Under Michigan law, what the next of kin wants to do with your body overrides any instructions you have left in your will, health directive, discussions, letters, or preplanned or prepaid funeral arrangements.
I would advise against spending money on burial plots or preplanned funerals in Michigan. Ironically, it was the funeral director's association that lobbied for this bizarre law. Yet another example of unintentional results from a law?
The distress of elderly clients who realize that they cannot control the disposition of their own body is horrific. The arguments between adult children about cremation and burial are common. What a dreadful thing our legislators have done.
Elizabeth Swan
of MI
@
Feb 25, 2009 19:53:35 PM
Prearranged Funerals Are A Good Idea
In the same way, adult children will often disagree over funeral arrangements. Making your own prearranged & prefunded funeral plans is a good way to keep some measure of control over what will be selected and what amount of money will be spent on your own funeral arrangements. The tone of your original article was very negative toward this concept, yet here you are basicall advocating it to avoid strife among family members and financial stress at the time of your death. A handful of bad funeral homes found in the US should not lead US NEWS to give misguided information about the beneficial services offered by the thousands of ethical funeral directors across the country.
Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.
Elizabeth Swan of MI @ Feb 25, 2009 19:53:35 PM
Bill Summers of IA @ Feb 19, 2008 07:12:30 AM
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