Pre-planning In 5 Easy Steps
~The First Easy Step~
Understand the Benefits of Pre-planning
» More time to consider your options- You and your family will have time to research your options and make well-informed decisions, without feeling rushed.
» A sense of accomplishment- You’ll feel good knowing that these arrangements have been taken care of.
» Fewer family concerns- Your surviving family members will have less details to worry about in the event of your death.
» The Prepayment Option- When you prepay, you can lock in today’s prices on funeral home services and merchandise. Our funeral director will explain each payment method and investment option available, and will help you make a decision that best suits you and your family.
~The Second Easiest Step~
Understand What is Typically Pre-arranged
Families typically will arrange for any authorizations to be completed, ie. Cremation authorization, Anotomical Donation authorization, etc., the type of services desired, who's to be involved, the personal selection of merchandise, monuments, cemetery space and the opening and closing of the grave, and any personal wishes such as the disposition of cremated remains or thoughts on the gathering of friends. There are many different details that can be taken care of ahead of time.
~The Next Step~
 Be Sure You Understand These Important Q&A’s
Q. What Costs are Guaranteed Not To Go Up and Which Aren’t?
A. Funeral home charges for services selected, such as; basic service charge, embalming, initial transfer from place of death, limousine, etc. as well as any merchandise provided by the funeral home, such as; a casket, burial vault, urn, memorial folders, etc. are “locked in at today’s prices” if you select the prepayment option.
Cash Advance Items, sometimes referred to as third party expenses, such as running obituaries in newspapers, sales tax, gratuities, death certificates, opening and closing the grave, etc. are not under the control of the funeral home and are therefore not covered under the pricing guarantee. Meaning, upon death, the actual charge of those expenses will be billed.
 Q. I’m not sure if I’ll be living here when I die, or if you’ll even be around when I die, how secure and how transferrable is a pre arranged funeral?
A. Those are valid and common concerns because in the real world - many families relocate and many funeral homes close. Take comfort in knowing that all preplanned funerals, written by McLean Funeral Directors, are registered and monitored by the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service and are payable to the funeral home which completes the funeral. Should you relocate, or as we’ve seen locally, should a local funeral home close their doors, your prearrangement can easily be transferred to another funeral home.
Q. I’d like to prearrange the details and my final wishes but wish to use the proceeds of an existing life insurance policy to pay for the funeral expenses upon my death. Is this common?
A. Many families choose this manner of prearranging. Everything is detailed and arranged ahead of time except for the prepayment of the final expenses. An existing insurance policy is assigned to pay funeral expenses upon death by listing the funeral home as the beneficiary. Here, a “Standard” contract is used instead of an “Inflation Proof” contract -for the simple reason the growth on the prepayment isn’t there for the funeral home to offset any future price increases. There is no price guarantee with this option. The price of the funeral on the day of death is the price that will be paid.
~Almost Done...~
Figure Out What The Costs Are
The average funeral cost at McLean’s is $8500. The average cost for a cremation is between $3,000 to $5,000. The cost of a funeral will essentially reflect the personal, cultural and financial needs of your family, and the choices you make.
McLean Funeral Directors has a flexible pricing structure, which allows families to choose from a range of services and options. Our Certified Preplanning Staff will provide you with an itemized fee schedule, outlining all of the services and costs involved with the funeral or cremation that best reflects the life of your loved one and your family’s needs.
~The Last Step~
 Contact McLean Funeral Home
Once you've gone through the first four steps, it's now time to start planning. You can fill out our:
or contact us at:
Planning ahead is simple and will give you peace of mind. Wouldn't it be comforting to say that when it comes to your final wishes, "It's All Taken Care Of"? |
