End-of-life planning frequently involves guardianship, your estate and your care preferences. It also includes what happens after the end of your life—the funeral. Your family has a lot of emotions to work through during their time of grieving. Planning for these expenses in advance may help reduce the amount of stress on your loved ones.
If you start this preparation, it is important to understand what all goes into your funeral, body preparation and the services involved.
Costs vary by region
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the West South Central region that Texas is part of sees average funeral costs between $6,405 and $7,334. This range primarily depends on whether you choose a cremation or burial, respectively.
Costs vary by service
Some services like transportation and mandatory body preparation do not change from funeral to funeral. Other charges, such as embalming, are optional depending on your service and the funeral home you work with. Many funeral homes require embalming for an open-casket visitation.
Other additional costs depend on the cemetery. For a burial, many cemeteries require a cement vault installed in the plot and this may adjust your funeral costs by around $1,500.
Last wishes require attention
Be sure to communicate with your loved ones about your funeral situation, as sensitive as that subject may be. There are various ways to plan and pay for these services in a way that may help your current situation. Each of these methods involves a contract and when it comes to estate planning, it is important to clarify that your contracts reflect your wishes.
