Should I make funeral wishes?
We encourage everyone to, in the very least, complete a funeral wishes form. This is a document which allows anyone to make a written record of personal requests, which can be used to plan a funeral when the time comes.
These funeral wishes documents, also called a memorandum of wish, are not legally binding however, they can be a useful way to express yourself in a less formal way than in a will. Alongside a Will, these wishes place a strong moral obligation for everyone involved to follow the guidance you’ve put together.
What is included in a memorandum of wish or funeral wishes document?
Within your wishes, you should lay out all of your basic information such as name, address, date of birth and contact details.
If you have a Will, you should reference where this is kept whether this is with a friend, neighbour, relative or a solicitor. Include a chosen next of kin, who can be anyone and is not limited to family. You can also put additional contacts in addition to your next of kin, in case there is any reason why that person is not contactable.
Your next of kin does not have to be the person arranging the funeral, so if these two contacts are different, be sure to differentiate clearly in your funeral wishes. You should ensure you have up to date contact details for your next of kin and the person arranging the funeral, to ensure that they can be contacted when needed.
Funeral wishes
Within your funeral wishes, you can include as much or little information as you wish. There are a number of considerations when creating your funeral wishes:
– Do you have a religious denomination?
– Would you like flowers, death notices or donations to a charity?
– Do you have any jewellery or personal effects to be left on or returned to a friend or family member?
– Would you like to have anything placed in your coffin with you – for example, letters or cards, photographs, snippets of pet hair or meaningful items
– Do you want to be laid to rest in your own clothes, or a gown? If it’s your own clothes, do you have a particular outfit you would prefer?
– Do you want a burial or cremation?
– Do you have a location in mind?
– Would you like a small or large service or a direct committal or cremation?
Other items in your wishes
Within your wishes, you can include other elements to help clarify how you would like other elements of your life to be managed. This can include:
– Gifts
– Explanations
– Trusts
– Children
– Pets
Where should I store my wishes?
You can make copies of your wishes to be kept with a trusted friend or family member. You may also be able to store a copy of your wishes with a chosen funeral director who can keep them on file as a backup.
Other considerations
Your letter of wishes are not legally binding, however, they are often used in addition to a Will. We will always recommend consulting with a solicitor when considering a Will. There are many cost friendly options, including solicitors who will ask for a charitable donation in lieu of payment, which can be as low as £30.
To download a funeral wishes template click here or if you would like to speak to a member of our team, call: 0800 007 6842
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