Pre-planning your funeral is a significant way to provide peace of mind for both yourself and your loved ones. At Dils Funerals, we offer tailored solutions that allow you to organise every detail in advance, ensuring your wishes are fulfilled while reducing the emotional and financial burden on your family.

What Is Funeral Pre-Planning?

Funeral pre-planning involves making arrangements for your funeral in advance, covering aspects such as burial or cremation preferences, the type of service, and any personal touches you want included. It’s a way to document your choices so that your family knows exactly what you want when the time comes.

At Dils Funerals, we understand that each person has unique preferences for how they would like to be remembered. Whether it’s a traditional service or a more personalised celebration of life, we offer comprehensive pre-planning options to ensure that your funeral reflects your values and wishes.

Benefits of Pre-Planning a Funeral

  1. Eases the Burden on Your Family The passing of a loved one is a challenging time, and making important decisions about funeral arrangements can be overwhelming. By pre-planning, you can spare your family from the stress of making these choices while they are grieving. Your loved ones will have a clear guide to follow, ensuring that your funeral reflects your personal preferences.
  2. Ensures Your Wishes Are Honoured Pre-planning gives you full control over the details of your funeral. From the type of service to the specific music and readings you would like, pre-planning ensures that your farewell is conducted exactly as you desire. At Dils Funerals, we work with you to create a tailored plan that honours your unique personality and beliefs.
  3. Financial Security and Flexibility Pre-planning your funeral can also bring financial benefits. At Dils Funerals, we offer The Funeral Trust, a plan designed by the Funeral Directors’ Association of New Zealand. With this option, your funds are securely held in trust to be used exclusively for your funeral expenses. You can choose to prepay all or part of the costs, giving you financial flexibility while protecting your family from unexpected expenses when the time comes.

    If there are remaining funds after your funeral, these are returned to your estate. In cases where the funeral costs exceed the prepaid amount, the shortfall is claimed from your estate, providing a clear and manageable process for your loved ones.

  4. Pre-Planning Without Prepaying For those who prefer not to prepay, Dils Funerals offers the option to document your funeral preferences through a Funeral Pre-Planning Guide. This guide allows you to outline your specific wishes for your funeral, from the type of service to personal elements such as flowers or music. Although this option does not include financial prepayment, it provides a comprehensive guide for your loved ones to follow, ensuring that your personal values are reflected in the service.

The Steps to Pre-Planning Your Funeral

  1. Consultation The first step in pre-planning your funeral is meeting with one of our experienced funeral directors at Dils Funerals. During this consultation, we’ll discuss your options, answer any questions, and help you make informed decisions. We offer a compassionate and supportive approach to ensure you feel comfortable throughout the process.
  2. Documenting Your Wishes Once you’ve decided on the details of your funeral, we will document your preferences in our secure system. This ensures that when the time comes, your family has a clear plan to follow, giving them the peace of mind that your wishes are being respected.
  3. Flexible Financial Planning If you choose to use The Funeral Trust option, you can prepay some or all of the funeral costs, securing today’s prices and protecting against future price increases. This option provides financial relief for your loved ones, and any leftover funds are returned to your estate.
  4. Regular Updates Life circumstances can change, and your funeral plan should reflect these changes. At Dils Funerals, we offer the flexibility to review and update your plan as needed. Whether you want to make adjustments to your service preferences or your financial arrangements, we’re here to help every step of the way.

Addressing Common Concerns About Pre-Planning

  1. “It’s too early to plan my funeral.” Many people think that funeral pre-planning is something to be done later in life, but in reality, it’s never too early to make these decisions. Planning ahead ensures that you and your family are prepared, no matter what the future holds.
  2. “I don’t want to commit financially.” With Dils Funerals, you don’t have to prepay if you’re not ready. The Funeral Pre-Planning Guide allows you to document your wishes without the need for financial commitment, giving your family a clear plan to follow while keeping your finances flexible.
  3. “My family will know what to do.” While your family may have some idea of your preferences, pre-planning removes the guesswork and ensures that your wishes are carried out exactly as you’d like. It also helps prevent potential disagreements among loved ones, creating a smoother and more peaceful process for everyone involved.

Conclusion

Pre-planning your funeral with Dils Funerals is a thoughtful and practical choice that can bring peace of mind to both you and your family. By taking control of your funeral arrangements, you ensure that your wishes are honoured, relieve your loved ones of emotional and financial stress, and provide a lasting legacy of care and consideration.

For more information on pre-planning your funeral, visit our Auckland Funeral Pre-Planning page or contact us to speak with one of our experienced funeral directors today.