Local, Family Owned, Mortuaries I Represent
in San Diego's
East County
Featheringill Mortuary
College Center Chapel
6322 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92115
Helix View
Chapel
9631 Campo Rd
Spring Valley, CA 91977
El
Cajon-Lakeside-Santee Mortuary & Cremation Services
684 S. Mollison Ave.
El Cajon, CA 92020
Cremation & Burial Society
374 N. Magnolia Ave.
El Cajon, CA 92020
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WHY
PREARRANGE?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING ADVANCE FUNERAL PLANNING AND
FUNDING
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Why should I consider
advance funeral planning?
The most certain and least talked about major event in everyone’s life
is death. The major problem with funerals is that the person who should
have made the decisions about the event didn’t. Now family members are
left to decide without knowing what the deceased would have wanted. In
addition, many people do not know what is involved in the process.
Being prepared eliminates the uncertainties for loved ones. Trust me,
they will appreciate it. In addition, many families are unaware of the
costs of funerals and what is necessary to arrange them. Unfortunately,
the decisions that must be made regarding numerous details come at a
time when remaining family members may be emotionally too weak to cope
adequately with the task.
Being prepared is having peace of mind. A recent survey showed that
seventy-one percent of those who have pre-arranged their funeral did so
to relieve their families of the burden of funeral arrangements and
cost. Many more said they liked the sense of personal independence it
gave them.
Your own personal family record. Every person and family should discuss
their personal desires concerning death and burial. These preferences
and plans should be put in writing before the actual need occurs.
Awareness of practical considerations related to death and preparation
ahead of time can make a big difference in the way our family emerges
from the crisis.
Get all the facts and then decide. We urge you to get all the facts and
then decide. We can help by providing you a Memorial Guide and full
information on what is involved in pre-arrangement and how your costs
can be frozen at today’s prices.
There is no obligation or charge for this valuable service. You will
have all the facts in advance so you are able to make decisions calmly
and thoughtfully. After all, it’s one thing you can do better than
anyone else on earth.
The most thoughtful gift you can give your family takes no more than
your time.
What does
pre-arrangement mean?
Pre-arrangement means that you make your funeral and cemetery
arrangements yourself, while you are still alive, rather than leaving
these arrangements to be made by someone else after your death.
Why should I
pre-arrange?
There are several reasons why all individuals should pre-arrange for all
of their funeral and cemetery needs.
*First, if pre-arrangements are not
made, the entire burden of making such arrangements will fall upon your
family or friend following your death.
*Second, many people have strong
feelings as to how they would like their funeral and cemetery
arrangements to be handled.
*Third, the selection of funeral and
cemetery arrangements is an important decision that cannot be reversed.
Who should I contact
regarding pre-arrangements?
In order for pre-arrangements to be most beneficial, it is advisable to
discuss your wishes with a family service counselor who represents
funeral homes, a crematory and a cemetery.
What does pre-payment
mean?
Pre-payment means paying for your funeral and cemetery pre-arrangements
yourself, while you are alive, rather than having someone else or your
estate pay for your arrangements after your death.
Why should I pre-pay?
There are several reasons why pre-payment should accompany
pre-arrangement. Most importantly, unless you pre-pay, in the form of a
binding contract made in conjunction with your pre-arrangements, it is
quite possible that none of the advantages of pre-arrangements will be
realized. If financial arrangements are made after death, the person
making them will most likely be a grief-stricken widow or widower, who
will make an emotional decision under severe time constraints.
Pre-payment also helps to ensure that funds will be available to provide
for the specific goods and services that you prefer.
In addition, many individuals find that they have much greater peace of
mind knowing that all aspects of their funeral and cemetery
arrangements, including the financial aspects, have been finalized.
What types of
pre-payment options exist?
There are three major types of pre-payment options: Payment in cash into
an annuity for the mortuary or cash paid directly to the cemetery where
the arrangements are made, insurance earmarked for these expenses, or
placing your money aside in a separate bank account to be used only for
funeral and cemetery expenses.
Keep in mind the following. Money paid into an annuity for the mortuary
or paid directly to the cemetery will normally eliminate the need for
someone to make detailed financial arrangements with that establishment
at the time of your death. If insurance is purchased, the need to make
such arrangements may or may not be eliminated, depending upon the
manner in which you purchased the insurance. If you place money aside
yourself, a loved one will definitely have to make the necessary
arrangements at the time of your death and many of the advantages
associated with pre-payment will be lost.
Who should I contact
regarding pre-payment?
Regardless of the pre-payment option you select, you should first
consult a representative of the funeral home and cemetery whose services
you plan to utilize in order to learn the approximate cost of the
services and merchandise that you prefer. This information will allow
you to determine the approximate cost of your pre-payment, before you
select a particular funding option.
How do I know if I am
getting a fair price?
As is the case with most purchases, the only way to really know whether
you are getting a fair price is to do some comparison shopping. Here
again lies one of the major advantages of pre-arrangement and
pre-payment. It is fairly easy to take the time to do some comparison
shopping when you are making your own pre-arrangements and are not under
any severe time constraints. A great source for this information is a
family service counselor.
*First, determine the exact services
and merchandise that you want, and then be sure that you compare the
prices from different establishments. Your family service counselor can
assist in this effort.
*Second, insist that all information
be provided to you in an itemized format. Again, the family service
counselor is a terrific source.
*Third, compare the “bottom line.”
*Fourth, be sure to consider factors
other than price, such as, reputation, facilities and relationship with
the firm’s personnel.
What products and
services are covered through pre-payment?
Virtually any funeral, cemetery or crematory merchandise or service can
be pre-paid.
Is the price of
merchandise and services that have been pre-purchased guaranteed against
inflation?
The answer to this question depends on the funding option you select.
Money placed into an annuity will increase annually and therefore
provide inflation coverage and will guarantee the future cost of the
services selected to be fully covered in conjunction with a care
agreement and a funeral home. This is also true with an increasing value
life insurance policy purchased in conjunction with a care agreement and
a funeral home.
Money placed into your own savings account for this eventuality does not
have inflation protection. Neither does the use of an existing life
insurance policy that was not issued in conjunction with a care
agreement and a funeral home.
Can I change my pre-arrangements once they are pre-paid?
Virtually all funeral homes and cemeteries will allow you to change the
specific merchandise or services that you selected after you have
pre-paid for them.
For additional information or to schedule an appointment with a state
licensed, approved and experienced Family Service Counselor please
contact:
Justin A. March
Family Service Counselor
California Insurance License #0E56472
Cellular Phone: (619) 726-4621
JMarch@EastCountyPreNeed.com
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