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How to Start Preparing for Death

Preparing for death may seem daunting, but it is a critical step in ensuring peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.
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Preparing for death may seem daunting, but it is a critical step in ensuring peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. Surprisingly, nearly 60% of adults in the U.S. don’t have a will, leaving their families with the burden of making difficult decisions during an emotionally challenging time. End-of-life planning is more than just deciding between burial and cremation—it’s about providing clear instructions that honor your values and ensure your wishes are followed. By taking proactive steps now, you can alleviate stress and uncertainty for those you leave behind.

Beyond the emotional benefits, planning for death has significant financial implications. By planning ahead, you can ensure your loved ones aren’t left struggling with the financial aftermath. Pre-arranging your burial or memorial services can also lock in current prices and offer more sustainable options, like green burials or memorial forests, that align with your values.

Whether you choose a traditional resting place or opt for a modern, eco-friendly alternative, having a plan provides clarity. It allows your loved ones to focus on celebrating your life rather than navigating tough decisions. Below we outline simple steps you can take to prepare for death so that when the time comes, both you and your family can find peace.

Why It’s Important to Prepare for Death

Despite the certainty of death, many people avoid thinking about the end of their lives, leaving their loved ones with the burden of making emotional and financial decisions in their absence. Preparing for your death provides peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. With a clear plan outlined, your wishes will be honored because your plans were made in advance. This allows your loved ones to grieve without unexpected memorial costs and ensures that your final resting place aligns with your values and beliefs. 

Below we discuss how to begin preparing for death so you can rest easy when the time comes. 

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How to Prepare for Death in 5 Steps

1. Define Your Final Wishes

Outlining your final wishes is an essential part of preparing for your death. First, decide whether you prefer burial, cremation, or a green alternative like a forest memorial. Cultural and religious preferences often play a significant role in burial or cremation decisions, so we recommend researching to find what aligns with your beliefs. Refer to our library of religious end-of-life planning content to learn more. 

You should also determine what type of memorial service, rituals, or specific locations you’d like to include in your plans. When it comes to end-of-life planning, you can err on the side of tradition or create something totally unique to you. Don’t feel like your plans have to look a certain way—you can think as outside the box as you’d like. 

There are a few different ways to ensure that your burial or cremation decisions are followed after you pass away. You can outline your plans in a will, but you should supplement it with another document like a letter of instruction. Sharing a letter of instruction with a trusted person like the executor of your will, a family member, or a close friend can ensure your wishes are followed if your will isn’t read until after the memorial service. Pre-planning also allows you to secure your final resting place and memorial plans ahead of time, so there’s no room for interpretation when the time comes. When you have a plan the process is much easier on loved ones as they won’t have to coordinate as much or brunt any costs. 

Whether you’re drawn to a traditional option or the natural beauty of a memorial tree, taking the time to outline your preferences is a crucial part of preparing for death. And if you’re not sure where to begin, start end-of-life planning with our final wishes quiz. With just 10 questions, you can begin creating your legacy today.

2. Plan Your Final Resting Place

There are many final resting place options, from traditional burial in a cemetery to more personalized and eco-friendly alternatives like a memorial forest. Today, many people are seeking memorial options that not only honor their loved ones but also contribute positively to the environment. Whether you prefer a classic resting place or are drawn to more modern, sustainable choices, thinking about these decisions ahead of time ensures your memorial will be a meaningful tribute to your life.

Here are some common final resting place options to consider:

  • Traditional Cemetery Burial: A classic option where you’re buried in a cemetery plot with a headstone or marker.
  • Cremation with Ash Scattering: Your ashes can be scattered in a meaningful location, whether it’s a favorite place or a natural setting.
  • Memorial Tree: Your ashes are spread beneath a memorial tree in a protected forest, contributing to forest conservation and allowing your loved ones to visit a peaceful, natural setting.
  • Green Burial: An eco-friendly option where your body is buried without embalming, allowing for natural decomposition and minimal environmental impact.

At Better Place Forests, you can choose to have your cremation ashes spread beneath a memorial tree in one of our protected forests. This sustainable alternative to burial allows you to become part of a thriving ecosystem, helping to conserve forests and leave a positive environmental impact. Your memorial tree will serve as a living tribute to your life, a place where your loved ones can visit and reflect in the beauty of nature. Learn more about our memorial forests

No matter what final resting place you choose, memorial pre-planning provides peace of mind for you and those you love. 

3. Organize Your Legal Documents

You’ll need to have three key documents in place: a will, an advanced healthcare directive, and a durable power of attorney. These documents help you manage your estate, guide your healthcare wishes, and appoint a trusted person to make important decisions on your behalf. 

Each of these documents provides different protections:

  • A will outlines how you want your assets and property to be distributed after your death, reducing potential disputes and easing the burden on your loved ones. 
  • An advanced healthcare directive, or living will, allows you to detail your medical preferences should you become unable to communicate. Whether it’s specifying the type of medical treatment you want or appointing someone to make healthcare decisions, this document ensures your values and wishes are followed. 
  • A durable power of attorney complements these directives by authorizing a trusted individual to manage your financial or legal matters, such as paying bills or managing assets, should you become incapacitated.

While you can prepare some of these documents at home, it’s a good idea to consult a legal professional to ensure everything is in order and specific to your situation. Legal experts can offer advice tailored to your unique circumstances, making sure that each document complies with state laws and reflects your preferences. By taking these proactive steps, you’ll give both yourself and your family peace of mind, knowing that your wishes will be respected and that your affairs are well-organized.

For more information, check out our resources on how to write a will at home, the differences between a power of attorney and guardianship, and how to organize end-of-life documents. Preparing for death is never easy, but getting these legal documents for end-of-life in place is a significant step in planning for the future.

4. Share Your Plans with Loved Ones

Discussing end-of-life plans with loved ones can be difficult, but transparent communication about your decisions regarding burial, memorial services, and other key preferences can help avoid confusion or disagreements later. By clearly outlining your plans and explaining the reasons behind them, you provide your family with clarity, guidance, and peace of mind. 

“I’ve been an executor for four different members of my family. It is a big mess if you don’t have things planned in advance. We have one son and I didn’t want him to have to deal with a mess.” – Donna P., Lake Arrowhead Memorial Forest

It’s important to approach these conversations with compassion and patience. Find a time when you and your loved ones can speak without distractions. Begin by explaining that while the subject may be sensitive, your goal is to provide them with the peace of mind that comes from having everything prepared in advance. Acknowledge that it’s a challenging topic, but frame the discussion as a way to ensure their love and support continue even after you’re gone. For more guidance, read How to Talk to Loved Ones About End-of-Life Plans

Having everything in place and ensuring your family is informed allows them to focus on celebrating your life, rather than worrying about what you would have wanted. 

5. Organize Finances and Personal Information

When you pass, your loved ones will be left to cancel accounts, contact banks, and deal with your assets. Begin by gathering essential financial documents like bank statements, credit card information, insurance policies, and investment accounts. It’s beneficial to create a detailed inventory that lists your assets, along with account numbers and passwords. Leaving this information somewhere easy for loved ones to find will make the process much easier for them. 

Also consider compiling a list of your online accounts, including usernames and passwords, along with instructions for how you would like these accounts managed after your passing. You might choose to have certain social media profiles memorialized or deleted entirely. You could also ask loved ones to create a digital time capsule to memorialize you. 

6. Review Your Plan Regularly

As life evolves, so do your end-of-life plans. Major milestones like getting married, having children, or moving to a new home often bring new considerations for how you want your final wishes to be carried out. That’s why it’s important to revisit and update your plans every few years or after significant life changes. 

Make sure your legal documents, such as your will, healthcare directives, and insurance policies, accurately reflect your latest wishes. Whether you’ve added a new family member, purchased additional assets, or simply changed your mind about certain decisions, keeping these documents up-to-date is essential. It helps prevent unnecessary confusion or legal challenges for your loved ones, ensuring that your affairs are settled according to your intentions. 

Taking the time to review your end-of-life plans not only keeps your preferences current but also relieves your family of the uncertainty that can arise when plans are out of date. Life is full of changes, and your memorial plans should evolve with you. 

Choose a Tree Instead of a Tombstone

As more people seek eco-friendly end-of-life planning options, the trend toward green burials and sustainable memorials continues to rise. Traditional funerals, with their use of embalming chemicals, concrete vaults, and non-biodegradable caskets, often have a significant environmental impact. Instead of a tombstone, a Memorial Tree is a protected place to return ashes to the earth. At Better Place Forests, we provide an opportunity to create a meaningful final resting place that not only reduces harm to the environment but actively helps conserve protected forests. 

Talk to one of our guides to see how you can plant a legacy that will continue to grow in a protected forest. 

Plan Now, Rest Easy Later

As you begin end-of-life planning, remember that taking these steps can provide a profound sense of relief for both you and your loved ones. The process may seem overwhelming at first, but with a clear plan in place, you can ensure that your wishes are honored, and your family is spared from making tough decisions while they grieve. By outlining your preferences, discussing them openly with those you care about, and organizing essential documents, you pave the way for a celebration of your life that reflects your values and beliefs.

This month only, we’re offering to bundle your memorial marker, ash spreading, and forest memorial with your tree purchase—all in one easy decision. This promotion saves you $2000 and ensures there’s no last-minute scramble for your family. Find your peace of mind in a memorial forest by talking to a guide today. 

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