Even if there is no statutory obligation in your state for survivors to honor specific written after deathcare instructions, it is better to have your wishes in writing than not at all. Courts routinely support all but the most outrageous wishes. The power to name a designated agent for body disposition is honored in all … Read more
Planning Making Arrangements Embalming Cremation Burial Payment You have the right to receive a written, itemized statement after you make arrangements, but before you pay. It must show exactly what you are buying, the cost of each item, and total price. The statement must also spell out any legal, crematory or cemetery rules that require … Read more
By Josephine Black Pesaresi My father, Hugo L Black, died in 1971. At that time he was 85 years old and the second longest sitting Associate Justice in the history of the United States Supreme Court, having sat on the Court for nearly 35 years. An avid tennis player, he served on his two beloved … Read more
As with any major purchase, it’s wise to examine the funeral home’s price list very carefully before signing any contract. That way, you can ensure that the funeral you want fits within your budget. The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, enacted in 1984, includes many important consumer protections that make researching and buying a funeral … Read more
First, be aware that you or your family will be responsible for paying the funeral bill. No charity will bail you out if you go into debt for a funeral. Take a realistic look at your budget, before calling a funeral home. Decide what you can comfortably afford—without sacrificing money you need for daily living. Keep that … Read more
What is a home funeral? With a home funeral, family or friends take charge of caring for the body after death, either alone or with the help of a funeral professional. They might bring or keep the deceased at home, wash and dress the body, arrange for a casket or shroud, prepare the necessary documents, … Read more
Many people ask us about funeral costs, but often they forget about cemetery expenses, which can be substantial. Buying burial rights at a cemetery can be a complicated and costly process, and cemeteries aren’t sufficiently regulated in most states. It’s important to know exactly what you’re buying, and what your rights are. Right of interment … Read more
Implants such as pacemakers, defibrillators, artificial joints, metal plates, and dental work have become increasingly common. In the past, these implants were buried, incinerated, or sent to landfills after a death. Today many can be recycled—extracted, processed, and ultimately reused in some form. The metal in surgical and dental implants can be melted down and … Read more
By deciding to donate your body or organs, you can make a valuable gift to humanity and offer hope to future generations. Many medical breakthroughs were a direct result of the education and research made possible by body donation, including new treatments for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Using donated bodies for research … Read more
Navigating the intricate world of funeral arrangements can be an emotionally taxing and challenging experience, further complicated by the abundance of misconceptions and myths that surround the process. These misconceptions can lead to unnecessary expenses that could have been avoided with a clearer understanding of funeral practices. This guide aims to debunk some of the … Read more