While your will is a good location for specific burial and funeral arrangements you may wish to be followed, you should also give a written copy of your instructions to someone who you will entrust with carrying them out. This can be in the form of a simple letter (or a Letter of Last Instructions) signed by you that gives clear instruction on who will carry out your wishes and what they are.

Do you want to be cremated or buried? Where do you want your ashes scattered or coffin interred? Do you want your organs to be donated? Open casket or closed? Where should the funeral be held? What information should be in your obituary? What kind of funeral service do you want?

You can set out answers to all of these questions in advance, in as much detail as you like, so that your loved ones will be aware of your wishes. You can also pay for funeral and burial expenses in advance, to relieve them of the burden of making potentially costly decisions at a difficult time. Be sure that someone you trust has this information so that it can be located quickly after your death.

Store these instructions along with your will at home in an accessible location, and make others aware of it. Provide a copy to the person you are asking to carry out your wishes. You also may want to store a copy in a safe-deposit box as a backup.