It is important that family members discuss future funeral arrangements.

Preplanning can provide opportunities for everyone to discuss personal preferences, feelings and desires. In the event of death, knowing that they are carrying out their loved-one's wishes will comfort the family.

This is especially significant if someone desires a simple, inexpensive funeral or no funeral at all. In the grief-laden period following the death of a loved one, many emotions are experienced and consumers can easily over-extend themselves financially on funeral arrangements.

If they know the deceased definitely wanted a simple funeral then the family will not feel guilty about spending less. Thus, a choice for simplicity will not be mistaken for a lack of respect.

Taking time to collect information on varying costs and calmly choosing funeral arrangements ahead of time can protect the family from any possible sales pressure, intended or not, at the time of extreme emotional crises. In this way, you can carefully choose the specific items you want and need and can compare prices offered by one or more funeral providers.

By considering all the options available now, the family eliminates the possibility of making hasty, often expensive, decisions later.

Preplanning can place the funeral provider and the funeral consumer on a more equal footing. The inexperienced consumer who makes arrangements at the time of need can be extremely vulnerable. Prior knowledge helps the consumer decline certain services and purchase only what is wanted.

The consumer can decide the type and cost of the funeral or other disposition rather than someone else.

If death occurs unexpectedly, it is a good idea to have a non-family member or clergy accompany the family when making funeral arrangements to provide emotional Support and to help the family make decisions more clearly.