7 Reasons to Plan a Funeral in Advance

If you plan ahead, the people who love you don’t have to guess. You choose what you want, you write it down, and your family gets to spend those first hard days remembering you instead of making a hundred decisions on very little sleep.

I know. Nobody adds “plan my funeral” to a Saturday list between “mulch the flower beds” and “finally return that casserole dish.” But in my work at Aaron-Ruben-Nelson, I see how much gentler a hard week can be when the thinking has already been done. Here are seven reasons people choose to do it.

1. Your family grieves instead of guessing

After a death, families often have only a few days to pick a funeral home, choose burial or cremation, plan a gathering and write an obituary. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says planning ahead spares survivors from making those calls while rushed and emotional. I think of a plan as a gift of time.

2. Your wishes are on paper, not in someone's memory

A quiet graveside service, or a party with a live band? Unless you’ve said so, your family is left to guess. The FTC suggests writing down your preferences and giving copies to family and your attorney. Don’t tuck them away in your will. Wills tend to be opened after the funeral, which is a little late for the playlist.

3. You can compare prices without a clock ticking

Federal rules let you get funeral prices by phone, receive a written price list to keep, and buy only what you want. The FTC’s Funeral Rule covers planning ahead as well as arrangements made at the time of a death.

For perspective, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) found in its 2023 price study that the national median for a funeral with viewing and burial was $8,300, and $6,280 with viewing and cremation. Cemetery costs are extra. Shopping around is much easier when you aren’t also drafting an obituary.

4. Prepaying locks in your price and your plan

Planning and paying are separate steps. You can do the first without the second. But here’s what prepaying does: it locks in the price of the goods and services listed in your contract, and it turns your wishes into an agreement the funeral home is bound to honor. In NFDA’s 2025 consumer study, 19.4% of people said they had planned and prepaid, mostly to guarantee prices and spare their families a financial burden.

Prices do rise. NFDA’s 2023 study showed the median cost of a funeral with burial up 5.8% in two years, and cremation up 8.1%. One honest note: small outside costs, such as obituary fees or a clergy gift, are usually not part of the price guarantee, according to the Indiana Funeral Directors Association (IFDA). Ask what exactly your contract covers.

5. Indiana has guardrails for prepaid plans

If you prepay, Indiana regulates how it’s done. The IFDA explains that sellers need state certification, your money is set aside for your arrangements, and it goes straight to the funeral home without passing through probate.

You get 30 days after signing to change your mind and receive a refund. After that the contract is locked in, though it can move to another provider if you relocate. The FTC cautions that protections vary widely by state, so ask where your money will be held. Anyone who loves reading rules can find them in the state’s preneed contract regulation.

6. You skip the rushed cemetery decision

Families often buy a plot in a hurry, sometimes without ever seeing the grounds. The FTC says it’s in a family’s best interest to buy before the need arises. Choose a spot you like, ideally with a good tree, and visit on a day when the weather is cooperating.

7. It gets the family talking

In NFDA’s 2017 study, 62.5% of people said it’s very important to share their funeral wishes with family. Only 21.4% had. A written plan is a wonderful excuse to finally have the conversation.

It matters for practical reasons too. The FTC warns that wishes can go unfulfilled if nobody knows about them, and that families who don’t know about a prepayment may end up paying twice. Even a prepaid contract only binds the funeral home. Your family still needs to know it exists.

How I'd start

I believe advance planning is about far more than choosing arrangements. It’s about your story, the people in it, and the kind of day that would feel unmistakably like you. My first conversation with anyone is free, and you don’t need to know what you want before you call.

If you’d like to begin on your own, visit the Plan Ahead page or print the Pre-Planning Checklist. When you’re ready to talk, book a conversation with me. I work with families across Zionsville, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, Fishers and the Greater Indianapolis area.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay in advance to plan a funeral? No. You can record your wishes and choose a funeral home without paying anything. Prepaying is a choice, and one that locks in your price and puts your plan in writing with the funeral home.

What happens to a prepaid plan if I move? It depends on your contract. The FTC says some plans can be transferred, sometimes for a fee. The IFDA says Indiana contracts can be transferred to another provider. Ask before you sign.

Who should I tell about my plan? Your family and your attorney. Keep a copy somewhere easy to find. The FTC suggests not leaving the only copy in a safe deposit box, since families may need it on a weekend.

Sources

Federal Trade Commission, Planning Your Own Funeral

Federal Trade Commission, The FTC Funeral Rule

Federal Trade Commission, Funeral Rule overview

NFDA, 2023 Member General Price List Study

NFDA, 2025 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study, as reported by Connecting Directors

NFDA, 2017 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study, as reported by Connecting Directors

Indiana Funeral Directors Association, Funeral Planning

Indiana Administrative Code, 832 IAC 7-2-1, Preneed contract

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Prepaid funeral rules depend on your contract and state law. An attorney can help with your situation.