At some time in our life we may be faced with the difficult situation of having to place a loved-one into an extended care facility.

As people get older and experience illness and disability they may become less able to take care of themselves. Immediate family members may find it difficult if not impossible to personally care for their loved one.

Even though this task can generate feelings of stress, guilt and anxiety, a thorough investigation of extended care options can help to dispel these fears.

Making specific inquiries about the type of care and level of quality provided by an extended-care facility can result in positive quality of life benefits to the elderly person and enhance the peace of mind of the family.

Certain facilities focus on full-time nursing care. Others provide a more independent living environment while providing assistance in areas of health care and domestic support.

Some extended care programs, both private and governmental, also provide private resident living options including contracted single residences and group assisted living programs. Private facilities with a specific religious or fraternal affiliation are also available if desired.

Some of the things to look for when checking out a facility include licensing and Medicare/Medicaid certification, dietary/nutritional programs, social programs, staff to resident ratio, geographical location, available primary health care options and easy accessibility by family.

Extended care can be expensive. According to the GE Long Term Care Insurance Nursing Home Survey, the national annual average cost of a year in a nursing home is $54,900.00. Meeting the financial obligation usually comes from a combination of personal assets and government supplemental programs (Medicaid - Medicare, etc.)

Most professional extended care facilities will provide assistance with eligibility and financial requirements for short and/or long-term admission. In addition to choosing a facility that will provide the best care and quality of life, protecting the assets of the individual being admitted to an extended care facility is of the utmost importance.

Becoming well-informed about related matters such as living expenses, taxes, estate planning, funeral pre-planning and legal issues will ultimately serve to protect the personal assets of the individual being admitted as well as his or her heirs.

The Internal Revenue Service allows a $10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars) before-tax allowance for pre-funding a funeral service/final disposition plan. These monies are not taken into account when assessing the net worth of the person who is applying for Medicaid elegibility.

Taking advantage of this allowance can be accomplished by purchasing a funeral pre-arrangement plan through the funeral home/mortuary of your choice, insurance company, or by establishing an interest-bearing savings account specifically designated for final disposition.

Becoming as well-informed as possible is a sure way to alleviate stress and anxiety and ensure that your loved one will receive the quality of care they deserve.

Hospice is a very specialized service given to persons with a terminal illness in order to make their final days as comfortable and quality-filled as possible.

Hospice provides patients and their families with a means for exercising control over the who, what, when and where of treatment when cure is not possible.

Although all hospice care is under professional medical supervision, specially trained professionals, volunteers and family members provide the majority of care to the patient, usually in the patient's home.

A familiar environment filled with loving family members and caring and skilled hospice workers goes a long way to ease the fears and anxiety of the dying patient and his or her family.

This specialized care emphasizes comfort measures in the form of physical, social and spiritual support to the dying patient and their families.

Physical care includes ensuring the comfort of the patient by administering and monitoring pain medication, maintaining proper nutrition, hygiene and physical strength.

Social care is usually provided to the dying patient by caring family members whose presence and assistance help to alleviate the distress of their situation.

Trained hospice workers also provide social support to family members by helping with housekeeping, cooking, or seeing that family care-givers are given a break so that they can replenish their reserves.

Pastoral and grief counseling is also provided so that the patient and his or her family can be better prepared for this important transition. Hospice workers can also help with legal and funeral arrangements.

Hospice is a special kind of caring that helps both the patient and family focus on life while lovingly preparing for death.

If death occurs in the home, unattended by medical personnel, an official such as the sheriff or county coroner must be summoned to the home to officially pronounce death before the body can be removed to the funeral home. Again, this official may determine that an investigation and autopsy are required wherein the body may be removed to the office of the medical investigator.

When a terminally ill person dies at home under hospice care, the hospice nurse is usually authorized to officially pronounce death. The funeral home can then be notified and removal of the body can take place.

At the time the funeral director is contacted, he/she will usually set an appointment for the family to come into the funeral home to make arrangements. During this initial conversation the funeral director will ask if the funeral home has permission to embalm the body.

If the family is planning a full service with viewing and visitation, then the body will have to be embalmed. If cremation or direct burial is to take place without viewing, embalming may not be necessary.

While you are still on the phone with the funeral director he/she may also ask you to provide some basic information such as the deceased's date of birth, occupation, name of primary care doctor and official time of death.

The funeral director may also ask that at the time you come in to make funeral arrangements, you bring in the clothing that you wish the deceased to wear. These usually include underpants, undershirt or bra, stockings for a woman, socks for a man and the outer clothing that has been selected.

You should also begin to put together a list of survivors for the newspaper notice or obituary.

Please note: Information in this lens has been carefully compiled by sources believed to be reliable, but the accuracy of the information is not guaranteed as laws, regulations and procedures may differ from state to state. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you consult with a licensed funeral director in your area to further discuss the information presented in this website.

When death occurs in a hospital, a doctor will officially pronounce death. If it has been determined that the person died of natural causes it will be up to the family or their representative to make arrangements to handle the removal of the deceased's body.

If death occurs as the result of an accident or under questionable circumstances, a state medical investigation official may order that an autopsy is necessary to determine the exact cause and contributing factors of death.

At this time you should be prepared to be approached by the hospital's organ transplant program representative who tries to ascertain whether or not the family agrees to organ donation.

If the family agrees, then arrangements and procedures will be completed by the transplant team. If the family does not wish to donate their loved one's organs a funeral home or mortuary is contacted and a driver is dispatched to remove the body to the funeral home.

Before the body is removed from the hospital, a release will be provided to the next of kin or responsible party for their signature.

The release is an acknowledgment that the body is being released to the designated funeral home and any personal belongings of the deceased have been accounted for.

Ideally, personal items such as purses, wallets, jewelry, clothing, etc. should be retrieved by the family before the body is removed.

In addition, signatures of a representative of the hospital as well as the funeral home driver are usually included on the release.

Please note: Information in this lens has been carefully compiled by sources believed to be reliable, but the accuracy of the information is not guaranteed as laws, regulations and procedures may differ from state to state. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you consult with a licensed funeral director in your area to further discuss the information presented in this website.

When I was a 17 year old know-it-all, I remember confronting my dad (that's him in the picture), a very caring, experienced, funeral director, about why he practiced such a "barbaric profession." A profession which encouraged people to parade past and look at a dead body lying in a box.

He just smiled knowingly, and quite patiently responded to my obnoxious, teenage challenge by explaining how necessary funerals were to the emotional well-being of the loved-ones left behind.

My dad had handled numerous funerals for soldiers killed in Viet Nam who had come home in sealed caskets because few, if any, remains were found.

He went on to explain that when widows, mothers and other relatives were unable to view the soldier's body, thereby confirming the reality of what had happened to their loved-one, a serious state of emotional and psychological denial set in.

After a time, their minds began to play tricks on them. They would think they'd see the deceased walking in a crowd...or convince themselves that their loved-one was just "hiding out" from them and couldn't understand why.

The serious psychological impact from not being able to face the reality of their loved-one's death left them with long term emotional scars...scars that were difficult, if not impossible, to heal.

He told me, emphatically, that funerals are not easy, but necessary, if the people left behind are to heal and move on with their lives.

Fortunately, I eventually grew up and was able to appreciate and understand what my dad had so patiently tried to teach me...especially when I had to "parade past and look" at his body when he passed away.

It was difficult, but necessary.

Here is my dad's practiced wisdom, condensed into a short list of why funerals are important.

• The Funeral helps to confirm the reality and finality of death...the critical first step in the healing process.



• The Funeral is the means whereby we formally acknowledge and honor Death as an important rite of passage.



• The Funeral is a celebration and recognition of a life that has been lived.



• The Funeral provides a climate for mourning and the expression of grief...which, again, promotes healing.



• The Funeral brings people together to share and therefore lighten the burden of sorrow.



• The Funeral is one of the few times that love is given and not expected in return.
  

Because of the personal nature of making funeral arrangements it is very important that you feel comfortable with the funeral establishment and funeral director you have chosen to do business with.

When selecting a funeral home, you should consider your past experience with a particular establishment, level of satisfaction, geographic convenience and current cost considerations.

When selecting a funeral director look for someone who exhibits the following characteristics: good listening skills, sensitivity to your personal needs, caring/concern, interest in you as a person and understanding.

All of these traits go hand in hand. If you don't feel comfortable doing business with a particular individual, feel free to shop around until you find a funeral director you can trust. Always remember that you are calling the shots.

A good rapport between you and the funeral director ensures that expectations will be realistic on both sides thereby reducing the risk of creating misunderstanding and dissatisfaction.

The idea of prearranging you or your loved one's funeral may seem strange at first, but when you think about it it isn't any different from financial planning, estate planning or preparing your will. In fact, funeral prearrangement is an important part of your total financial planning picture.

However, because death is such a deeply personal issue, prearranging a funeral is something that needs to be handled with the utmost sensitivity. Because of the personal nature of planning your funeral it is very important that you feel comfortable with the person you have chosen to do business with. In this case, the funeral director.

When selecting a funeral director look for someone who exhibits good listening skills, sensitivity to your personal needs, caring/concern, interest in you as a person and understanding. All of these traits go hand in hand.

If you don't feel comfortable doing business with a particular individual, feel free to ask to speak to someone else or shop around until you find a funeral director you can trust. Always remember that you are calling the shots!

Once you've established a rapport with the funeral director you can get down to the business of prearranging the funeral. A good rapport ensures that expectations will be realistic on both sides thereby reducing the risk of creating misunderstanding and dissatisfaction.

During the first stage of the process, you will be asked to provide personal information such as name, address, date of birth, education level, veterans status, Social Security number, occupation, parents name, with mother's maiden name, etc. This information will be used to complete important forms such as the official death certificate and newspaper obituary forms.

The next task to be completed is writing the obituary for publication in the newspaper. Writing a obituary can be a daunting task if there has been no prior planning.

A well-thought-out obituary can make for an excellent tribute. It also ensures that every family member that should be listed will not be accidentally left out.

Again, this makes the case for funeral prearrangement, where you have the luxury of time to consider every aspect of your life that you wish to include in the obituary and to consult with family members who may have information you do not.

An obituary is important for several reasons:

1. It is an efficient way for survivors to let friends and family know about the death of their loved one.

It would be very difficult if not close to impossible for the grieving family to personally notify each and every person associated with the deceased.

2. Writing an obituary is a wonderful way to memorialize the deceased.

Part of the obituary is comprised of a biography of the deceased. It lets the reader know who this person was, where he came from, where she went to school, what he/she did for a living, any special accomplishments, hobbies, etc.

3. An obituary contains a list of the deceased's survivors, i.e., spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, in-laws and special friends.

This is helpful for the reader if they did not know the deceased but is associated with a survivor and wishes to extend their condolences.

4. An obituary is a very effective way to inform the public about the times and places of the funeral services.

It can be very trying for the grieving family to have to field constant phone inquiries about the services.

5. This can also be a way for the family to publicly extend their gratitude to those persons who may have been helpful and supportive during an extended illness.

6. Lastly, it can inform the public about where to send memorial contributions.

A Brief History
Embalming is believed to have originated among the Egyptians before 4000 B.C. and has continued to be used over the ensuing centuries. Its origins are thought to be religious in nature, relating to beliefs about life after death.

French and Italian scientists perfected the process during the 19th century. The widespread use of modern embalming in the United States is believed to have begun during the Civil War.*

A Brief Definition
Embalming is a clinical process of disinfection and preservation of the deceased. Disinfection is achieved through arterial and visceral cleansing, utilizing a process of bodily fluid removal and chemical tissue saturation.

The Purpose of Embalming
The purpose of disinfection is to protect the public from possible exposure to viral and bacterial infection.

The purpose of preservation is two-fold. First, it allows for extending the amount of time that funeral services can be scheduled. In this way relatives living at a distance can more easily attend, or the deceased can be transported to a distant location via air or ground, for final disposition.

Second, it is essential for achieving a natural appearance of the deceased. This is helpful in achieving a positive psychological impact on family and friends viewing their loved one for the last time.

*Photo courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-B8171-2531 DLC

But because of its environmental advantages, some in the funeral industry say alkaline hydrolysis could someday rival burial and cremation. Click here to get the full story...

A Brief History
Evidence of the practice of disposal of a corpse by fire has been found to date back to the Neolithic period. Cremation remained the preferred burial custom of Roman aristocrats during the period between 1400B.C. and 200A.D. Cremation was also a wide-spread practice in India and ancient Greece.

The origins of the practice of cremation may have come from belief in purification of the body by fire, an attempt to light the passage into the next world, or as a way to ensure that the dead wouldn't return.

A Brief Definition
Cremation is the practice of burning human remains. The process includes placing the body in a closed container, usually constructed of cardboard or particle board.

This container with the body is then placed in a specially constructed furnace. The intense heat of the furnace renders the body to a state of small skeletal fragments or "cremains."

The cremation process takes approximately two to three hours.

Before cremation can take place, the crematory or funeral home must obtain a cremation order signed by the next of kin which gives the crematory permission to cremate the deceased.

Upon completion of the cremation process the cremated remains are placed in a small cardboard box which is returned to the funeral home, family, or responsible party.

Urns
Generally, cremated remains are transferred to a permanent receptacle, or urn, for final disposition.

Urns come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, materials and cost to suit individual preferences.

Urns can be ceramic, pottery, metal, marble, bronze or hardwood. Urns can be purchased from the funeral home, crematorium, retail establishments, and most recently, the Internet. They can range in price from $35.00 to over $1,000.00.

Final Disposition
As with traditional funeral services, several options for final disposition of cremated remains are available, depending upon the personal preferences, financial and religious considerations of the family.

Funeral services can occur before or after cremation has taken place. Families can opt for a full service with casketed viewing prior to cremation or memorial service with or without the presence of the urn containing the cremated remains.

Families can arrange for burial of the urn in a cemetery plot or urn garden, where a marker or memorial plaque can be placed.

Another option is placement in a columbarium niche where the urn can be stored and visited by relatives. Some niches allow for viewing of the urn through protective glass. Others are sealed behind a memorial plaque.

Scattering of cremated remains is also an option chosen by some families. Special flower gardens are set aside by some cemeteries for the express purpose of scattering cremated remains.

Some families choose to scatter over land or water. In this instance it is advisable to check with the proper authorities to ensure that applicable laws are followed.

Finally, the urn may be taken home for storage or display.

Your funeral director is always available to answer your questions and provide information about services and merchandise.

Another important aspect of the funeral service is the burial or entombment. You will be required to make separate arrangements with the cemetery where final disposition will take place.

These arrangements include selecting and paying for a burial plot, crypt or mausoleum and cemetery services.

Burial
If burial is to take place, certain cemetery-related charges will be added, such as opening and closing the grave, vault or grave liner installation, and headstone installation.

Most perpetual care cemeteries now require the minimum of a concrete liner. This allows for cemetery maintenance (mowing and watering), and prevents collapse of graves.

Steel and fiber glass vaults are also available for your selection depending upon availability, your personal preference and budget.

Vaults offer more protection but are also more expensive. It should be noted that the protection offered by vaults and other grave liners are not only for the body but for the surrounding environment.

Cremated remains can also be buried in a cemetery. Costs for plot, cemetery services and marker placement will be in accordance with cemetery policy.

Entombment
If crypt or mausoleum entombment is to take place, casket placement charges will be added. Urns containing cremated remains are placed in a columbarium niche.

At the time you select the burial plot, crypt or mausoleum, or columbarium, you may wish to consider reserving any additional space(s) that will allow for family members to be interred together. Otherwise, adjacent space(s) may be sold and will not be available for future family interment.

Most cemeteries require payment at the time of service but do allow for payment plans on additional space(s) for future use.

Up to $2,000.00 toward burial and funeral expenses may be available to those American military veterans of a government-designated military conflict who meet certain eligibility criteria.

Veterans who had been receiving a war-related disability pension at the time of death will be eligible for funds in an amount based upon the percentage of disability.

For instance, a veteran who had been classified as 100% disabled would be eligible for the full $2,000.00 death benefit. The amount is reduced as the percentage of disability is reduced. The Office of Veterans Affairs will make the final determination at the time of the claim.

When a veteran dies in a veterans hospital, up to $750.00 will be made available for transportation allowance (transporting the deceased to the funeral home and cemetery), plot allowance and burial allowance.

The funeral home can make the burial benefits claim on behalf of the family and will require a copy of the veteran's DD214 form or honorable discharge papers.

The funeral director will complete the application form (9VA 21-530) for burial benefits and will submit them along with a death certificate designated for VA use only and the copy of the honorable discharge papers.

Those veterans who do not meet the above-stated criteria, as well as service members and dependents are eligible for burial in a national cemetery.

Military graveside ceremonies are available but are made at the discretion of each national cemetery. Again, you will be required to present a copy of the veteran's honorable discharge papers in order to make arrangement for burial.

Additional burial benefits provided by the VA include a United States flag, a military headstone and presidential memorial certificate. The form to request a flag is VA 2008.

Military headstones are provided to those veterans who are buried in national, state-veteran, military or private cemeteries. The form to request a headstone is VA 40-1330.

Finally, a presidential memorial certificate is issued to next of kin to express the nation's recognition of the veteran's service.

For further information about veterans' benefits contact the Veterans Administration at 1-800-827-1000 or visit the Department of Veterans Affairs.

There are many types of funeral services which the funeral director will make available for your review and selection. The options presented to you will be based upon your religious preference, personal wishes and your budget.

Before you make your selection the funeral director is required by law to IMMEDIATELY present you with a general price list or GPL, of the following items: types of funeral services, merchandise, and cash advance items, such as newspaper obituaries, flowers, musicians, etc.

After you have reviewed the general price list you can request to see specific price lists of the types of services you may be interested in.

Below you will find brief descriptions of the more commonly selected funeral services. Please be aware that you are not limited to these services and that the funeral director will be happy to customize your service to meet your personal, religious and budgetary needs:

Standard Service
This service includes but not is not limited to the removal of the deceased to the funeral home, embalming (which includes cleansing the body), dressing, cosmetizing and casketing the deceased, viewing /visitation, funeral service and burial or entombment.

The services are held in the funeral home chapel or in the church where the deceased was affiliated and the burial or entombment takes place in the cemetery of choice.

Standard Service with Cremation
A standard service with cremation is similar to the standard service. After removal to the funeral home, the deceased is embalmed and placed in a rented casket or casket designed for cremation.

There is a viewing or visitation and a funeral service. These services can be held in the chapel of the funeral home or at the church where the deceased was affiliated.

Following the funeral service the deceased is transported to the crematorium for cremation. The cremains are then placed in an urn for burial, placement in a columbarium, storage, display in the home or can be scattered at the discretion of the family.

Cremation with Memorial Service
When this service is selected the deceased is directly cremated and a memorial service is held at a time and place of the family's choosing.

The urn containing the cremains can be present at the service. Following the memorial service the urn containing the cremains can then be buried, placed in a columbarium, stored, displayed in the home or scattered at the discretion of the family.

Direct Cremation
Direct cremation is similar to direct burial in that there are no services and the family can opt for viewing before cremation.

In this instance, however, after removal to the funeral home, the deceased is placed in a cremation tray (a container usually required by the crematorium) and transported to the crematorium for cremation.

The ashes, or cremains are then placed in an urn if the family so chooses. The cremains can also be interred or buried at the cemetery, placed in a columbarium, stored, displayed in the home or scattered at the discretion of the family.

Standard Service with Burial at National Cemetery
This is a standard service for U.S. military veterans of a military conflict. Just as with the Standard Service it includes removal of the deceased to the funeral home, embalming, dressing, cometizing and casketing the deceased.

During the viewing, when the casket is open the United States flag is draped over the bottom half of the casket or folded into a triangle and placed in the head panel of the casket or displayed on a nearby pedestal.

If the deceased was an active member of the military at the time of death there would be representatives from that branch of the service who would serve as an honor guard during the viewing/visitation service.

At the funeral service, when the casket is closed the flag is draped over the entire casket. Following the funeral service the body is transported to the nearest National Cemetery for interment.

Military honors graveside ceremonies are available but are made at the discretion of each national cemetery. These ceremonies may include a twenty-one gun salute, the playing of "Taps" and the folding of the flag ceremony. At the conclusion of the service the folded flag is presented to a member of the family.

Graveside Service Only
This service usually includes removal of the deceased to the funeral home, embalming, dressing, cosmetizing and casketing the deceased.

The casket containing the deceased is taken to the place of burial or entombment and the service is conducted.

Depending upon the wishes of the family this service can be religious or non-religious. Private or public viewing before the service is optional and can be arranged with the funeral home.

A cardiologist died and was given an elaborate funeral.

A huge heart covered in flowers stood behind the casket during the service. Following the eulogy, the heart opened, and the casket rolled inside. The heart then closed, sealing the doctor in the beautiful heart forever. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience.

At that point, one of the mourners burst into laughter.

When confronted later, he said, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking of my own funeral ... I'm a gynecologist."

At that point, the proctologist fainted.

Direct Burial or Entombment
As soon as the removal to the funeral home has taken place the deceased is placed in a casket and transported to the cemetery for direct burial or entombment.

There are no services, but again viewing before burial is optional and can be arranged with the funeral home.

Standard Service With Interment at a Distance
In recent years American society has become highly mobile. People retire and move away from their home towns to relocate where the weather is milder or where children and grandchildren reside.

Despite the fact that these people may truly come to love their new place of residence, ultimately, when death occurs, they wish to be returned to their home towns and interred at their home town cemetery or entombed in the family crypt.

Standard service with interment at a distance is identical to standard service but instead of interment or entombment immediately following the funeral service in the local cemetery, arrangements are made to transport the deceased to the city where interment or entombment has been arranged.

In this instance it will be necessary to make arrangements with a funeral home or mortuary selected to receive and complete the funeral services and/or interment arrangements.

The funeral home handling the funeral arrangements will coordinate with the receiving funeral home so that the family's instructions and wishes are carried out.

Arrangements are usually made to transport the deceased via air or ground transportation. If transport by air is selected you will be responsible for purchasing air fare, air tray, which is a container for the casket required by the airline, and any and all charges assessed by the receiving funeral home.

If ground transportation is selected, the funeral home will be responsible for transporting the deceased via the funeral coach and a charge for mileage will be assessed.

In this instance a receiving funeral home may or may not be involved with additional services and interment.

Standard Service With Retrieval From a Distance
Standard service with retrieval from a distance is a service whereby the family arranges to have the deceased transported from a distant location into their city of residence for services and interment.

The funeral home in the location where death occurs is responsible for finalizing all arrangements for transportation.

Embalming is required unless prohibited by religious or personal preference. If services are to be conducted before transportation occurs, arrangements will be made by the family and can be coordinated through the receiving funeral home.

Following transportation and retrieval of the deceased, standard services will then be conducted by the receiving funeral home.

Conclusion
The services described above are those that are most typically selected by families. The funeral services offered by your funeral director can easily be customized to meet you personal, religious and budgetary needs.

Always remember that as the consumer you are in the driver's seat and if a particular funeral establishment is unwilling or unable to meet your needs you can easily locate another that will be ready and willing to help you.

How many times have you walked away from a funeral or grave site thinking, "Wow, that was a beautiful casket!"

It would probably be safe to venture a guess of "never."

The truth about caskets is that despite the variation in style, color, material and price, they all serve the exact same purpose and they all end up in the same place...buried in the ground or entombed in a crypt.

However, the fact remains that if you have selected a traditional funeral service for your loved one you will be faced with going into the display room and choosing a casket.

As you are reviewing the price list for the service you have selected you will notice that the price of the casket is not included.

Therefore, before you enter the display/selection room we recommend that you ask the funeral director to sub-total the cost of the services you have selected up to that point.

This is important as it will help you to make a casket selection that will be financially as well as personally satisfying.

Selecting a casket "at need" can be the most difficult aspect of making funeral arrangements. The moment that you enter the casket display room is usually the moment when the reality of what has happened to your loved one becomes painfully evident.

The high level of emotions that are involved can effect judgment. Since arranging a funeral is the last thing that family will ever do for their loved one, there may be a temptation to purchase an expensive casket to symbolize the family's love and devotion.

While it is perfectly fine to purchase a higher priced casket, your choice should be based upon financial feasibility as well as personal preference.

Selecting a casket as part of a funeral pre-arrangement can be much less daunting and more economically advantageous then waiting until a death occurs.

Because emotions are usually not a factor when making pre-arrangements, you can make these important decisions with a clear, well-informed state of mind.

Because the casket can have a significant impact on the overall cost of the funeral, and because, you should be an informed consumer when making any type of purchase, we would like to present a brief overview of the types of caskets generally made available by funeral service providers.

There are three basic types of caskets: semi-precious metal caskets, such as bronze and copper; wood caskets, such as oak, pine or mahogany and stainless steel.

Stainless steel caskets vary in the gauge or width of the metal that is used. These caskets are usually made available in 16 gauge, 18 gauge and 20 gauge metal widths.

The larger the number the thinner the gauge, and so, the less expensive the casket will be.

The smaller the number, the thicker the gauge, and so, the more expensive the casket will be.

Caskets can also be sealed or unsealed. A sealed casket has a rubber gasket around the edge of the bed and the edge of the lid. When the casket is closed the seal prevents grave contaminants from entering or existing the casket.

Within these three basic type of caskets you will find a wide range of styles and colors. Prices can range anywhere from $450.00 to over $10,000.00, however the average cost of a casket is approximately $2,500.00.

If you are planning a standard service with viewing and casketed burial you will probably wish to purchase a floral casket spray which is draped across the bottom half of the casket. After the funeral service these floral arrangements are usually transported to the cemetery to beautify the gravesite for the burial.

As a convenient service offered to the family, the funeral director can arrange for this floral arrangement to be made and delivered to the funeral home.

The casket spray is designed to meet the color scheme of the casket and the budget of the family. However, you are under no obligation to order flowers through the funeral home. It is perfectly acceptable for you or your family members to go to the florist of your choice and make your selections.

If a cremation with a memorial service is planned you may wish to order a standing spray and potted floral arrangements. Because flowers are highly perishable some people wish to order live plants or small trees. These are taken home by family members and can serve as a comforting reminder of the kindness of friends during a difficult time.

Expressions of condolence are not limited to flowers. Memorial contributions in the name of the deceased can be made to the charity of the family's or sender's choice. Check with the funeral director to see if the family has designated a specific charity, foundation or organization.

Prayer Cards/Memorial Folders

Prayer cards/memorial folders will be made available for your selection so that you may provide the people attending the services with a memento of your loved one.

You will be provided with a wide selection of cover styles, prayers, verses, and poems, or the option of composing your own tribute.

The cards/folders usually contain the deceased's name, date of birth, date of death, date, time and place of service, name of clergy, place and time of final disposition and pallbearers.

Funeral arrangement computer programs now make it possible to include a picture of the deceased on the card or folder. Check with your funeral director for availability.

Register Book

The funeral director will also make a selection of register books available for your selection. This book is usually placed in a convenient spot in the chapel or church for each person attending the service to sign.

It is also recommended that this book be kept it near the telephone in the home. Because there is such a high level of emotion and activity around the death and funeral of a loved one, it is difficult to expect the grieving family to keep track of all the well-wishers who come to the services, visit, call the home or bring food and flowers.

The register book is a wonderful way to document all this outpouring of love and support and makes it much easier for the family to know to whom to send thank you notes or acknowledgments.

Acknowledgment/Thank You Cards

Acknowledgment/Thank You Cards will also be made available to you by the funeral director. These are optional item selections offered for your convenience.

You may wish to send them to people who sent flowers, food or memorial contributions to charity.

Music

Music can be an important element in making funeral services memorable.

During the viewing/visitation the funeral home will usually provide background music which is played over the chapel audio system.

If you have specific preferences for music selections please let your funeral director know. You can also arrange to have musicians provide live music or you can bring in your own CDs.

If the funeral service is taking place in your church you may arrange to have the church organist and/or choir provide music. You can also check with church personnel to arrange to play CDs.

Honorarium

It is common practice, as well as good etiquette, to provide the person officiating at the funeral service, the church, and musicians with a monetary token of the family's appreciation for their services. This is called a honorarium. If you are unsure about how much to give, ask your funeral director.

Regardless of how caring and sympathetic your funeral director is, or how grief-stricken you or your family members are, the financial obligation of the funeral must be met. You need to be aware that most funeral directors require payment in full at the time of service.

In addition to cash and credit cards, most funeral homes will accept proceeds from preneed funeral insurance policies, standard life insurance policies, savings accounts designated "POD" or payment upon death to the funeral home, veterans death benefits, Social Security survivor death benefits and death benefits from an employer.

Your funeral director can provide an invaluable service to you when it comes to reviewing, explaining and dealing with slow-moving or unresponsive insurance companies. When the time comes to file any claims, your funeral director can relieve you of the burden of verifying the validity status of the policy, eligibility for benefits, requesting claim forms and providing the required death certificates.

It has been said that human beings are creatures of habit. We find comfort and security in our daily routine. The way we live and the people in our lives are easily taken for granted. And we don't readily adjust to change, even when the change is positive. Change is usually equated with loss...loss of that comfort and security.

Grief is the natural and normal reaction to loss of any kind. Experiencing grief is one of the most painful and difficult aspects of the human experience.

Losing a loved-one to death is one of the most devastating losses anyone can experience. Because of the complexity of human beings, no two people will grieve in quite the same way.

There is a wide a range of emotions and physical reactions that are normally associated with grief. Some people may experience them all while others may only feel one or two. Someone may grieve for two months while someone else may grieve for two years...or even longer.

Certain influences such as religious beliefs, economic circumstances, and social and family situation will impact the way a person moves through their grief.

Some of the emotions associated with grief are love, anger, fear, frustration, loneliness and guilt. Love is a very strong component of grief. Love doesn't die when the person dies.

You may also feel angry, afraid, and lonely because you may feel abandoned. Your anger may cause you to feel guilty.

You may also feel guilty because of something you said or didn't say;did or didn't do before the person died. At times you may feel very confused and may even wonder if you're going crazy. All these emotions are normal and natural.

Your emotions aren't the only things that take a beating. Grief can also be physically painful. You may experience loss of appetite, sleeplessness, uncontrollable crying, irritability, headaches, "heartache", tightness in the throat or chest. These are natural and normal reactions to the loss of someone close to you.

While grief can't (or shouldn't) be eliminated, there are some steps you can take that will help you move through your grief in a healthy way.

• Don't try to avoid what you're feeling. Acknowledge that you have experienced a loss. Embrace your grief. It is a direct reflection of your feelings for the one you have lost.



• Don't try to "go it alone." Share your thoughts and feelings with someone who cares. You'll be surprised how compassionate people can be. Seek out a grief support group. Your local church or newspaper's community calendar can be resources for finding such a group.



• Be easy on yourself. There's no such thing as a grief timetable. Grief takes as long as it takes. Don't let anyone make you feel that you haven't grieved long enough, or that you're grieving too long. Individuals grieve at an individual pace.



• Just because you're grieving doesn't mean you have to put your sense of humor in storage. The human experience is inherently funny. So try to find something to laugh at.



• Try to keep physically and mentally active. Even a short, brisk walk can do wonders for your state of mind and body.

Be assured that you will survive the grief experience. It is a natural and normal process and something we all go through at one time or another.

The important thing to remember is that even though your loved-one is gone, your love for them can never die.

Death certificates vary from state to state but usually require the full legal name of the deceased, date of birth, date of death, place of death, physical address of the deceased, mother's name (with maiden name), father's name, informant or next of kin, address of informant or next of kin, time of death, place of final disposition (cemetery or crematorium), doctor's signature, cause of death and any contributing factors.

The death certificate is also signed by the licensed funeral director.

The certified copies are issued by the Bureau of Vital Records in each state and filed with the City Registrar where the death occurred.

A death certificate is a legal document and you may need several copies to conclude the business of your loved one. If the deceased had a will, trust, checking or savings accounts not held jointly (1 for each account), certificates of deposit not held jointly, safety deposit box, stocks or bonds (1 for each corporation), insurance policies (1 for each company), credit cards and transfer of real and personal property not held jointly you will have to present a certified copy to those entities responsible for settling these accounts.

You will also need copies to file for union benefits, Social Security benefits, Veteran's benefits and Welfare benefits. In most cases, photocopies will not be accepted.

Airlines may require a death certificate to guarantee bereavement fares, but in some cases will accept a Certificate of Attendance signed by the funeral director or official representative of the funeral home.

The cost of certified copies varies from state to state but range from approximately $5.00 to $10.00 per certified copy. Your funeral director will be responsible for ordering these copies at the time of funeral arrangement and can usually have them for you within a week or two.

It is wise to order a few additional copies to meet any unexpected contingencies, such as discovering an insurance policy or bank account that no one knew about. Ordering certified copies a month or two after the funeral can sometimes result in delays of up to six weeks.

Death benefits from insurance policies can and are commonly used to pay funeral expenses. You or your beneficiaries may be entitled to benefits if you carry the following types of insurance:

• Whole or Term Life Insurance


• Group Insurance (provided by your employer or fraternal organization)


• Credit Card Insurance


• Credit Life Insurance (mortgages, vehicles, personal loans)


• Car Insurance, Personal Injury Protection (PIP)


• Home Owners Insurance


• Government Life Insurance

Your funeral director can provide an invaluable service to you when it comes to reviewing, explaining and dealing with slow moving or unresponsive insurance companies.

When the time comes to file a claim your funeral director can relieve you of the burden of verifying the validity status of the policy, requesting claim forms and providing the required death certificates and statement of Lost Policy, if necessary.

Having the funeral director handle this is helpful because in many instances insurance companies are more likely to respond more quickly to requests made by a business entity than a private individual.

Furthermore, the funeral director can help you determine what portion of the policy proceeds are eligible for payment of funeral expenses.

At the time of service the funeral director may ask the beneficiary to sign an assignment whereby a portion of the total death benefit payout is assigned to the funeral home to cover the funeral expenses. Any amount left over is paid to the beneficiary.

For example, if the deceased holds a $50,000.00 life insurance policy at the time of death, and the funeral expenses come to $5,200.00, with a notarized assignment to the funeral home, signed claim form, the original policy or Lost Policy statement and certified copy of the death certificate, the insurance company will send a check in the amount of $5,200.00 to the funeral home and a check for $44,800.00 to the beneficiary.

As a service, the funeral home handles the claim for you, thereby alleviating the hassle.

Generally, death benefits paid to a beneficiary are not taxed or included as part of the deceased's estate.

If there are no surviving beneficiaries or if death benefits are left to the deceased's estate, it will become a matter of the Probate proceeding.

It is important to notify the person(s) responsible for administering your estate about the existence of any and all insurance policies.

Lost Policy forms may be needed if the existence of a valid policy is known but cannot be located. Again your funeral director or insurance agent can provide detailed information upon request.

When an individual dies their financial affairs will have to be concluded in a timely manner, according to the existing Will and/or the rulings of the Probate Court, and in accordance with the requirements of the financial institutions where the accounts exist.

The type of account and the type of ownership of the account will determine how funds and title accounts are redeemed or transferred, and then closed.

Types of financial accounts include savings, checking, money market, safe deposit box, pension funds, annuities, trust accounts, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, IRAs, certificates of deposit, credit union funds, mortgages and personal loans.

Type of ownership include Sole Ownership, Joint Ownership with Right of Survivor, and Established Trust Account.

Requirements for Redeeming, Transferring, Closing Accounts

Sole Ownership Accounts

Sole Ownership Accounts (checking and saving) with a designated beneficiary requires a certified copy of the death certificate and proof of beneficiary identity.

Sole Ownership of Certificate of Deposit (CD) may be redeemed by the beneficiary prior to maturity date without penalty. A certified copy of the death certificate is required along with proof of beneficiary identify.

Sole Ownership of a Safe Deposit box without a designated beneficiary requires a certified copy of the death certificate, Letter of Administration, the presence of the estate attorney, the personal representative and a bank official to open and retrieve the contents of the safe deposit box.

Contents will be distributed in accordance with the will or rulings of the Probate court.

Sole Ownership of government bonds with a designated beneficiary requires a certified copy of the death certificate and beneficiary signature on the front of the bond.

Sole Ownership of government bonds without a stated beneficiary is redeemed with a certified copy of the death certificate and a Letter of Administration.

Joint Ownership Accounts

Joint Ownership accounts may entitle survivors the right to withdraw account funds. If the deceased was the last surviving owner, and there is no designated beneficiary, the account will be included in the assets inventory filed with the court.

Withdrawal of funds from Joint Ownership CDs by the surviving owner will be subject to penalties if certificates have not reached maturity date.

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) require a certified copy of the death certificate in order for the surviving spouse to withdraw account funds. Additionally, these funds can be rolled over into the surviving spouse's IRA, without tax penalties.

Wills

Settling your estate will be made much easier on your loved ones if you take the time to prepare and maintain a will. This document is very important because it identifies and specifies who you want to receive your property after your death and who you have appointed to be responsible for carrying out your wishes.

Once you have written the will it is important to periodically review and update it to reflect any changes in laws, or changes to your family such as marriages, births, divorce, or deaths. You must also update the will to reflect any changes in your intentions to distribute your assets.

If you don't currently have a will, I recommend visiting Advanced Legal Solutions Online for help and information about drawing up this critical document.

Your Personal Representative
The person you choose to act as your personal representative can be your spouse, one of your children, or close relative or friend. Always be sure that this person is someone you can trust to handle the administration of your estate. An administration fee is usually paid to the personal representative depending upon the scope of his/her duties.

At the time of death the designated personal representative of the deceased is responsible for contacting an attorney to begin estate proceedings.

Estate Proceedings
Along with filing the Will with the court, the personal representative must petition the court for authority to act as personal representative. He or she will then be responsible for identifying and gathering all the assets of the deceased's estate, making sure that all debts are paid, and then distributing the deceased's property in accordance with the will.

Probate
When a person dies without a will, the distribution of his/her property and assets must be determined by a probate proceeding.

It is the responsibility of the deceased's heirs to retain an attorney to begin the proper legal procedures for settling the estate in accordance with state laws.

The probate process will identify and gather all the assets of the deceased's estate, pay all debts, and then distribute the remaining property and assets to the legal heirs.

The Estate Proceedings are initiated by the Probate court by first issuing a Letter of Administration which appoints a personal representative of the deceased's estate. The personal representative is then responsible for preparing an inventory of the deceased's estate which includes all tangible and intangible assets.

Tangible assets include real estate property (land and everything attached to it) and personal property such as vehicles (family, utility, recreational), furniture, jewelry, art and other personal contents of the home.

Intangible assets that must be included in the inventory are any checking and savings accounts, cash, certificates of deposit, IRA's, stocks, bonds, mortgages, pensions and possibly life insurance.

Taxes on inherited property and assets will be determined by state law and will be the responsibility of the individual heirs.

Property Transfer

Part of the process of distributing your property includes properly transferring title to real estate and vehicles. It is important to obtain legal assistance to ensure that all necessary forms are completed in accordance with local laws.

Real Estate
The deceased's name should be removed from all real property.

Property deeded in Joint Tenancy is transferable to the surviving party.

Property held in Sole Ownership, titled in the name of the deceased, alone, or as a tenant in common with other persons will be included in the Probate Estate.

The attorney handling the estate is responsible for filing the necessary forms with Probate Court in the counties where the property is located.

Vehicles
Vehicles include cars, trucks, vans, mobile homes, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and boats.

Title Transfer Classifications and Requirements

Joint Ownership (Husband/Wife)
· If title reads "or": no action is necessary for transfer.
· If title reads "and": one death certificate per vehicle, vehicle title, photo I.D. and current registration are required for transfer.

Joint Ownership (Other than Spouse)
· If title reads "or": bill of sale from surviving owner and vehicle title are required for transfer
· If title reads "and": bill of sale and copy of death certificate are required for transfer.

Sole Ownership (with current Will)
Depends on the amount of the estate. Check with attorney for transfer requirements (i.e., Certificate of Transfer Without Probate or Letters of Administration)

Sole ownership (no current Will)
Depends on the amount of the estate. Check with attorney for transfer requirements (i.e., Certificate of Transfer Without Probate or Letters of Administration)

Administration of Estate (No spouse)
Heirs are required to have a Letter of Administration and vehicle title.

Vehicles registered in another state must be transferred in the state of registration.

Note: As with all legal matters, please consult an attorney.