There can be as many as 40-50 decisions to be made at the time a loved one dies, and these decisions must be made at a time that can be emotionally charged and physically taxing. This is why funeral service is so geared toward pre-arrangement of the service. There are probably 5 reasons why it is important to make at least some kind of pre-planning. The first reason is so that people can make sure that their personal wishes will be fulfilled. Secondly, it makes sense to preplan to alleviate difficulties for the survivors. If family members live in other cities or states, they basically have only 2 decisions to make after a thorough pre-arrangement... to set the time and day of the service. Third, people preplan to avoid unnecessary overspending. Studies have shown that families making decisions under emotional stress typically spend more than people who preplan. An interesting study conducted by the National Funeral Directors Association a few years ago revealed that families, on the average, only spend about 3 minutes in a casket selection room. That's not much time to spend selecting a product that may cost thousands of dollars. Also, families need to be aware that they will incur other costs related to the funeral such as: purchase of cemetery property, grave opening/closing, flowers, and minister's and musician's honoraria. Fourth, people may preplan to hedge against inflation. If a family prepays a funeral, that funeral cost is guaranteed at today's price and will not escalate with inflation. Finally, people preplan and prepay a funeral to reduce a family member's assets so that that family member may qualify for Medicaid upon entering a nursing home. When a person enters a nursing home, the nursing home is going to utilize all of his/her funds before he or she can qualify for Medicaid. By using available money to prepay a funeral before funds are exhausted, the family can be assured that funeral costs will be taken care of while still qualifying their loved one for Medicaid.

Pre-planning is flexible in nature, and prepaid funeral plans are generally accepted at any funeral home in the U. S. in the event that the pre-need holder moves or dies away from home. At Carmichael-Whatley, prepayment plans are also flexible in that they are payable monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually at no interest or carrying charge.

The funeral directors at Carmichael-Whatley will help you put your final wishes in writing. Your loved ones won't question: "Did we do the right thing? Did we forget anything? Is this honoring his/her wishes? Did we spend too much?" Pre-planning allows you to confer with your loved ones and make your plans together, thus resolving your most personal matters with a clear mind, in a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, even in the comfort of your own home. In return, you will save the people you care about most from the emotional turmoil and burdensome decisions that an unplanned funeral can often bring.

Regardless of whether or not you prepay your service, it is important to make a memorandum of your funeral arrangements so that your spouse and/or family can be made aware of your final wishes. This is so important because today there are many different types of services such as cremation, anatomical donation, burial at sea, and of course, the traditional funeral with earth burial. Since 1960, the number of pre-planned funerals has increased by 1000%. At Carmichael-Whatley, we encourage you to take that first step toward peace of mind today.

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