Why Pre-Arrange a Funeral or Cremation

Pre-Arrangements & Pre-Planning In Union Grove, WI

(Racine County, WI, Milwaukee County, WI.  Kenosha County, WI, Walworth County, WI and Waukesha County, WI)

Plan Ahead. Give Your Family Clarity When They Need It Most.

Most people plan for the important events in life.

We plan weddings. We plan vacations. We plan for college. We purchase insurance to protect our homes, vehicles, and families.

Funeral arrangements deserve the same thoughtful consideration.

At Miller-Reesman Funeral Home in Union Grove, Wisconsin and Burlington, WI, we help individuals and families make pre-arrangements and pre-planning decisions before a death occurs.

Planning ahead gives you the opportunity to think about your wishes when there is time to ask questions, compare options, discuss decisions with family, and make informed choices.



More importantly, it gives the people you love a clear understanding of what matters to you.

Secure Online Preplanning Form

What Are Funeral Pre-Arrangements?

Understanding Funeral Pre-Planning

Funeral pre-planning, also called advance funeral planning or pre-arrangement, means discussing and documenting your funeral preferences before they are needed.

You can work with a funeral director to consider the type of services you want, how you would like your arrangements handled, and the details you want your family to know.

Miller-Reesman's online planning form allows individuals to document important personal information and service preferences, including:

• Burial
• Cremation
• Mausoleum entombment
• Public visitation
• Private visitation
• Public funeral service
• Private funeral service
• Public committal
• Private committal
• Public family gathering
• Private family gathering

The funeral home also offers the option to begin the pre-planning process online, after which a member of the staff can contact you.

Pre-Planning Does Not Have to Mean Paying Today

One of the most important distinctions families should understand is that pre-planning and pre-paying are different decisions.

You can document your wishes without necessarily funding the funeral at the same time. Whether and how you choose to fund arrangements is a separate conversation that should include a careful review of the applicable contract, funding method, price guarantees, transfer provisions, cancellation terms, and other conditions.



The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule applies to both at-need and pre-need arrangements.

Why Families Choose to Pre-Arrange

Make Decisions With Time Instead of Pressure

When a death occurs, families may have to make many decisions quickly while experiencing shock and grief.

The FTC specifically notes that grieving families can face numerous funeral decisions under emotional pressure and recommends shopping and planning in advance because doing so allows comparison shopping, family discussion, and reduces the burden at the time of death.

Pre-arranging allows you to make those decisions when you can think clearly.

• You can ask questions.
• You can compare services.
• You can review costs.
• You can talk with your family.

And you can change your mind before anything is needed.



That is one of the most important reasons we encourage families to consider planning ahead.

Benefit 1: Your Family Knows Your Wishes

Take the Guesswork Away

One of the hardest questions families face after a death is:

"What would they have wanted?"

• Should they choose burial or cremation?
• Did they want a visitation?
• Did they want a formal funeral service?
• Would they want a private family gathering?
• What traditions mattered to them?
• What should happen at the committal?

By documenting your preferences in advance, you can provide your family with direction when they need it.

Miller-Reesman's planning process allows you to document disposition and service preferences so your family has a starting point when the time comes.

Benefit 2: Reduce Decision-Making During Grief

Let Your Family Focus on Each Other



After someone dies, family members need time to grieve.

They also need to handle practical responsibilities.

Pre-planning can remove many of the questions surrounding funeral arrangements so your family is not starting from zero.

Instead of wondering what you wanted, they can review the decisions you already made and work with the funeral director to carry them out.

This does not remove grief.

Nothing can.

But it can remove uncertainty.

Funeral planning organization Remembering A Life identifies peace of mind and reducing the decision-making burden on family members as two central benefits of planning ahead.

Benefit 3: Make Informed Decisions

Compare Your Options Without Time Pressure

Planning ahead allows you to learn what funeral and cremation services actually involve before your family needs them.

You can ask:

• What does a traditional funeral include?
• What does cremation involve?
• What type of visitation would I want?
• Do I want a public or private service?
• What funeral merchandise is meaningful to me?
• What services are important to my family?
• What are the current prices?
• Which costs are paid to the funeral home?
• Which costs involve third parties?
• What happens if circumstances change?

The FTC recommends consumers compare funeral providers and obtain price information before making decisions. The Funeral Rule also gives consumers the right to receive accurate price information and choose only the goods and services they want, subject to applicable requirements.



Planning ahead gives you the time to understand those choices without a funeral taking place immediately.

Benefit 4: Communicate With Your Family

The Conversation May Be More Important Than the Form

• A written plan is valuable.
• A conversation is even better.
• Tell the people closest to you that you have made funeral arrangements or documented your wishes.
• Let them know where your information is stored.
• Tell them which funeral home you have chosen.
• Explain the decisions that matter most to you.

This can prevent your family from having to search for answers later.



Current research cited by Remembering A Life found that 75% of Baby Boomers have communicated their preferred funeral plans to family members. Communicating your wishes is an important first step toward making sure the people you love understand how you want to be remembered.

Benefit 5: Plan Your Service Your Way

Your Funeral Should Reflect Your Values and Wishes

Pre-arrangement is not only about paperwork.

It gives you time to think about what you want your family to experience.

You can consider:



• Burial or cremation
• Visitation preferences
• Funeral or memorial service preferences
• Committal preferences
• Family gathering preferences
• Religious or cultural traditions
• Music
• Readings
• Special people you want involved
• Important instructions for your family
• Personal information needed for official documentation

Miller-Reesman's pre-planning form specifically provides options for burial, cremation, mausoleum entombment, visitation, funeral services, committal, and family gatherings.

Benefit 6: Choose The Funeral Home You Trust

Meet Your Funeral Director Before You Need One

One of the advantages of planning ahead is that you can get to know the people who may serve your family.

At Miller-Reesman, our professional staff includes:

• Glen Miller — Licensed Funeral Director and Owner
• Rebecca Miller — Pre-Need Specialist and Owner
• Danielle Hubatch — Licensed Funeral Director
• Shelby Casteel-Everett — Licensed Funeral Director
• Jean Van Swol — Funeral Assistant

Our staff understands that every family has different needs, traditions, and requests.



Planning ahead gives you the opportunity to sit down with a knowledgeable funeral professional, ask questions, and make decisions without the urgency that accompanies a recent death.

Benefit 7: Review Cost Clearly

Know What You Are Choosing



Cost is an important part of funeral planning.

Planning ahead gives you an opportunity to understand the cost of the services you are considering and compare your choices.

Federal law provides important consumer protections. The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral providers to disclose price information and allows consumers to select only the goods and services they want, subject to limited exceptions. The rule applies to pre-need arrangements as well as at-need arrangements.

We encourage families to ask questions and make sure they understand:

• The price of selected funeral services
• Merchandise prices
• Cash advance items
• What is included
• What is not included
• Whether prices are guaranteed
• How prepayment is funded
• Whether an arrangement can be transferred
• Cancellation and refund provisions
• What happens if circumstances change

Never sign a pre-need agreement you do not understand.

Pre-Planning VS. Pre-Paying

These Are Two Different Decisions



The terms "pre-planning," "pre-arrangement," and "pre-paying" are sometimes used interchangeably, but they can describe different things.

Pre-Planning

You discuss and document your funeral preferences before death.

Pre-Arrangement

You establish an arrangement with a funeral provider in advance.

Pre-Paying

You fund funeral goods or services before they are needed.

You may choose to do one, two, or all three depending on your circumstances and goals.

If you are considering pre-paying, ask specifically about the funding vehicle, price guarantees, transferability, cancellation rights, refunds, and what happens if the funeral home, your circumstances, or your wishes change.

Wisconsin has specific requirements governing payments made under certain pre-need burial agreements. Wisconsin law provides that qualifying payments made under such agreements are held as trust funds until death, subject to the law's provisions.

Because funding arrangements can have financial and legal implications, we encourage families to review the actual contract carefully and seek independent legal or financial advice when appropriate.

What To Bring To a Pre-Planning Meeting

Make Your Appointment More Productive

You do not need to have every answer before you meet with us.



We can help you work through the questions.

If you have them available, it can be helpful to bring:

• Existing funeral or burial documents
• Cemetery information
• Cemetery deed or lot information
• Veteran discharge documentation, if applicable
• Insurance or funding information
• Important family contact information
• Religious or clergy contact information
• Any written funeral wishes
• Questions about burial or cremation
• Questions about service options

Miller-Reesman's online pre-planning form also provides a starting point for documenting personal and service information.

How Miller-Reesman Makes Pre-Planning Easier

Start With a Conversation



You do not have to walk into a funeral home knowing exactly what you want.

Our role is to listen and explain.

We can help you understand the decisions involved, identify what matters most to you, and document the information your family will need.

Miller-Reesman offers both in-person pre-planning appointments and an online pre-planning option.

In Person

Meet with a caring professional and discuss your wishes face-to-face.

Online

Begin the planning process through our online pre-planning form. A member of our staff can follow up after you submit your information.

At Your Own Pace

You do not have to make every decision in one conversation.

The goal is understanding, not pressure.

Pre-Arrangement FAQ

Common Questions About Planning a Funeral in Advance

A Simple Place to Start

You Do Not Have to Decide Everything Today

Pre-arranging a funeral can feel uncomfortable at first.

That is normal.

You do not have to begin by choosing every detail.

Start with the questions that matter most:

• Burial or cremation?
• Who should know my wishes?
• What type of service feels right to me?
• What does my family need to know?
• What questions do I have about costs?

Once those questions are answered, the rest becomes much easier.



Our job is to help you understand your choices and document what matters.

Why Plan Ahead With Miller-Reesman?

A Local Funeral Home. Experienced Professionals. Personal Attention.



Miller-Reesman Funeral Home is family owned and has served Union Grove and surrounding Southeastern Wisconsin communities since 2007, including  – (Racine County, WI, Milwaukee County, WI.  Kenosha County, WI, Walworth County, WI and Waukesha County, WI)

Our staff includes licensed funeral directors and a dedicated pre-need specialist who can help you understand the planning process.

We believe planning ahead should be informative and comfortable.

You should have the opportunity to ask questions.

You should understand your options.

You should know what you are agreeing to.

And your family should know where to find your wishes when they need them.

It is our privilege to serve your family, not just our job.

Start Your Pre-Arrangements Today

Give Yourself and Your Family Peace of Mind



You do not have to wait for a crisis to begin planning.

Take the first step by talking with our pre-need specialist or funeral director.

We can help you understand your options, document your wishes, and determine what type of planning is appropriate for you and your family.