Oct 4, 2026 · by: Danielle Leigh Vaughn, Board Certified Real Estate Attorney
Planning your own funeral can feel uncomfortable at first. Yet it is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can leave for the people you love.
When your wishes are written down, your family does not have to guess what you would have wanted. They avoid difficult decisions made under grief and time pressure, and they can focus on honoring your life instead.
The following ten steps will help you create a meaningful, organized plan, and make sure it actually reaches the people who will carry it out.
- Choose Between Burial and Cremation
Start with the decision that shapes everything else. Consider your values, faith traditions, and family customs. Once you know your preference, the remaining choices fall into place. - Select a Funeral Home
Research funeral homes in advance and note your preferred provider. Many offer pre-arranged service packages, which can lock in today’s pricing and confirm exactly what will be provided. In Florida, preneed funeral and cemetery contracts are regulated by the state, so ask any provider to explain its licensing, what the contract covers, and your cancellation rights before you sign. - Decide on the Type of Service
Do you prefer a traditional funeral, a memorial service, or a celebration of life? Describe the tone and setting you envision, whether that is a church, a funeral chapel, or a gathering on the beach. - Choose Your Final Resting Place
A cemetery plot, a cremation niche, a scattering location, or an eco-friendly green burial site are all options. Make the arrangements now so your family is not searching for available space later. - Outline the Service Details
Note the music, readings, and speakers you would like. Include any cultural, religious, or personal elements that matter to you, down to the flowers or the photos on display. - Write Your Obituary
Consider drafting your own obituary, or at least list the details you want included: key dates, accomplishments, family members, and the causes you care about. This spares your family a difficult writing task on a tight deadline. - Designate Who Should Be Notified
List the people and organizations who should be informed of your passing, along with their contact information. Include friends, colleagues, clubs, places of worship, and professional advisors, and note how you would like each contacted. - Prepare a Budget
Funeral costs add up quickly. Set aside funds or explore prepayment options so your family does not carry an unexpected financial burden. A payable-on-death account or a prepaid funeral contract can make money available right when it is needed. - Store Your Instructions Securely
Keep your plan in a clearly marked file in a place your loved ones can reach quickly. Tell your family and your attorney where it is. A plan no one can find in the first few days is a plan that cannot be followed. - Include Your Funeral Wishes in Your Estate Plan
Work with your estate planning attorney to coordinate your funeral preferences with your official documents, so your wishes carry legal weight and fit within your broader plan.
A Florida Tip: Don’t Leave Funeral Wishes Only in Your Will
Many people put their funeral wishes in their will and stop there. The problem is timing: a will is often not located or reviewed until after the funeral has already taken place.
Florida law also sets out who has the authority to make decisions about your remains. Under section 497.005, Florida Statutes, your own written directions come first. Without them, the decision generally falls to your surviving spouse, then your adult children, then your parents, and so on down the family line. If family members disagree, that order can leave the final say with someone you would not have chosen.
A clear, signed written statement of your wishes, kept with your estate planning documents and shared with your family, helps make sure your choices are the ones that are followed. At Vaughn Law we always provide a separate document for you to fill out with all of your funeral wishes, so your family can ensure they are followed.
In Summary
Preplanning your funeral is an act of love and consideration for your family. It gives them the comfort of knowing your wishes are clear and the decisions are already made.
From setting a budget and choosing a resting place to writing your obituary, each step helps ensure your final arrangements are handled with dignity and care. By planning now, you give your loved ones the gift of peace of mind during one of the most emotional times they will face.
At Vaughn Law, we are committed to educating you and helping you protect what you have for the people you love most. Contact our St. Pete Beach office at (727) 223-6080 to learn how we can help you put your wishes into a complete estate plan.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.