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Who knew death could cost so much?

Cindy Nelson • Dec 06, 2022

An initial reaction to learning a loved one has passed can be one of shock. The emotional finality of never being able to speak to, laugh with, hug, and love our person is difficult to accept, even when a terminal illness seemed to provide some preparation.

If you have never had the responsibility for making funeral arrangements, you may be surprised to learn of the many different funeral options and costs.

A 2021  National Funeral Directors Association  (NFDA), press release included a Member General Price List Study that reported, “the median cost of a funeral has increased only 6.6% over the past five years to $7,848 and the median cost of a funeral with cremation increased 11.3% to $6,970.” It’s more likely that the average cost of funeral services can range from $7,000 to $10,000. Embalming costs range from $600 to $775 and higher; pricing isn’t fixed and varies depending on location and extras associated with the type of service selected.

Researching funeral costs can be enlightening, however there’s much more to honoring the deceased than simply writing a check. Several decisions must be made quickly, adding stress to family members during their time of grief.

If no previous final wishes are known, a decision-maker must determine over 100 choices within 72 hours of the deceased, surely a daunting process.

The following are just a few of the final service and after death choices a decision maker will face: autopsy, mortician, burial or cremation, organ donation, which cemetery, casket exterior (type of wood, metal, color), casket interior: what kind of material, type of pillow, vault, any ornamentation on the casket if military or religious, embalming, clothing choice, hair, viewing service, who’s paying for what, pallbearers, flowers, memorial cards, memorial reception: where to hold the event and which food choices to serve, obituary, who to notify (social security, banks, insurance, type of service, pastor, prayers, songs, headstone, writing on headstone, flower vase on headstone, pictures on headstone, urn, where to scatter ashes, etc.

Many funeral homes offer pre-plan funeral and cremation services. While many people don’t want to think about their own death, it’s important to note, with no planning in place all the decisions and costs for your remains will be left to your family, who may not be financially prepared to pay for funeral and memorial services.

The advantages of pre-planning are two-fold: planning for services costs less! When you pre plan you essentially lock-in cost savings because fees are based on today’s price. Funeral expenses like everything else rise over time, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Prices for funeral expenses are 258.39% higher in 2022 versus 1986. Between 1986 and 2022 funeral expenses experienced an average inflation rate of 3.61% per year. This rate or change indicates significant inflation.”

The second advantage of having a pre-paid plan is that it provides exacting details on your specific wishes and how you want to be remembered and it frees your family from the unexpected financial burden, giving them valued time to grieve unencumbered by stress.

The legal team at Nelson Elder Care Law works with community partners and can provide you with resources for funeral planning. Nelson Elder Care Law’s estate planning services helps clients ease any burden before the inevitable happens. During a complimentary consultation, your wishes are made known and accounted for.

Planning in advance saves money, protects all your valuable assets, and grants the wishes of your loved one. It’s important to know elder care law is for all ages and not just for the elderly. Provide peace to your family by giving them the opportunity to plan with a seasoned attorney.

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In an ever-evolving legal landscape, safeguarding your assets and securing your legal autonomy requires more than any one-size-fits-all approach could possibly provide. At Nelson Elder Care Law , we prioritize building meaningful relationships with families to gain insight into their specific financial, healthcare, and end-of-life goals. We specialize in crafting individualized solutions tailored to each family's unique needs, and educating our clients about the legal solutions that will truly empower them. This family-focused approach, and a deep understanding of the complexities of estate planning and asset protection, led us to create our innovative Absolute Protection Trust™. Unlike competitors' or DIY-internet trusts, we offer a range of unique differentiators that make our Absolute Protection Trust™ the premier choice for securing your assets and providing peace of mind: 1. Unparalleled Assurance and Protection: With an Absolute Protection Trust™, families gain the legal tools to safeguard their assets against unforeseen threats and vulnerabilies. Our comprehensive framework provides personalized protection, so you have the peace of mind that your priorities and goals are honored. 2. Preserve Your Autonomy with our Trust Protector™: Unlike traditional trusts that lack flexibility, ours offers the unique advantage of amending irrevocable trusts through our Trust Protector™. You retain the power to remove a Trustee, and we can modify or amend trust provisions if your life circumstances change, aligning your estate plan with your evolving needs and preferences. 3. Personalized Planning Team: Every family and client's situation is unique, so we provide a personalized legal team led by an experienced attorney to create your estate plan. Throughout the process, you'll meet with the same faces and speak to the same people, providing personalized support and guidance every step of the way. 4. Seamless Transfer of Assets: The wealth of experience and wisdom we've gained from serving more than 5,000 Georgia families over the years has shown us that the most crucial step in protecting your assets is making sure they are correctly transferred to your trust. With an Absolute Protection Trust™, you'll finalize your estate plan with one of our meticulously detailed Funding Managers. Their expertise in trust funding gives you concierge-level service in facilitating the transfer of assets into your trust, reducing client liability and increasing accuracy, letting you rest easy knowing your assets are protected. Contact us today to learn more about how our Absolute Protection Trust™ can benefit you and your family, and take the first step towards securing your legacy for generations to come.
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