Planning Ahead

Why Should I Plan Ahead?

Not everyone likes to plan ahead, but pre-planning your funeral arrangements not only gives you peace of mind about your final wishes being honored, but alleviates some of the stress and burden your loved ones are going through as they experience the grief associated with the loss.

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The staff of Solosy Funeral Home is happy to assist you with your funeral pre-needs by helping you make decisions about your funeral service in advance and guide you in helping eliminate some of the unnecessary stress brought on by a loved one’s death.

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Benefits of Preplanning

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Let Your Wishes Be Known

The death of a loved one often brings about unwarranted stress and turmoil among families. One family member wants one thing, while another family member wants something different. By planning ahead, you help prevent those disagreements by letting your family know what your wishes are and how you want your funeral service to be carried out and your business handled.

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Offers Peace of Mind

Our staff guarantees we will carry out the arrangements you want, just as you directed. Once the plans have been arranged, you and your family can rest easy knowing at the time of death, those uncomfortable decisions have been made. In a time when a family should be able to easily grieve, preplanning allows for that to happen.

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Flexible Funding Options

When you preplan your funeral arrangements, there are more options when it comes to funding the funeral. A preneed insurance policy, life insurance policy or other payment options can all be arranged before the time of death. At the time of death, services must be paid in full, so having options ahead of time can also reduce other stress related to losing someone.

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Relieves the Burden From Family

Following the death of a loved one, there are more than 150 decisions that have to be made within the first day or two following the death. Those stressful decisions on top of the stress of grieving a loss can be eliminated by arranging your final wishes ahead of time. If those decisions are made, your loved ones aren’t left wondering what you would have wanted and how they should proceed with funeral plans. With those decisions out of the way, your loved one can begin the healing process sooner.

Common Questions About Preplanning

  • How does a preplan work?

    A prepaid funeral plan is guaranteed because it allows individuals to lock in today’s prices for future services, protecting them and their families from rising costs over time. In Michigan, the funds for a prepaid funeral are safely placed in an escrow or trust account, where they remain until the services are needed. This ensures that the money is secure and used only for the intended arrangements. By planning and paying in advance, all chosen services are guaranteed at the agreed-upon rate—no matter how much prices increase in the future. This not only provides financial protection but also gives families peace of mind knowing that everything is handled according to their loved one’s wishes.

  • What steps are involved in prearranging a funeral?

    The first step would be to write down your wishes. Indicate if you would prefer burial or cremation. Write down your ideas for the service you would like, cemetery choice, etc. If you've made those choices, or even if you're unsure, schedule a time to meet with one of our funeral directors who can explain the different service options, merchandise choices, as well as the different ways to pay for the funeral.

  • What information do I need to prearrange a funeral?

    You'll need basic information about yourself or the person you are planning for, such as date of birth, marital status, parent's full names, etc. Besides the biological information, you'll need to choose burial or cremation, what type of service you'd like, what cemetery to use, etc. Our caring staff will help you with this process.

  • Do I have to pay in advance?

    Preplanning is merely making your wishes known; however, most families who do this also choose to pre-fund their funeral. Doing so will relieve the financial burden on your family and offer peace of mind to you.

  • Can I transfer my plans to or from another funeral home?

    If you have plans at another funeral home and would like to move them here, we will help you do that. If you move from the area and would like to transfer your arrangements to another funeral home, we will assist you with that as well.

  • Will my loved ones ever have to pay more money?

    The only time your loved ones would incur additional costs is if they choose to add services or products beyond the original prearranged plan. For example, if floral arrangements were not included in the prepaid funeral selections, your family may decide to purchase flowers at the time of need, and those additional expenses would be paid separately.

  • What is a revocable vs. irrevocable plan?

    REVOCABLE

    Flexibility: You can change the funeral home, services, or merchandise at any time without penalty.

    Cancellation: You can cancel the contract and get the principal and interest back upon demand.

    Ownership: You retain control over the money, though the funeral home may keep a small cancellation fee.

    Best for: Those who want to plan for their funeral but keep their assets accessible and the flexibility to change their mind later. 


    IRREVOCABLE

    Flexibility: The contract is permanent and the funds are not refundable.

    Cancellation: You cannot cancel the plan to get your money back.

    Ownership: By making the funds non-refundable, the money is considered an exempt asset and is not counted for Medicaid or SSI eligibility purposes.

    Best for: Individuals who need to spend down assets to qualify for government assistance programs like Medicaid.