Importance of File Reviews

You already have funeral, cremation, & cemetery plans in place. That’s fantastic.

When was the last time you dusted off the paperwork & made sure it’s in order, that the providers have up-to-date information, and that your plans still reflect your wishes?

This can happen: Just last week a family shared that their dad had planned long ago. But the kids didn’t know, and they had done all of the work to re-plan only to find the paperwork after his funeral. Now they had to go through a process with the original funeral home to cancel the original plan to see what could be re-funded.

Maintenance protects your thoughtful pre-planning so it doesn’t become a source of stress in a time of grief. I’ve seen too many families grapple with outdated plans, sometimes decades old. It can be like starting from starch for a grieving family.

I recommend the families i serve to plan a file review every five years. It’s a simple appointment – come have coffee with your Planning Advisor. 😊 Together, we’ll check that your records in our system are up to date and your plan reflects your current wishes so loved ones have an accurate roadmap to follow when the time comes.

Here are some things you may want to cover at a file review appointment:

• Have your wishes changed? Are there any adjustments you’d like to make to your plans?

• Does the provider have up-to-date permissions on file for who has access to your planning documents? Without explicit permission, plans can only be discussed with you or your POA.

• Do you have copies of your contracts? Do you understand all the items covered in the agreement and know what costs, if any, may not be covered?

• Has any information recorded in your planning guide changed? You can ask the funeral home for a clean copy of the guide.

• Who will be handling your final arrangements? The law dictates who this will be; talk to a lawyer about assigning a deathcare surrogate if you would like someone else to handle your arrangements.

• Does the person handling your arrangements have copies of your plans and planning guide?
  • Do they know what to do when the time comes?

• Does the funeral home have your current vital information on file, such as your current address, phone number, & email address, and the information that will be needed for the death certificates?

• Is your plan revocable or irrevocable? (Irrevocable should only be for Medicaid)

• What other costs may be incurred by the family? Like celebrant fee/honorariums, annual cemetery maintenance fees, newspaper obituaries, etc.

If you have specific requests, ask the funeral home about them to be sure they can still honor your needs. For example, if you have specific Religious, Secular, or Spiritual Identity (RSSI) needs such as immediate burial or participatory cremation, or if you need a provider who is educated about LGBTQ+ identities and provides an affirming space for family, you may need to ensure that provider is still able to honor your families accommodations and that you feel comfortable entrusting them with the care of your loved ones in their grief.