The spiritual and psychological reality of passing is very consuming. For the elderly, those with a terminal illness or those that need to consider their estate, the thought of passing can be emotionally draining. Nevertheless, one does not want to pass from this world and leave an estate in shambles for one's family to squabble over. It is important to make your passing easy on your family emotionally, spiritually and financially. Here are ideas to consider that will help your family when you pass on.
Inform Loved Ones
Loved ones should be the first to hear about your plans regarding your passing. This may just be telling family or friends your wishes upon death or that you have a illness and will pass on soon. This gives your closet friends and family a chance to know what you want or that you are going to pass on soon.
Have an Executor of Your Estate
An executor of an estate enforces what the deceased wanted in their will. This is mostly in the form of how the estate is to be divided up between the beneficiaries the deceased wants to give property to. Hiring an executor, providing the executor with your will and trust and then acquainting your beneficiaries and professional account holders (banks, mortgage company, insurance company) with this executor will help your estate be transferred to the appropriate people.
Spend Spiritual and Personal Time With Family and Friends
This step is important if you know your time is short. Giving the people you are close to an opportunity to interact with you, express their emotions to you and to say your goodbyes is spiritually fulfilling. If you know you are close to death, planning this time is very important.
How You Want Your Funeral Service
Funerals are quite expensive and they might need to follow the spiritual and personal desires of the deceased. Spelling out what you want when you are deceased, as well as leaving money to help the family or loved ones pay for the funeral, will ease the costs and burden of the event. This is very important as many people have very personal preferences with how they want to be memorialized.
For example, some people would like their bodies cremated. To do that, the family will need to pick a service provider and follow several state government regulations that correspond to the state's Health and Human Service and Environmental Services departments.
Cremation offers flexibility for the type of service a family can have and is often affordable. However, these decisions are from the wishes of the deceased and should be followed through. Many crematoriums give the remains in urns of the family's choice. The crematoriums can even transport the urn to where a funeral service will be held for the deceased.
Consider These Questions Early
Even if you are in the prime of your life, you should consider how your family or loved ones will pay and execute the services around your passing or how your estate will be divided. For those who are ill or are in their twilight years, having these plans laid out will give loved ones and family members an opportunity to say goodbye and financially prepare for the passing.