

Funeralwise.com is the place to go on the web for everything you need to know about funerals. Whether you are planning a funeral or attending one, we will provide you with straightforward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

The post Prepaid Cremation Plans appeared first on Funeralwise.

If you have just started your search for a cremation urn, then you may be surprised by the wide variety of options available. There are truly urns for every taste and budget, from simple wooden boxes to hand-polished marble.

The wide variety of selections can be overwhelming, especially if you are deciding at a difficult time. Luckily, there are questions you can ask yourself to start narrowing down your choices.

How to Buy A Cremation Urn: Narrowing Down Your Choices

1. What style of urn do you want?
   You want to make sure that the urn you select reflects the wishes and tastes of the deceased and their loved ones. A biodegradable urn might be best if the deceased was concerned about the environment. You probably don’t want an overly ornate version if the person you are buying for had simple tastes. Chances are, you’ll know which urn is perfect when you see it, but keeping the personality of the deceased can help make the process more personal.
2. What is your budget?
   It may be hard to think of terms of money when choosing an urn to honor a loved one, but urns are available in a wide variety of price ranges. Deciding how much you want to spend before you start looking can help you narrow down your choices significantly.
3. Where will the remains be stored?
   If you place your urn in a mausoleum, the funeral home or cemetery can provide you with any specifications you need to consider when you make your selection. In some cases, the urn must be no larger than a specific size and made of certain materials. A “Green” cemetery may require that your urn be made of biodegradable materials. If the urn is buried at a cemetery, you must purchase an urn vault. The vault will protect the urn and keep the ground around it from collapsing. If you keep the urn at home, you will need to think about where you will store it: will it be indoors or out, and will it be buried? If you plan to bury the urn at home, be sure to check your local laws to make sure that this is permitted.
4. Will you be traveling with the remains?
   The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has special requirements for transporting urns. For example, urns must be able to be x-ray scannable. In addition, some airlines have guidelines for transporting cremated remains. Be sure to check with your carrier before you travel. It may make sense to purchase a temporary urn that meets TSA and airline requirements and then transfer the remains to something more permanent once you get home. (Click here to go to the TSA blog page that discusses traveling with cremated remains.)
5. Will you inter all the remains, or will you distribute them among others?
   Your crematory can provide you with an estimate of how much cremains will be returned to you. This can help you decide how large you would like your urn to be. If you will distribute the cremains between others, you may prefer to buy several smaller urns.
6. Will you scatter the ashes?
   Scattering ashes can be a bit more complicated than it seems. Wind and weather conditions can complicate things. Depending on where you plan to scatter the ashes, you may want to purchase a specially designed container for this purpose. Learn more about Scattering Ashes.
7. Would you like your urn personalized?
   There are many options when it comes to personalizing your container. Many urns have a place for a photo or some other tribute to your loved one. Perhaps you would like to commemorate a special hobby or profession. There are also options available for couples, pets, and infants.
8. How do you want to receive the ashes?
   The crematorium will return the ashes in a plastic bag. The bag will be placed in a container of some kind. If you have purchased an urn, you can provide it to them in advance of the cremation, and they will return the ashes in your urn. Otherwise, the ashes will be returned in a temporary urn. Since the ashes are in a plastic bag, they can be easily moved to a permanent urn later. Your funeral director will be happy to help you handle and transfer the ashes. Also, see our article on sealing cremation urns.
9. What size urn should you buy?
   Use the 1 to 1 rule of thumb. It is important that the urn you select is the right size to hold the ashes. The capacity of urns is measured in cubic inches. The general rule is 1 cubic inch of urn capacity for each pound of body weight prior to death. For example, the ashes of a 175 lb. man would need an urn of 175 cubic inches or more. Likewise, the ashes of a 25 lb. pet would require an urn of 25 cubic inches or more. If the ashes are being shared among family members, smaller keepsake urns are a good option and you can use the 1 cubic inch to 1 lb. rule of thumb when purchasing these smaller urns. Some people choose to place keepsakes of their loved one in the urn along with the ashes. You’ll need to account for the space that any keepsakes will require.

The important thing is that you should take your time, consider all your options, and remember that you do not have to purchase through the funeral home or crematory. There are many online vendors. We recommend that you visit our store to see what we have to offer. We carry a variety of styles and prices.

Cremation Urns Come In All Shapes and Sizes

From classic traditional urns to more modern takes, you may be surprised by the number of options available to you. There are burial urns available to meet every taste and style. Despite the variety, urns fall into two basic categories: permanent and non-permanent. The main difference is that permanent urns do not degrade over time. Non-permanent urns, also referred to as biodegradable, will decompose. Whether or not an urn is permanent or biodegradable depends on the material it is made of.

Permanent Urns

Permanent urns are typically glass, hardwood, metal, ceramic, bronze, or marble. You can find them in hundreds of styles. In addition to traditional urns, examples of the types of permanent memorial urns for storage of cremation remains are:

• Sports themed urns
• Military themed urns
• Hobby themed urns
• Religious themed urns
• Art themed urns
• Photo urns
• Memento urns
• Urns for travel

You can select a permanent urn based on its material or style; you can also find urns suitable for interring the remains of two people who want to share their final resting place. These are called companion urns.

If you are looking for an urn to memorialize the untimely death of a child, you may want to investigate cremation urns specifically designed for infant or child remains. If you plan to divide the remains among friends or family members, you can choose from various small keepsake cremation urns designed for this purpose.

Personalized Cremation Urns

If you are looking for a cremation urn that is a little less traditional, you may opt for something more unusual such as a teddy bear that includes storage for remains or an hourglass that holds your loved one’s ashes rather than sand. Despite the number of options available when it comes to permanent burial urns, sometimes the best choice is to have an urn specially designed to fit the personality of your loved one or the style of the space where it will be stored. There are numerous personalization and customization options available.

Check out our “This is not your Grandmother’s Cremation Urn” post

Environmentally-Friendly Cremation Urns

Non-permanent urns are usually made of paper, but you may also find them made of salt, cornstarch, gelatin, or other degradable materials. Biodegradable urns are thought to be an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional urns since they don’t leave behind permanent materials and are becoming increasingly more popular. Biodegradable urns are available in designs suitable for display, burial, or scattering. There are also options for use in water burials. Some biodegradable urns may have seeds embedded in the paper to produce a tree or other plant after it decomposes. Others are designed as birdhouses. The choices are many and growing by the day.

With the number of options available, the job of selecting the perfect urn to honor your loved one can seem a daunting task. You can make the selection a bit easier by narrowing down your options.

SEALING CREMATION URNS — CREATING A PERMANENT CLOSURE

Whether or not to seal a cremation urn is a personal decision that depends on the type of urn, if it will be displayed or buried, and your unique circumstances. The sealing process is not complicated, but it can be surprisingly emotional. For many people, sealing the urn represents a final step in their loved one’s journey. With that in mind, it’s best to set aside some quiet time so that you can take it at your own pace.

Metal Urns

Most metal cremation urns have a threaded cap or removable disc covering the ash compartment. To create a permanent seal, add a small amount of clear silicone epoxy or metal glue to the threads before closing the lid. Take your time, and be sure to wipe away any overspill quickly.

Sealing cremation urns made of metal — bronze and brass, for example, is usually unnecessary. However, some people prefer the added sense of security that the glue can provide.

Ceramic or Glass Urns

Many ceramic and glass urns are designed with a cap that rests on the top of the urn’s body but is not threaded. To seal the lid to the urn, use a clear silicone sealant. The sealant will help provide water resistance and create a permanent airtight seal.

When sealing cremation urns made of ceramic or glass, carefully squeeze a thin bead of sealant around the cap, then place the lid back on the urn, gently pressing it into place. Be sure to follow the directions on the adhesive with regard to drying time. We recommend you let the sealant dry for 24  hours before handling it.

Sealants can be purchased at a big box store, hardware stores, online, and where ever home repair goods are sold. Avoid glues that expand or foam. While soap and water cleanup is not essential, it is a big bonus.

Wooden Urns

Most wood urns close in a box-like fashion or have a sliding panel at the bottom that is removable. There is no need to seal, but some people prefer to do so. Wood glue or glue designed for porous materials will work for this purpose. Just remember that you are creating a permanent seal, so if you change your mind, you may not be able to reopen the box.

See the urns recommended by Funeralwise:

SHOP OUR URN COLLECTION

The post Cremation Urns appeared first on Funeralwise.

For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when running across an article like this is that you have no intention of dying anytime soon. We agree! But, and it’s a big but, as much as you don’t want to think about it, you don’t want to wait until it’s absolutely necessary to make sure that your family has everything they need when the unthinkable happens.

NOT SURE IF YOUR FAMILY IS PREPARED FOR YOUR END OF LIFE?

Take our 5-minute quiz to find out.

We do get it; preparing your family for your end of life can be difficult and emotional. However, it is important to ensure that your loved ones will have the support they need when the time comes. That means you need to make sure they have access to the emotional, legal, and financial resources they need so they can get on with grieving.

Regardless of your age or personal situation, you can help your family prepare by taking a few simple steps.

1. Have an open and honest conversation.
   The first step in preparing your family is to have an open and honest conversation about your wishes and desires for the end of your life. This can be a difficult conversation to have. However, it is important to discuss your values, beliefs, and medical treatments or interventions you may or may not want.
2. Create a living will or advance directive.
   A living will or advance directive is a legal document that outlines your medical treatment preferences and end-of-life wishes. This document provides guidance to your family and healthcare providers to ensure that your wishes are respected.
3. Choose a healthcare proxy.
   A healthcare proxy is someone who can make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Choose someone you trust and who understands your wishes and desires. To give your loved ones the legal authority to ensure your wishes are taken into consideration, create a healthcare power of attorney.
4. Consider hospice or palliative care.
   Hospice or palliative care can provide comfort and support to you and your family during the end of life. These services can also provide emotional and spiritual support to your family members. If you haven’t discussed your feelings about hospice or palliative care with your family, making the decision if it’s necessary can be extremely difficult.
5. Create a plan for your funeral or memorial service.
   Creating a plan for your funeral or memorial service can help alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty for your family after you pass away.

Get Started

Preparing your family for your end of life is a process, and you don’t need to do it all at once. It is critical though that you have ongoing conversations with your loved ones about your wishes and desires. Getting started might be hard, but once you do, you will likely find that your family is grateful for having the opportunity to talk with you about such an important topic.

Funeralwise specializes in helping people prepare for what’s to come. We have a network of advisors who can help you take the first steps. Our funeral planning tools are free, as is a consultation with an advisor. Let us know if you’d like to talk, and we’ll make our experts available at a time that is convenient for you.

We suggest that you take our brief survey by clicking on the link above. It will help you start thinking in the right direction. When you finish the survey, we’ll send you lots of free resources to help you take the first steps. If you have any questions, just let us know by emailing support@funeralwise.com.

Related Resources

>>Talking About Your Funeral Plan

>>Are you Taking the Right Approach to Funeral Planning

The post How do I prepare my family for my end of life? appeared first on Funeralwise.

It’s a New Frontier in Artificial Intelligence

A new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage now. AI programs have been used for years, but the latest technological breakthrough is “generative” AI programs. These new AI programs, also known as chatbots, can respond to virtually any query. They can answer questions, hold a conversation, compose essays, and even create computer code.

Predictably, major tech companies Alphabet and Microsoft are developing ways to incorporate AI into their search engines (Google and Bing, respectively). Microsoft has invested billions in the artificial intelligence company OpenAI and has already integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into a new version of Bing. OpenAI has already released an even better version called GPT-4. Google, Meta (Facebook) and others are countering with their own AI-enabled search tools.

As you can imagine, the possibilities are endless, and like many new technologies, it comes with many concerns. Will AI chatbots replace human beings? Will chatbots be used to spread misinformation? AI development is still in its early stages. So, how widely it will be used and what the long-term impact will remain to be seen.

Artificial Intelligence and Funerals

Here at Funeralwise, we wonder what effect chatbots will have on funerals. Can chatbots be used to write eulogies and obituaries? How will artificial intelligence assist people with funeral planning? Will they recommend the best funeral homes or the best funeral insurance policy to buy? Will they be an alternative to the hundreds of pages of information on Funeralwise.com? What do you think? Post your thoughts on AI and funerals below.

An AI Chatbot Gives Us 10 Reasons to Plan Your Funeral

We were curious what a chatbot would have to say about funeral planning so we asked GPT-4 this question: “What are the reasons I should plan my funeral before I die?”

The exact response from GPT-4 (we added the text bolding):

“Creating a funeral plan before you die can provide several benefits for both you and your loved ones. Here are some reasons why you should consider creating a funeral plan:

1. Peace of mind: Preparing a funeral plan allows you to make your wishes known, ensuring that your funeral is conducted according to your preferences. This can give you peace of mind knowing that your final wishes will be respected and carried out.
2. Financial planning: By planning your funeral in advance, you can choose the services you want and determine the associated costs. This can help you make informed decisions and potentially save money by locking in prices or selecting more affordable options.
3. Easing the burden on loved ones: Losing a loved one is an emotionally challenging time. By having a funeral plan in place, you can relieve your family and friends of the burden of making difficult decisions and planning a funeral during their time of grief.
4. Personalizing your funeral: Creating a funeral plan allows you to personalize your funeral, reflecting your beliefs, values, and interests. This can help create a meaningful and memorable service for those in attendance.
5. Avoiding family disputes: Pre-planning your funeral can help avoid potential disagreements among family members regarding your funeral arrangements, ensuring that your wishes are respected and followed.
6. Ensuring financial support: Some funeral plans include options for payment or insurance policies, which can help ensure that your family has the financial means to cover the costs associated with your funeral.
7. Legal considerations: Preparing a funeral plan can also help you address legal matters related to your estate, such as appointing an executor, drafting a will, and organizing important documents.
8. Organ donation or body donation: If you wish to be an organ donor or donate your body to science, having a funeral plan in place can help communicate your intentions and ensure that your wishes are followed.
9. Environmentally friendly options: If you are concerned about the environmental impact of traditional funerals, pre-planning allows you to explore and choose greener alternatives, such as green burial options or eco-friendly cremation options.
10. Time for reflection: Planning your funeral in advance gives you the opportunity to reflect on your life and consider what kind of legacy you want to leave behind. This process can be an important part of accepting and coming to terms with your mortality.”

What Our Funeral Planning Robots Have To Say

That’s a pretty good response from GPT-4. We’ll be keeping our eye on the effect of AI on funerals and keep you informed. In the meantime, we have our own form of AI, our funeral planning robots, Zelmo and Gizmo, to offer advice on funeral planning. Check it out!

Funeral Planning the Funeralwise Way

No need to wait for AI; you can do your funeral planning today with our Wise Planning System. Get started with our Free Quick Plan.

>>Read our article “Do Robots Deserve Funerals.”

The post Artificially Intelligent (AI) Funeral Planning appeared first on Funeralwise.

By Guest Contributor Catherine Durkin Robinson

Catherine Durkin Robinson is the owner of Anitya Doula Services. She completed the End-of-Life Doula Program at the University of Vermont and is a member of the National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA).

Focus on LGBTQ Funeral Planning

Death is known as the great equalizer, but equality isn’t always afforded to the dead. Many end-of-life professionals still discriminate against members of the LGBTQ+ community. That’s why it’s important, especially if you identify as a gay, trans, queer, or non-binary individual, to know your rights while alive to protect yourself after death.

Your End-of-Life Wishes

Too many people wait until a serious diagnosis to get their affairs in order. It can be overwhelming and emotional. The best time to think about and plan for end-of-life is right now, before a terminal illness, while you’re thinking clearly and rationally.

What comes first? Picking the best advocate when you can no longer speak for yourself.

A key point in your LGBTQ funeral planning is choosing carefully when considering whom to put in charge of your affairs. Whether your “next of kin” is empowered to make decisions when you’re dead or still alive but can no longer communicate, you want someone you can trust.

If your spouse is supportive, that person will be in charge.  Otherwise, think carefully. Who in your life accepts your identity or sexuality? That’s the person who can help protect your wishes.

Establish an Advance Directive outlining your end-of-life wishes. Check your state’s requirements or contact an estate attorney to help create this document. Make sure your doctor, lawyer, and loved ones get a copy.

You can assign someone as a Durable Power of Attorney, a Health Care Proxy, and/or a Funeral Agent. Ideally, this person or persons will act according to your wishes.

Pre-Planning Funerals

Call at least three funeral homes, either where you live or where you want your body to go, and talk to them about their diversity and inclusion policies. Look specifically for established businesses either owned and operated by members or allies of the LGBTQ+ community.

Pre-planning your funeral or memorial service has several benefits that include:

• Establishing your wishes.
• Making sure they’re respected and followed.
• Paying for everything ahead of time.
• Eliminating the emotional burden on your loved ones who won’t need to go through the trouble of finding an inclusive funeral director because you’ve done that yourself.
• Also, easing financial burdens on next-of-kin. 

Your Obituary

While it may not seem a critical part of LGBTQ funeral planning, you should consider how you’d like your obituary to be written. It will be the formal announcement of your death and life that people read on websites, newspapers, and social media.

What do you want it to say?

You can always write it yourself and leave instructions for the funeral director to publish it after you die. Or perhaps you’d like to ask a professional writer, doula, lawyer, or trusted friend to write one instead. Talk to them about your name, pronouns, partners, and other ways to write your obituary properly.

Don’t leave it up to someone else to take care of this. If your family doesn’t accept your identity, you must take initiative to control the narrative and get your obituary written in a way that honors you. This includes anything you might want to keep private.

Plans for Your Body

Think about how you’d like your body washed and dressed after death. Discuss this with the funeral director and care team, so everyone understands how to proceed. You can also write these instructions in your will, pre-planning documents, and advance directives.

Do you want your body or cremains buried in a cemetery?

Many privately-owned cemeteries allow people to customize their grave markers. You don’t have to use your legal name or any other information that doesn’t correctly identify you. However, official documents in the cemetery’s office will include the death certificate, which will have your legal name.

Most cemeteries accept death certificates with different names than the marker. However, if you have time to legally change your name before death, please do so. It lessens the chance of problems in the future if all documents contain the same name.

If you don’t have time to legally change your name before death, make sure you find a cemetery that allows the marker to be customized. Also, ask about any marker restrictions that include colors, sizes, or shapes. You want to be laid to rest in a place that honors all of your wishes. 

What About National Cemeteries?

Thanks to the work of countless activists, laws have been passed to ensure that LGBTQ+ veterans are eligible to be buried in military or national cemeteries. However, you will need to secure the services of a funeral director to arrange these benefits. 

Depending on where you want to be buried, you may need to provide documentation about any name change and the proper discharge paperwork. If you are married, your spousal benefits are the same as any married couple. This includes life insurance, flag presentation, full military honors, and more.

X Gender Marker

If you have the “X” gender marker on an updated birth certificate, find out if your state recognizes it. This is especially important if you changed your birth certificate in a previous state of residence that recognized it, then moved somewhere that doesn’t.  

Contact your family attorney to avoid complications with any insurance claims or legal paperwork.

Put Everything in Writing

Many different kinds of families disagree with each other about end-of-life care and funeral plans. This is especially true with given or chosen families in the LGBTQ community. They might not support or even be aware of their loved one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, name, etc.

When making plans for this stage of life, and death, be open and honest with loved ones about what you want. These types of tender talks prevent arguments and disagreements when you’re gone.

Most importantly, create written legal documents with all of this information.

When someone dies, grieving loved ones might forget or feel too overcome with emotion to think rationally. Legally binding documents with clear instructions help everyone get on the same page. Include your end-of-life care plan, funeral decisions, and other specific wishes.

To learn more about funeral planning, visit our Wise Planning Page. Our Wise Planning System has various tools that can help you with whatever kind of funeral planning you need, whether it is LGBTQ funeral planning or planning for other types of communities.

Catherine Durkin Robinson was recently featured in an article in the Chicago Tribute. Click here to read the story.

The post Funeral Planning in the LGBTQ+ Community appeared first on Funeralwise.

The post Wise Protection Plan Quote appeared first on Funeralwise.

>>Transporting Human Remains

Transporting Ashes by Air

You should ALWAYS check with your airline to verify specific policies for transporting cremated remains. The carrier’s policies on transporting ashes vary, and they can change from time to time.

Generally, you can transport ashes as cargo or carry them on the plane with you. Some carriers require advance notice to accept remains as cargo, and documentation, such as the death certificate, is required.

Whether you are traveling domestically or abroad, you may need export paperwork from your embassy. You must check ahead of time, particularly if you are transporting ashes overseas. Your funeral home or crematory can provide you with paperwork, such as an Affidavit of Non-contraband, that may be required. Keep all of your documentation with the container of cremated remains.

The Container or Urn

In 2004, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) implemented special procedures for transporting cremated remains. The TSA has precise requirements for the type of containers to transport ashes.  TSA agents are not permitted to open urns and containers to verify they contain cremated remains. That means the container must be capable of being X-rayed. Below is an extract from the TSA blog (click here to go to the original document) which addresses the topic:

If carrying on the crematory remains, they are subject to screening and must pass through the X-ray machine. If the X-ray Operator cannot clear the remains, TSA may apply other, non-intrusive means of resolving the alarm. Under no circumstances will an officer open the container, even if the passenger requests this be done. If the officer cannot determine that the container does not contain a prohibited item, the remains will not be permitted, and you could be denied boarding.

If you plan to use a permanent urn for the remains once you reach your final destination, check with your funeral home to see if they can provide you with a temporary urn for air travel. There are also special permanent urns for transporting ashes that meet TSA requirements so they can pass through security.

Transporting Ashes by Shipping

Shipping domestically

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the only agency authorized to ship cremated remains in the US. FedEx, UPS, and DHL do not ship cremated remains. Fortunately, the USPS has well-established guidelines for exactly what you need to do. Instructions are available on the USPS website (click here), or you can download their publication #139, How to Pack and Ship Cremated Remains, for detailed information.

1. Cremated remains (both human and animal) must be shipped by Priority Mail Express® or Priory Mail Express International®.
2. You may use a box of your choice, but you must apply Postal Service Label 139 to all six sides of the box. Label 139 is available through the Postal Store or a postal retail store. Also, a Priority Mail Express Cremated Remains box is available at no charge.
3. USPS requires that your package have padding and both an inner and outer container. The inner container must be sift-proof. The outer container must also be sift-proof. Use ample padding, so there is no movement between the inner and outer container.
4. The sender’s name and address and the addressee’s name and address should be included inside the box if the outer shipping label becomes damaged in transit.
5. The USPS recommends using the official Postal Service Cremated Remains Kit for packaging your remains. The kit is available through the Postal Store on usps.com.

International shipping

The USPS will also ship cremated internationally unless the country you are shipping to prohibits cremated remains. Priority Mail Express International® must be available for the country to which you want to ship. Verify this with the Post Office or by consulting the International Mailing Manual. In addition to packing your remains as you would for domestic mailing, you must complete the proper customs declaration form.

SHOP THE FUNERALWISE SELECTION OF URNS

The post Transporting Ashes appeared first on Funeralwise.