Planning your own funeral isn't morbid — it's one of the most considerate things you can do for your family. A solid funeral preplanning checklist removes guesswork from one of the hardest days your loved ones will face.
Why Preplanning Matters
Without a plan, families make dozens of emotional decisions under time pressure, often within 24–48 hours of a death. Preplanning locks in your wishes, can freeze costs at today's prices, and prevents family disagreements about what you would have wanted. It's practical, not pessimistic.
Step 1: Decide on Disposition Method
This is the foundational choice everything else builds on.
- Burial: Traditional in-ground burial, mausoleum entombment, or green burial
- Cremation: Direct cremation (typically $700–$3,000) or cremation with a full service
- Alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation): Available in some states, eco-friendly alternative
- Natural organic reduction (composting): Legal in a growing number of states
Each choice affects cost, cemetery selection, and what kind of service is possible. Make this decision first.
Step 2: Choose a Funeral Home or Provider
Not all funeral homes offer the same services, pricing transparency, or preplanning options. Shop around before you commit. Prices for the same service can vary by $2,000 or more in the same city.
When comparing providers, ask:
- Do they offer a guaranteed price contract or a non-guaranteed one?
- What happens to prepaid funds — are they held in trust or insurance?
- Are they licensed in your state and in good standing?
- Will they honor the plan if you move to another city or state?
Mercoly makes it easier to compare and find trusted funeral preplanning providers in one place, so you're not calling a dozen funeral homes individually.
Step 3: Plan the Service Details
Once you've chosen disposition and a provider, document your service preferences:
- Type of service: Traditional funeral, memorial service, graveside only, celebration of life, or no service
- Location: Funeral home chapel, house of worship, outdoor venue, or private home
- Officiant: Religious clergy, civil celebrant, or a family member
- Music: Specific songs, live musicians, or a playlist
- Readings or eulogies: Who speaks, what's read
- Flowers vs. donations: Some families redirect floral expenses to a charity
Write these down specifically. "Something simple" means different things to different people.
Step 4: Select Merchandise in Advance
Merchandise decisions made at the time of need often cost more because grief affects judgment. During preplanning, you can:
- Choose a casket (range: $900 for basic metal to $10,000+ for premium hardwood)
- Select a cremation urn (range: $50–$500+)
- Pick a burial vault or grave liner if required by the cemetery
- Choose a grave marker or headstone
Ask the funeral home for their full General Price List (GPL) — federal law requires them to give you one on request.
Step 5: Handle Cemetery and Property Decisions
If burial is your choice, you'll need to secure cemetery property separately from funeral home arrangements in most cases.
- Purchase a burial plot, crypt, or niche
- Confirm the cemetery's rules on markers, decorations, and visitation hours
- Check if a plot requires opening and closing fees (often $500–$1,500 per burial)
- Decide if you want a companion plot for a spouse
For cremation, decide whether remains will be interred, scattered, kept at home, or divided among family members. Some states restrict scattering locations — check local regulations.
Step 6: Document Everything and Tell Someone
A preplanning checklist does no good if no one can find it.
- File your prearrangement contract somewhere accessible
- Tell at least two family members or close friends where documents are kept
- Include the funeral home name, contact number, and contract number
- Add it to your estate planning documents alongside your will and advance directive
Some funeral homes will register your plan with a national database so it's findable even if your family doesn't know which provider you chose.
Step 7: Review Your Plan Periodically
Life changes — relationships, finances, and wishes evolve. Revisit your prearrangement every three to five years or after major life events like divorce, relocation, or the death of a named contact person. Confirm that prepaid funds are still secure and that the funeral home is still in business under the same ownership.
Quick Reference: Preplanning Checklist Summary
- [ ] Disposition method chosen
- [ ] Funeral home selected and contract signed
- [ ] Service type and details documented
- [ ] Merchandise selected
- [ ] Cemetery property secured (if applicable)
- [ ] Documents filed and family informed
- [ ] Review date set
Start your funeral preplanning checklist today by using Mercoly to compare trusted providers in your area and find the right fit for your wishes and budget.