A friend and my brother had paid for their burial services in advance. All the family had to do was call the funeral home that the contract was with and they took care of everything. My friend had picked out the casket and the clothing he wanted to be buried in, a T Shirt and blue jeans. Didn't want to go into the hereafter stuck in a suit and tie. My brother was cremated. Well worth what little "profit" the funeral home made on the pre-paid service.

This is a weak reason for not doing! Put the documents with your trust - talk in detail with your executor- doing this elevates the stress you put on your children to make decisions during a time of loss because of your passing!!

We have done the same except the very same service is offered by Baldwin Funeral home for a significantly less cost.

yes, we are world travelers. All arrangements made through Baldwin Bros. If something happens anywhere in the world, a phone call is made. Ashes will be shipped to my daughter. Otherwise the remaining partner must get body shipped, etc. Could be a nightmare. m

Full disclosure, I'm a Pre-Need Arrangement Counselor with Baldwin Brothers as well as a Villager. Your concerns are legitimate. We offer seminars, which include a free meal, to get information into our families hands and answer questions in a relaxed atmosphere. There is never an obligation to purchase. In fact, we tell people not to bring their checkbooks to a seminar, but instead bring their calendar so they can schedule an appointment if ready.
Here are the answers to your questions directly...
1) Specifying your wishes in your will is fine, but often the will isn't read immediately so it's always important to inform your loved ones of your wishes ahead of time.
2) If you've prepaid the arrangements it contractually locks in the price, no matter how long before you need it. It's inflation proof. More importantly, you are eliminating the financial burden and the emotional stress from your family. It's smart planning.
3) If you tell your family that your arrangements are pre-planned and PAID for they will find the information when the time comes. Baldwin Brothers provides an identification card showing your contract number and the 800 phone # which has 24/7 access. You'll keep this card in your wallet, behind your drivers license. We'll give you additional cards to share with your family and I also have an easy tip for sharing the information with them.
I hope this information helps. It's not an easy subject to discuss but it is important.

One of the best things about using National Cremation vs. one of the local providers (e.g. Baldwin Bros) is that National takes care of everything wherever you are at. Our friends purchased through National here in Florida and when she passed away in Michigan, everything was done very professionally. The father of another friend of ours, who was living in North Carolina passed away while visiting the family in Michigan. Because the prepaid service was a local North Carolina funeral home, they wouldn't cover any cost in Michigan and the family had to pay out of pocket for the cremation services in Michigan. National, however, will provide this service where ever you are, even if you are on a trip, visiting family, or move out of the area.

So, if you decide that prepaid cremation services are for you, select your provider wisely. And don't select one that provides their services only in the local area. Even though The Villages is a great place to be now, as you age you may end up moving away and your prepaid provider may not cover the services you already paid for.

Pre-arranged burial
 

I set up everything.. good thing is I carry a card with me and no matter where I am globally my body will be shipped to funeral home.
Heirs don’t need to worry about anything …

I'd recommend Baldwin Brothers. After researching many companies, my husband and I purchased a plan with Baldwin Brothers when we first moved to TV. I was so impressed with the company that I'm now a Pre-Plan Counselor with them.

Yes you are... NOBODY gets out alive...
:1rotfl::1rotfl:

This is exactly the way ours is planned. No stress on the kids.
:pray:

Baldwin Brothers (what my wife and I have) has the SAME PLAN.
:bigbow::bigbow:

My wife wants her ashes scattered in Walmart parking lot so the kids will visit her every day.:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

good thread...thanks OP for asking this

My aunt had pre-paid for cremation services when she moved from MA to FL many years ago...she returned to MA about a year before she died....the company she went with made all the arrangements with a local service and we never paid a dime.

My parents had pre-arranged things too...they bought a plot, had a headstone put on it, planted some shrubs next to it, picked out the funeral home, but didn't pay the full amount, but locked in a fixed price. My dad died first...all that pre-work made it much easier on our mother and us kids....all we needed to do was pull out the check book...saved a lot of running around at a time that was tough on all of us, after being up at all hours staying with my dad

we have a plot and a small headstone up in MA....and we both plan to go the cremation route, no need to spend money transporting a dead body from FL to MA.

We'll have an initial memorial service at the church down here, and another up in MA when we bring the ashes up...that way the kids have an option and don't feel pressured into flying down for a funeral, we've always said, 'you want to come and see us...don't wait until we're dead, that way I can give you a hug'.

At some point I'll make arrangements with a cremation firm that is national, as the last one standing may not remain in FL

There is a guy on YouTube who makes custom vans that has his father's ashes in a Skippy Peanut Butter jar - per Dad's final request. It took me a while to figure out why this Skippy Peanut Butter jar kept showing up in every video.

You are doing a disservice to your children, siblings, family or anyone you choose to settle your funeral arrangements if you do not make the arrangements and pay for them in advance yourself. My father died with no arrangements. What a disaster on trying to figure out what he would have wanted. We immediately took my mother to the funeral home and while there, we wrote a check to cover our expenses on what we wanted upon our demise. A gift to our children. We were in our late 40’s. That was 30 years ago and what we paid in comparison to todays costs… well, any unearned interest on that money is totally insignificant. When I woke up here one morning and found my very healthy young husband dead…. My son made one phone call and I never had to worry about anything. What a comfort to know that our ashes will be commingled upon my death, they will be placed in a niche we chose inside a beautiful air conditioned chapel with a window view overlooking the gardens. Some may think it is a pipe dream, but, until you face that moment, you will never know what comfort there is in knowing what will take place and that you have provided your final gift to those you leave behind.