Planning Ahead
What Is Funeral Pre-Planning?
Pre-planning (often called pre-need) means deciding your own funeral while you are alive. It is common in the U.S., and it helps most in Korean families whose children grew up here. When adult children do not know what their parents wanted, they end up arguing at the funeral home. A plan prevents that.
What gets decided
- Burial or cremation
- Which funeral home and cemetery
- The kind of service (church, Catholic Mass, funeral home chapel, family only)
- Details such as the casket, burial clothing and flowers
- How it will be paid for
You can make the plan without paying anything, or you can prepay as well.
The funeral home contract and the cemetery purchase are separate
This is where many families get confused.
| Funeral home pre-need contract | Cemetery purchase | |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | Funeral services and merchandise | A resting place (plot, niche, mausoleum) |
| Who you contract with | The funeral home | The cemetery |
| On the cost tables | Funeral home costs | Cemetery costs |
They are often arranged together, but they are two contracts.
Where does prepaid money go?
In California there are two main ways to prepay for a funeral.
- Trust-funded: the money you pay is held in a trust account.
- Insurance-funded: you buy an insurance policy for the cost of the funeral, and the benefit pays for it at death.
Either way, ask before you sign: “Where is my money held, and in whose name?”
Questions to ask before signing
- Is the price guaranteed? Confirm you will not owe more if prices rise.
- What is included and what is not? Flowers, the reception meal and death certificates are often left out.
- What do I get back if I cancel? Check the cancellation fee and terms in the contract.
- What happens if I move to another state or back to Korea?
- If you receive Medi-Cal or expect to, check whether you need an irrevocable contract.
The California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau publishes consumer guidance on pre-need contracts in English and Spanish. It is worth reading together as a family before anyone signs.
Source
Still have questions?
The answer depends on your family's situation. Ask in a free 30-minute consultation.