Pre-Planning

Why Pre-Plan?
There are many reasons to pre-plan your funeral, no matter your age, health, or financial condition. Pre-planning ensures that what is most important to you is clearly stipulated and will guide your family during what is often an emotionally difficult time. In addition, pre-planning helps to avoid making decisions in a rushed or crisis-like situation.

Even if you do not choose to prefund your funeral at this time, you can indicate your preferences and we will keep them on file.


HOW TO GET STARTED TODAY

In Person
We would be honored to visit with you. Please call us to make arrangements with one of our caring directors.

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service: 319-338-8171
Lensing's Oak Hill: 319-351-9362


Online
The online pre-planning form was designed to allow us to gather basic information about you and your desired funeral service. If you would like to plan your service in its entirety, please use the links below to begin our pre-plan.

CLICK HERE to start now!

To continue or edit a previously started form CLICK HERE.

Benefits of Funeral Pre-Planning
By Ken Holmes

People generally agree that pre-planning funerals makes good sense. More and more people are planning their funeral in advance to relieve their families of much of the decision making and financial burden. Last year more than a million Americans planned their own or a relative's funeral. This number is increasing yearly while the average age of planners is getting younger. People of all ages are discovering the benefits of preplanning:

• It saves your family from having to make a great number of decisions at an emotionally difficult time. It is easier to deal with the issue of death and make arrangements without the grief and uncertainty at the time of a loss.
  
  
• It allows you to clarify your wishes. Your family won't have to guess or wonder later if they did the right thing. According to grief counselors, families take comfort in knowing that the funeral reflects their loved one's wishes.
  
  
• It gives you a chance to personalize your funeral so it reflects your life and values. This makes the service more meaningful for your family and friends.
  
  
• It allows you time to review your plan with family members and consider their thoughts and feelings. Potential family disagreements at the time of the funeral can be avoided.
  
  
• It can eliminate concerns about emotional overspending. Financial decisions made ahead can be based on practical considerations and limits that you establish. By planning an affordable funeral, you have control of the cost.
  
  
• It can include pre-funding, which relieves your family of the financial burden of a sudden expense at a time of uncertain finances. It also preserves your life insurance and estate for your survivors.
  
  
• It saves money. By pre-funding you pay the least amount for the funeral you want. Prepaying at today's lower costs guarantees that future costs are covered regardless of future price increases. A variety of affordable payment plans are available and most provide tax-free growth.
  
  
• It can protect your funds from potential depletion by nursing home expenses. State laws vary, however, in most states the funds placed in an irrevocable funeral prearrangement cannot be touched and are classified as an exempt asset when applying for Title 19 or other entitlements.
  
  
• It provides you the flexibility to make changes as needed, and transferability if you move or choose a different funeral home.
  
  
• It gives you peace of mind knowing that you have taken care of everything. It is a relief to know that your family will not be burdened at a time of great emotional stress.

Funeral pre-planning is so important that you don't want to put it off. Your funeral director or funeral pre-planning professional is available to meet with you at your convenience to help you create a plan that will satisfy your wishes and meet your family's needs. Pre-planning your funeral is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can leave your family and it only takes a little of your time.

Ken Holmes is a Certified Preplanning Consultant for Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City, Iowa. In the past seventeen years he has helped more than 5,000 people plan their own or a relative's funeral.