Skip to content
  • Call 24/7 (602) 910-4068
Contact Us
  • 24/7

(602) 932-3187

estate planning law firm
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • Becoming a Client
    • Our Story
    • Our Approach & Values
    • Meet the Team
    • Client Testimonials
  • PROTECT MY FAMILY
    • Estate Planning
    • Wills and Trusts
    • Power of Attorney
    • Deeds & Real Estate Transfers
  • Specialized Planning
    • Minor Children
    • Special Needs Trusts
    • Asset Protection Planning
    • Irrevocable Trusts
  • Elder Care
    • Long term Care
    • Medicaid (ALTCS)
    • Guardianship
  • Probate
    • Do I Need Probate?
    • Avoiding Probate
    • Trust Administration
  • Business Planning
    • Business Formations
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Operating Agreements
    • Employment Agreements
  • Resources
    • Estate Planning Blog
      • Estate Planning
      • Elder Law
      • Probate
      • Business Succession
      • Guardianship
    • Videos & Recordings
    • Seminars & Webinars
    • Free Estate Planning Masterclass
    • Educational Library
    • Estate Planning Resources For Professional Advisors
    • FAQs
    • Media Room
  • Contact Us
    • Schedule Strategy Session
    • Office Locations
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • Becoming a Client
    • Our Story
    • Our Approach & Values
    • Meet the Team
    • Client Testimonials
  • PROTECT MY FAMILY
    • Estate Planning
    • Wills and Trusts
    • Power of Attorney
    • Deeds & Real Estate Transfers
  • Specialized Planning
    • Minor Children
    • Special Needs Trusts
    • Asset Protection Planning
    • Irrevocable Trusts
  • Elder Care
    • Long term Care
    • Medicaid (ALTCS)
    • Guardianship
  • Probate
    • Do I Need Probate?
    • Avoiding Probate
    • Trust Administration
  • Business Planning
    • Business Formations
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Operating Agreements
    • Employment Agreements
  • Resources
    • Estate Planning Blog
      • Estate Planning
      • Elder Law
      • Probate
      • Business Succession
      • Guardianship
    • Videos & Recordings
    • Seminars & Webinars
    • Free Estate Planning Masterclass
    • Educational Library
    • Estate Planning Resources For Professional Advisors
    • FAQs
    • Media Room
  • Contact Us
    • Schedule Strategy Session
    • Office Locations

What Should I Know about Funeral Planning?

Serving Clients in the Gilbert, Arizona Area

What Should I Know about Funeral Planning?
  • March 29, 2023
  • Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts
Gilbert Arizona estate planning attorney

BY: Jake Carlson

Jake Carlson is an estate planning attorney, recognized business leader, inspiring presenter, and popular podcast host. He is personable and connects immediately with others. A natural storyteller, he loves listening to your story and exploring what matters most to you.

Get To Know Jake
Please Share!
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Losing a loved one is stressful enough without having to deal with a botched funeral. Preplanning, due diligence and good communication can head off difficult surprises.
  • Scroll Down to Read Article

When a loved one dies, the grief of the family can be overwhelming. It can be challenging to move forward with funeral planning and burial preparations. Think about how much more difficult it can be for a family who loses a loved one unexpectedly.

Kiplinger’s recent article entitled “Funeral Planning Can Prevent Further Grief” says that despite strong consumer protection laws and the licensing of funeral home directors, it is still possible to have poor service from a funeral home. However, with good information and careful planning, family members should be able to pay their respects with dignity.

The best situation is a preplanned funeral. The deceased will have decided in advance or left written instructions about how things should be handled. The directive clearly states the steps to be taken by the family. This saves them from having to make those decisions following the death.

The family owes it to the decedent – and to themselves – to make certain the provider chosen by the decedent is still in business and reputable. Just because the directive names a specific funeral home doesn’t mean that survivors are obligated to entrust the remains to that home. If the named funeral home raises concerns for the family, it’s better to move forward with a different funeral home, despite the decedent’s wishes.

If the decedent failed to make funeral plans in advance, or if the family thinks the plans must be changed because of new information they’ve received about the designated funeral home, the process of shopping for a good funeral home starts. Remember, there are no lemon laws or do-overs if they get it wrong. Once a contract for funeral or burial services has been signed and the funeral home has taken possession of a body, it’s all but impossible to back out of the commitment. Therefore, the more due diligence done beforehand, the better everyone should sleep.

Conduct some basic research and read customer reviews. Look for complaints with the Better Business Bureau and state licensing agencies. It is also important to look at county records to see if there is a history of lawsuits against the funeral home. The more you know up front, the fewer surprises there should be later.

Next, meet with representatives of the funeral home to learn about their services. Every funeral home is obligated to provide prospective customers with a menu of choices before having them sign an agreement. If they try to sell you a package, or you feel in any way pressured to make a choice before you see their menu, get out of there.

To learn more about estate planning in the East Valley, Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek, schedule your free consultation with Attorney Jake Carlson by using one of the links above.

Reference: Kiplinger (Jan. 10, 2023) “Funeral Planning Can Prevent Further Grief”

PrevPreviousDoes Divorce Have an Impact on Estate Planning?
NextWhat to Ask a Perspective Elder Law AttorneyNext
Subscribe!

Recent Posts
  • Protecting Your Business with Life Insurance
  • Managing a House After a Relative’s Death
  • How Does a No-Contest Clause Protect Your Will?
  • How to Talk with Children About a Grandparent with Dementia
  • Protect Your Parents’ Savings From Nursing Home Expenses
Categories
  • Advanced Directives
  • ALTCs
  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Asset Protection
  • Business Formations
  • Business Succession
  • Charitable Planning
  • Dementia
  • Elder Law
  • Estate Administration
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Tax
  • Guardianship
  • Life Insurance
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • News
  • Power of Attorney
  • Probate
  • Retirement
  • Social Security
  • Special Needs
  • Trust Administration
  • Uncategorized
  • Wills & Trusts

Contact Us

All fields marked with an “ * ” are required

Practice Areas

Conservatorship Lawyer Mesa, AZ
End-Of-Life Planning Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Estate Planning Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Guardianship Lawyer Mesa, AZ

Wills And Trusts Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Living Will Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Business Formation Lawyer Mesa, AZ

Estate Administration Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Asset Protection Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Living Trust Lawyer Mesa, AZ

estate planning law firm
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube Instagram Rss

Our Mesa Office

2500 S Power Road Bldg 14
Suite 132
Mesa, AZ 85209

Phone Number: (602) 910-4068

Our Gilbert Office

1425 S. Higley Road #106
Gilbert, AZ 85296

Copyright © 2025 – LifePlan Legal AZ. All rights reserved. Some artwork provided under license agreement. Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap