Funeral Planning

Funeral planning means making decisions ahead of time about what you want to happen when you pass away. Planning ahead can reduce stress for your family, prevent disagreements, and make sure your wishes are followed.

• Funeral Planning Declaration. Is a legal document where you write down your funeral and burial or cremation wishes. You can also name the person who will carry out your instructions. It must be followed by family and funeral providers. It overrides family disagreements. It does not provide money to pay for those arrangements.
• Prepaid Funeral or Cemetery Contract. Is a contract with a funeral home or cemetery where you pre‑select and pre‑pay for services or merchandise. It does not give instructions about your wishes. 
• Burial insurance. Is a small life‑insurance policy (usually $5,000–$25,000) that you have to cover funeral costs.  It is not tied to any funeral home; your family can choose any funeral home.   It does not give instructions about your wishes. 
• Informal wishes.  Can be notes left at home, conversations with family or instructions that you put in your will.  These are helpful but not legally enforceable.

The funeral planning options in Kentucky work best when you use them together. A Funeral Planning Declaration tells people exactly what you want after you die, but it does not pay for anything. A prepaid funeral contract helps because you can pay for some or all of your funeral ahead of time, but it does not give instructions. Burial insurance gives your family extra money to cover any costs that are not already paid for. Informal wishes—like talking with your family—help them understand your personal preferences. When you use more than one of these, your plan is clear, paid for, and much easier for your family to follow during a hard time.

Yes.  The Office of the Kentucky Attorney General has created a form that meets the requirements for a valid Funeral Planning Declaration in Kentucky. 

You can find the link here.

As with any legal document, it is best to talk with an attorney before filling out this form.