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Funeral planning can be rather beautiful. A peculiar statement given most people feel rather uncomfortable talking about death, let alone their own funerals. However, odd as it may seem, leaving specific requests for your own funeral service is actually an exceptionally helpful thing to do because it saves your bereaved family from having to second-guess what you would have wanted. It also greatly reduces the number of decisions they have to make at an emotionally charged time.

Many people think they have covered funeral planning by ensuring the costs can be met, and by including a reference to their funeral wishes in their will. However, the will does not usually detail how the ceremony should proceed, and sometimes a funeral is organized before the will is read creating a tricky situation if someone’s preferences turn out to be somewhat different to the funeral they have just received. This can be avoided if people talk to their nearest and dearest about their wishes before they die, or by leaving a comprehensive funeral wishes document in an agreed, accessible place.

Lastly, as well as the funeral itself, remember to consider where you would like to end up: if you have chosen to be buried, would you prefer a traditional or woodland burial? If you have chosen to be cremated, would you like your ashes interred, scattered or floated out to sea? You can even be turned into a diamond or a firework. Funeral planning can indeed be rather beautiful.

Please note a funeral wishes document is not legally binding.