Though many people plan for what is to become of their assets and Tennessee estates, not many plan for their own funerals. Yet, according to FindLaw, they should, and you should, too. There are two major reasons for doing so.
The first reason to plan your own funeral is simply to avoid unnecessary complications. Regardless of how well your loved ones know you, chances are that they are not familiar with your afterlife wishes. Additionally, each family member may have a different idea of what your funeral should look like, which could create friction between them when the time comes to actually hold it. By planning ahead, you can save your family the grief by making all the difficult decisions on their behalf.
The second reason to plan for your own funeral is cost. When you secure funeral services, a coffin and other arrangements ahead of time, you will pay far less than what your family would have to pay should they try to arrange everything after the fact.
If you fail to leave instructions for your funeral, Tennessee law dictates who will get to make the arrangements for you. The typical order or priority is as follows:
- Spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Next of kin
- A court-designated public administrator
While this may seem like an acceptable order for you, you need to consider what would happen if your spouse and multiple adult children precede you. Each would likely have his or her own idea of how to say goodbye to you which, again, can cause friction. Set your wishes down in writing to prevent future disputes.
You should not use this article as legal advice. It is for informational purposes only.