Specifying your funeral wishes in your will
Often people include a paragraph in their will specifying how they would like their funeral to be conducted.
Any funeral wishes specified are not legally binding as ultimately it is for your executors or administrators (where there are no executors) to decide upon how your body is disposed of and your funeral conducted. However, where a person’s wishes have been made clear they will normally be adhered to.
Why should I specify my funeral wishes in my will?
By specifying your wishes in your will you will probably get the sort of funeral that you would wish to have. Also by specifying your wishes it means that your loved ones will not have to face making difficult decisions at a difficult time.
What should I specify?
Most people may have a preference to being buried or cremated and if that is the case you should specify your preference in your will.
If you have very specific and detailed wishes it may be more appropriate to set out those wishes in a separate document, for example in a letter. Matters you may wish to specify may include the following:
Where you would like to be buried;
Where you would like your ashes to be buried or scattered;
Who would you like to attend your funeral;
Whether you would like any readings or music at your funeral;
How much money you would like to be spent on your funeral;
Organ donation;
Where you would like your body to remain between your death and the funeral;
Whether you would like to be embalmed;
Who you would like to be responsible for arranging your funeral;
Your choice of undertaker;
What sort of coffin you would like;
Whether you would like flowers or donations to be made at your funeral;
Whether you would like your funeral to be treated as a celebration of your life or a more sombre affair to mark your passing.