Talking about what we would like to happen after we die is often a very difficult conversation to have with our families and loved ones. Even if we have strongly held beliefs about what we would like to happen to our body once we are gone, it is often too easy to avoid expressing those wishes to those we will leave behind to avoid upsetting them.
There are a wide range of funeral services available to consider in the UK, including:
- Burial
- Cremation
- Woodland Burial
- Resomation or Water Cremation
To help your loved ones plan for your funeral after death and avoid doubt as to your preferences, it is a sensible step to communicate your wishes in some manner.
It is possible to include funeral wishes in your Will, giving an indication to your executors as to how you would like your body to be disposed of after you have died. This may include the method that you wish to have your body disposed of by (e.g. cremation or burial), whether you wish for a religious or non-religious ceremony or whether you have any wishes for particular music to be played at your funeral, amongst other considerations.
These wishes are not legally binding, as in a strict sense it is your executors that retain the legal responsibility for deciding on your funeral arrangements, however giving some direction to your executors may assist them with planning your funeral in a way that meets with your preferences.
On a practical note, if you are including funeral wishes in your Will, you may also wish to communicate them to someone close to you, as in practice the funeral may often take place before the Will can be located.
Planning your estate can be a complex undertaking. You should always consider obtaining professional advice in relation to your estate.
If you would like any further information in relation to estate planning, Wills or estate administration, please do not hesitate to contact our Trusts and Estates team on 01244 354800 or email: Heather.Lally@dtmlegal.com or Stephen.Mackellar@dtmlegal.com
This article is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide specific legal advice. It should not be relied upon in the absence of specific advice given in relation to particular circumstances.
