Utilizing Burial Directions and Organ Donation in Your Estate Plan

One of the most important parts of successful estate planning is making sure that all possible issues are considered. While many people expect their estate planning to cover subjects like the distribution of their assets, it is also important to consider issues like burial, cremation, and organ donation. By fully addressing these issues in an estate plan, you can remove the chance that your loved ones will make a mistake by attempting to interpret your wishes. As a result, this article will consider two of the topics that are often left out of discussions about estate planning – funeral directions and organ donation. If you have any questions about either of these steps, discuss matters with an estate planning attorney.

Be Sure to Document Your Funeral Plans

The best way to inform loved ones about what you would like to have happen at your funeral is to write down a list of specific instructions in a document that is kept separate from other estate planning tools like trusts and wills. Some of the common concerns addressed by these plans include whether a person wants to be cremated, be buried, and have a funeral or memorial service, and where the person wants any of these steps to occur. While some people decide to write these instructions down, other people decide to keep digital versions of these documents. No matter how a person decides to record their wishes for the disposition of their last remains, it is a wise idea to discuss your final wishes with loved ones, as well. These conversations could be as simple as telling family members that you never wanted to be buried, and as specific as telling family members exactly how you envision your memorial service.

Understanding the Importance of Organ Donation

There is a commonly held misconception among older adults that they should not volunteer for organ donation because their organs would not be helpful for anyone. This, however, is not true. The only organs that are left incapable of being used after a person’s death are almost always those that are related to a person’s death including hearts that resulted in heart attacks or organs that have cancer. In cases in which a person dies of natural causes, though, nearly all vital organs are capable of being used for donation and can be given to individuals who are greatly in need of an organ donation. At the same time, however, a person does not have to donate his or her organs. The decision is a personal one, and if a person feels strongly about it, he or she can record the choice in a separate estate planning document.

Speak with an Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

These are just some of the most common issues that arise concerning the disposition of a person’s last remains. To make sure that your wishes are fully satisfied after your death, it is a wise idea to address each of these subjects in your estate plan. Contact Jim A Lyon today for assistance with your estate plan.