Intestacy is a situation in which someone dies without a will. The rules of how to distribute the estate in such cases have changed a lot, but here we offer a summary about how they work right now, since the last change on February 6, 2020.
When it comes to your funeral, it is up to you whether you want to plan your funeral before you pass or you are happy to leave your loved ones to make the decisions for you. Whether you like to plan or are content with others doing it, letting your family know what you want to happen when you die in your will is an easy way to take the pressure off during their time of grief.
How to make your wishes known
When we say that your funeral wishes should be part of your will, that is not strictly accurate. Your wishes for your funeral are an accompaniment to your will. A copy of your wishes can also be given to one of your loved ones to ensure that they are known when you die, especially as wills are sometimes not read until after the funeral has been held.
There are two things that your wishes should cover when it comes to your funeral – what happens to your remains and the funeral service. We’re starting by looking at the things to think about when it comes to your remains.
What happens to your remains
Though you might not be using your body any more, you probably have a good idea about what to happen to it once you’ve passed on. There is a lot more to think about than you might think when it comes to your remains too.
Firstly is the most obvious question: do you want to be buried or cremated? Different people have different preferences based on many factors, and it is essential that you think about what these two options mean to you.
You may also want to consider if you want to be an organ donor or not. This is something that you need to consider now more than ever as the law changed on 20th May 2020. The change means that all adults in the UK are now considered to be organ donors when they die unless you have made the decision not to donate through the opt-out system or you fall into one of the exclusion categories. This doesn’t mean that your body will be instantly harvested for organs as soon as you are dead, but it does mean that it is extremely important to discuss organ donation with your family so that your wishes are honoured.
Thirdly you may want to think about whether there is going to be a viewing of your body once you’ve passed. This can be dictated by religious belief, but it is ultimately your decision whether you want to allow people to see your body prior to the funeral and where they will be able to view it.
Then there is the open or closed casket consideration, and the clothing that you want to be buried or cremated in.
Once you’ve covered these points, the next thing to consider is the coffin that you are going to be buried or cremated in. Do you want a permanent coffin? Do you only need a temporary coffin for the viewing and then something far less fancy to be cremated in? What kind of material do you want the coffin to be made from? Do you want to be buried in a tomb or in the ground? What style of coffin do you want? The moment you start thinking about it, you see how much there Is involved with even the simpler elements of funeral arrangements.
Where do you want to be buried is the next thing to think about. Are you being buried in a plot or tomb that you have already paid for? Is there a location that you want your ashes scattered at? Would you prefer your ashes to sit on the mantelpiece?
Finally, there is the headstone, monument or plaque to consider. What style do you want? How big do you want it to be? What material do you want it made from? What do you want to be written on it?
Need help with your own arrangements? Contact us today to see how we can help you make the best out of putting your affairs in order.