Pre-Planned Funeral Services

The Benefits of Pre-Planning

A thoughtful gift for your loved ones and peace of mind for yourself.

Pre-planning your funeral arrangements is a responsible and caring decision that provides numerous benefits for both you and your family. At Brooklyn Funeral Home & Cremation Service, we offer comprehensive pre-planning services to help you make informed decisions about your final arrangements in a calm, pressure-free environment.

By planning ahead, you ensure that your wishes are known and followed, while relieving your loved ones of difficult decisions during their time of grief. Our compassionate staff will guide you through the process, helping you create a meaningful plan that reflects your preferences and values.

Why Pre-Plan Your Funeral?

Pre-planning offers significant advantages for you and your family.

Peace of Mind

Pre-planning provides the comfort of knowing your final wishes will be carried out exactly as you desire. You'll have the satisfaction of knowing you've made important decisions that will help your family during a difficult time.

Easing Family Burden

When you pre-plan, you spare your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions while grieving. Your family won't have to guess what you would have wanted or worry about making the "right" choices during an emotionally challenging time.

Financial Consideration

Pre-planning allows you to make financial arrangements for your funeral, protecting against inflation and ensuring funds are available when needed. This can prevent your family from facing unexpected financial burdens during their time of grief.

Preventing Family Conflict

By clearly documenting your wishes, you help prevent potential disagreements among family members about funeral arrangements. Your pre-plan serves as a guide for your loved ones, ensuring everyone knows and respects your preferences.

Time for Thoughtful Decisions

Pre-planning gives you the opportunity to make unhurried, well-considered decisions about your funeral arrangements. You'll have time to explore options, compare costs, and create a plan that truly reflects your wishes and values.

Ensuring Your Legacy

Pre-planning allows you to shape how you'll be remembered. You can specify elements that reflect your personality, values, and life story, creating a meaningful tribute that celebrates your unique journey.

The Pre-Planning Process

Our simple process helps you create a comprehensive funeral plan tailored to your wishes.

1

Initial Consultation

Meet with one of our experienced funeral directors to discuss your wishes and preferences. This no-obligation consultation provides an opportunity to ask questions, explore options, and begin thinking about the type of funeral service you desire.

2

Exploring Options

We'll guide you through the various service options available, including traditional funerals, cremation services, memorial services, and burial choices. We'll explain each option in detail, helping you understand the benefits and considerations of each.

3

Personalization Choices

Discuss ways to personalize your service to reflect your unique life, values, and personality. This may include music selections, readings, photo displays, video tributes, special mementos, or other meaningful elements that tell your life story.

4

Documentation of Wishes

We'll carefully document all your preferences and decisions in a comprehensive pre-planning record. This detailed plan will serve as a guide for your family and our staff when the time comes to implement your arrangements.

5

Funding Options (Optional)

If you choose, we can discuss options for pre-funding your funeral arrangements. Pre-funding can protect against inflation, ensure funds are available when needed, and may offer certain financial and Medicaid advantages depending on your situation.

6

Sharing Your Plan

Receive copies of your pre-planning documents to share with family members or trusted advisors. We recommend informing loved ones about your arrangements and keeping a copy with your important papers to ensure your wishes are known and followed.

Pre-Planning Options

We offer flexible pre-planning options to meet your needs and preferences.

Basic Pre-Planning

Our basic pre-planning option allows you to document your wishes without any financial commitment. You'll work with our staff to create a detailed plan that outlines your preferences for services, burial or cremation, personalization elements, and other important details.

This option provides:

  • Documentation of your wishes
  • Guidance from experienced funeral directors
  • Copies of your plan for you and your family
  • Secure storage of your preferences in our records
  • No financial obligation

Pre-Funded Planning

Our pre-funded planning option allows you to not only document your wishes but also make financial arrangements to cover the cost of your future funeral services. This provides additional peace of mind and financial protection for you and your family.

This option provides:

  • All benefits of basic pre-planning
  • Protection against inflation and price increases
  • Flexible payment options (lump sum or installments)
  • Potential tax advantages and Medicaid considerations
  • Transferability if you move to another location
  • Financial security for your family

Our funeral directors can help you determine which pre-planning option best suits your needs and circumstances. We're committed to providing flexible solutions that offer peace of mind without financial pressure.

Pre-Planning Checklist

Key considerations to help you prepare for your pre-planning consultation.

Personal Information

  • Full legal name and any other names used
  • Date and place of birth
  • Social Security number
  • Father's name and mother's maiden name
  • Military service information (if applicable)
  • Educational history
  • Occupation and employment history

Service Preferences

  • Type of service (traditional, memorial, celebration of life)
  • Location preferences for service
  • Religious or cultural customs to include
  • Preferences for officiant or celebrant
  • Music selections
  • Readings or poems
  • Eulogy preferences

Disposition Preferences

  • Burial or cremation preference
  • Cemetery or columbarium selection
  • If burial: casket and vault preferences
  • If cremation: urn selection and final disposition of cremated remains
  • Existing cemetery property information
  • Monument or marker preferences

Personalization Elements

  • Clothing preferences
  • Jewelry or personal items to include
  • Photo displays or video tributes
  • Special themes or decorations
  • Memorial donations preferences
  • Reception or gathering details
  • Other personal touches

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about funeral pre-planning.

If you move after pre-planning, your plan can typically be transferred to another funeral home in your new location. If you've pre-funded your arrangements, most funding options are transferable nationwide. We can help coordinate with a funeral home in your new community to ensure a smooth transition of your pre-planning documents and any pre-paid funds. It's important to notify us if you move so we can assist with this process.

Your pre-planned arrangements can be modified at any time. We understand that preferences and circumstances may change, and we make it easy to update your plan. Simply contact us to schedule an appointment to review and revise your arrangements. If you've pre-funded your funeral, most funding options allow for changes to your plan, though there may be some limitations depending on the specific funding method chosen. Our funeral directors can explain these details during your pre-planning consultation.

Pre-funding options typically include funeral insurance policies or funeral trust accounts. With funeral insurance, you purchase a policy that grows in value over time and is used to pay for your funeral services when needed. With a funeral trust, your funds are placed in an interest-bearing account designated specifically for funeral expenses. Both options are regulated by state law to ensure consumer protection. The funds are held securely until they are needed to pay for your funeral services, and many options offer protection against inflation by locking in today's prices for future services.

No, pre-planning is appropriate for adults of all ages. While it's common for older adults to pre-plan, younger individuals also choose to pre-plan for various reasons, including ensuring their wishes are known, protecting their families from difficult decisions, or addressing specific health concerns. Pre-planning is particularly valuable for anyone who wants to ease the burden on their loved ones, regardless of age. Many financial advisors recommend including funeral pre-planning as part of a comprehensive estate plan for adults of all ages.

Yes, in many states, properly structured pre-funded funeral arrangements are considered exempt assets for Medicaid eligibility purposes. This means the funds set aside for funeral expenses are not counted as part of your financial resources when determining Medicaid eligibility. However, specific regulations vary by state, and there are important requirements that must be met for the exemption to apply. We recommend consulting with an elder law attorney or Medicaid planning specialist in addition to speaking with our funeral directors about how pre-planning might fit into your overall Medicaid planning strategy.

Ready to Begin Your Pre-Planning Journey?

Our compassionate team is here to help you create a plan that provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones.