Don't Get Caught Out by These 3 Hidden Funeral Costs

A funeral is one of the single most expensive purchases you will ever make. It may seem like a fairly straightforward event, but there are so many small elements involved in the funeral process that grieving loved ones are often shocked by the final price tag. Knowing some of these hidden costs in advance can help you avoid being taken advantage of at a vulnerable time. 

Acknowledgement Packages

An acknowledgement package is a broad term used by funeral homes to cover small items like guest register books, funeral pamphlets and candles. Some funeral homes include this in a package price, but some do not. If you're aren't covered by a funeral plan, you can expect to pay a lot for these extras. 

This can be avoided by seeking out a package with these items included, or simply having family and friends assist you in creating or obtaining these items on your own. 

Caskets

It's all too easy to make an emotional decision when it comes to a casket out of a sense of duty to the deceased, and funeral home staff may try to take advantage of this by showing you expensive casket options first and banking on the fact that you will choose one impulsively. 

If lower-priced casket models aren't on display in a funeral showroom, insist on seeing them or asking for a catalog or price list with different options. Additionally, there is a host of online casket retailers with competitive prices, and they will be happy to ship a casket to your chosen funeral home. 

Cemetery Services

Many people don’t realize that they will have to pay for the labor performed at graveside services. This includes setting up chairs and awnings and lowering the casket into the grave. Opening and closing the grave can also be very expensive. 

One way to reduce the cost of the labor is by avoiding Saturday services. Labor costs tend to be more reasonable on weekdays than on weekends. Also, keeping the length of the graveside service to a minimum means that you will not be paying for multiple employees to wait at length in order to close the grave. 

Do not give in to pressure from funeral home staff when it comes to making these important choices. Have someone go to the funeral home with you to provide a voice of reason if need be, and always ask for a detailed list of what services you're paying for.

How an Inheritance Funding Advance Could Help Your Family

Are you expecting an inheritance that you may not immediately receive? If you need to pay for expenses while the paperwork moves through the courts, there is a reliable solution. Although many inheritances are resolved quickly, inconsistencies in the will could mean you are waiting months before the funds are available. 

While you wait for a judge’s ruling, bills pile up and cause their own set of issues. On the other hand, an inheritance funding advance is easy to obtain, and it provides you with upfront cash to help you pay for what you need. 

Why Do You Need an Inheritance Advance? 

Losing a loved one is never easy, but when they leave behind dependents, being unable to access the money they left behind can create hardships. This is especially true if the inheritance will be used to pay for an elderly relative, children or a relative living with disabilities. However, there are several reasons why an inheritance can be delayed. In some cases, this delay can last for several years. 

Why is My Inheritance Delayed? 

When a person dies, the courts can become involved for several reasons including wrongful death or inconsistencies around the cause of death. In some cases, it can take coroners several months to determine why a person has died. 

This means that the death certificate is on hold, and this delays dispersal of any inheritance monies. Nevertheless, the primary issue that can delay an inheritance includes probate court and inconsistencies in the will. In some states, probate court is called surrogate or orphan’s court. 

Can I Get an Inheritance Loan for an Intestate Death? 

When someone dies, the estate that they leave behind is dictated by the last will and testimony. In this case, this is referred to as a testate. Sadly, when a person dies and does not leave a will behind, this is termed as an intestate death and all property falls into the courts’ hands. In these cases, an inheritance loan can still be obtained upon review by a lending agency. 

How Do Inheritance Advances Work? 

When you apply for an advance on an inheritance, the paperwork is carefully reviewed by loan officers. Although you may not understand the legalese of the process, the trained professionals involved will help you determine why you are accepted or denied. Once the application is approved, the next step is dispersal of the loan. 

Typically, a bank will give a loan and charge an interest rate along with a monthly repayment plan. On the other hand, when you use an inheritance loan service, they typically charge a fixed rate. This means that you will get your estimated inheritance advance in a lump sum minus the fees of the loan agency. When the inheritance is finally approved by the courts, the loan advance company will collect what is owed to them. 

What If I Do Not Get My Inheritance? 

In rare cases, the people due for an inheritance are denied their benefits from the courts. This action can be appealed, but it certainly makes everyone nervous. If this occurs, the proper course of action is to repay the loan as if it were distributed by the bank. 

Regardless, most people do not need to worry about this unique mishap. Instead, many satisfied customers will tell you that getting an inheritance advance beats paying late fees and discontinuation fees from overdue bills. For all of these reasons, when you need an advance on your inheritance, do not hesitate to utilize a company like Inheritance Cash Advance to call on the advice of professionals.

Funeral Plans: What You Need to Know

The caisson carrying the casket of Army Captain María Inés Ortiz arrives for funeral services (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s never easy to plan a funeral. However, it is important to have a clear idea of what kind of areas that you need to cover if you do have the responsibility for arranged one - what are some of the key steps that you need to take to ensure that you don’t have to deal with any unexpected problems in the preparation for and the day of a funeral, as well as after the event? From working with a hospital, to choosing a funeral provider, and including going over details with officials, it’s worth considering the following steps.

First Steps

You’ll first need to have arrangements in place with a hospital, a nursing home, or emergency services for a funeral; in many cases, these can be worked out in advance through written wills and documents that state preferences. Make sure that you are able to be in contact with medical services and a funeral provider.

Choosing A Funeral Provider

What kind of funeral provider you choose will depend on a number of different factors, from whether or not there are a list of approved providers as part of your life insurance, through to who’s available in your local area. You may find that you have a strong cooperative service in your area that can offer a comprehensive service.

Choose the Right Plan

Look at multiple aspects of a funeral before deciding on a plan, and use a will and funeral instructions to set out the details - these details can include whether or not the deceased wanted a burial or cremation, as well as what kind of service is required. You’ll also need to discuss budgets and features with a funeral director, which can include the expense of a coffin, procession, and grave marking services.

Going Over Details with Officials

Make sure that you take the time to go over all details with officials before a funeral - this can be invaluable to ensuring that nothing is missed, and that there hasn’t been any miscommunication. Particularly look at aspects like the choice of songs or readings at a religious ceremony, as well as at delivery times.

Items

Work through a checklist of the kind of items you want to include in your funeral plan, which can then be folded into an overall budget by a funeral provider and director; such items might include urns, grave markers, as well as other services such as online notifications and acknowledgements that can be difficult to put together at short notice.

Post-Funeral

After the funeral, you’ll need to be able to handle any legal issues that might arise - make sure you have a solicitor to go through wills and an estate, and contact any employers, insurance companies, and banks to make sure that all records are updated. It’s best to get as much help as you can for this kind of work.

In general, it’s always best to plan for a future as far ahead as possible, and to compare as many different funeral providers as possible. Discuss what you want to do with loved ones, and get a clear idea of what needs to happen. Even if plans aren’t too specific, it’s better to have some kind of framework in place.

Author Bio: Liam Ohm is a freelance writer, writing on subjects such as funeral services to financial planning. In his spare time he enjoys running and attending seminars.