Estate , Pre-Planning , and Sympathy Guide
Friday , Feb . 23 , 2018
Estate , Pre-Planning , and Sympathy Guide
Coping with death , and looking forward
No doubt – when someone close to us dies , it hurts . A lot .
Much of it has to do with that realization that things have changed , a feeling of “ we ’ ll never see them again .”
Though true in earthly terms , there ’ s more to it than that . Believers can expect to meet each other again in Heaven .
Jesus ’ resurrection means that death is defeated .
Lee Strobel ’ s “ The Case for Christ ” and Hank Hanegraaff ’ s “ Afterlife ” go into great detail about how the crucifixion and resurrection have been proven as historically true events .
That is important because it verifies them as facts , not just wishful thinking . The resurrection shows Christ ’ s power over death .
Knowing that , we turn to God ’ s own words from the Bible for what we can expect :
1 Thessalonians 4:13 ( ESV )
But we do not want you to be uninformed , brothers , about those who are asleep , that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope .
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ( ESV )
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command , with the voice of an archangel , and with the sound of the trumpet of God . And the dead in Christ will rise first . Then we who are alive , who are left , will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air , and so we will always be with the Lord . Therefore encourage one another with these words .
2 Corinthians 5:1-4 ( NLT )
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down ( that is , when we die and leave this earthly body ), we will have a house in heaven , an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands . We grow weary in our present bodies , and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing . For we will put on heavenly bodies ; we will not be spirits without bodies . While we live in these earthly bodies , we groan and sigh , but it ’ s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us . Rather , we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life .
John 11:25-26 ( ESV )
Jesus said to her , “ I am the resurrection and the life . Whoever believes in me , though he die , yet shall he live , and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die . Do you believe this ?”
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 ( NLT )
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret . We will not all die , but we will all be transformed ! It will happen in a moment , in the blink of an eye , when the last trumpet is blown . For when the trumpet sounds , those who have died will be raised to live forever . And we who are living will also be transformed . For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die ; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies . Then , when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die , this Scripture will be fulfilled : “ Death is swallowed up in victory . O death , where is your victory ? O death , where is your sting ? ”
People sometimes say life is short . But depending on the circumstances , we may remain decades after a loved one has passed – what seems like a very long time – but again , in earthly terms .
At some point , we will receive our new heavenly bodies – free from every kind of pain – and begin eternity in the new heaven and new earth . And how long is that ? The final verse of Amazing Grace reminds “ when we ’ ve been there 10,000 years . . . we ’ ve no less days . . . than when we ’ d first begun .”
What consumers should know about planning a funeral
The Minnesota Attorney General ’ s office provided the following information about planning a funeral .
How should I plan my funeral ?
Under Minnesota law , you may include directions regarding your funeral and burial in your will or in a special document you sign for that purpose . You may appoint a person who has authority to make arrangements after your death .
Some things to keep in mind when planning a funeral :
• Your budget and true desires should guide your choice of arrangements . You generally have the option of choosing cremation , burial in a cemetery plot , or burial in a mausoleum ; and
• You may wish to involve
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several members of your family , close friends , and / or clergy members when you make funeral arrangements .
Minnesota law and the Federal Funeral Rule give you tools to control the cost of funerals . When you request funeral information , these laws require funeral directors to provide detailed , pre-purchase price information , including a “ general price list ” of all services offered that lists an effective date . Following the funeral arrangement , a detailed itemization , called
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the “ statement of funeral goods and services selected ,” must be prepared .
There are many laws in place that protect consumers from deceptive practices by the funeral industry . For example , a funeral provider cannot require that you purchase a casket for cremation .
A funeral provider cannot condition the purchase of one funeral service upon the purchase of another funeral good or service .
Further , it is against the law for funeral providers to charge a fee for handling , placing , or setting a funeral good based upon the fact that the good was not purchased from that funeral provider .
How should I pay for my funeral ?
You can make your own funeral arrangements before you die . You may set aside funds to pay for your funeral . One way to do this is to invest the needed amount of money or put it in a bank account , making sure it will be accessible to family members upon your death .
A second option is to prepay for funeral goods and services .
What safeguards exist for consumers who pay for their funerals in advance ?
To help safeguard prepaid funds , Minnesota law requires a funeral director or cemetery operator to place all prepaid funds in a trust account in a bank or other financial institution until the need for your funeral arises and to advise you of the financial institution ’ s name and the trust account number .
They must also annually report to you the amount of funds in your account . Minnesota law allows you to make arrangements so that you can receive a full refund of all prepaid funds at any time before services are provided .
There are also safeguards in the law to ensure that funds are available for the long-term upkeep of cemeteries and mausoleums .
Certain cemetery operators must place in trust 20 percent of funds received from the sale of cemetery lots and 10 percent of funds from the sale of mausoleum space . These “ permanent care and improvement ” trust accounts are to ensure the future care and maintenance of cemetery grounds and buildings .
Finally , the law requires annual reporting and record keeping for both “ pre-need ” and the “ permanent care and improvement ” trust funds :
• Licensed funeral directors must file an annual report disclosing the status of the preneed trust fund with the State Commissioner of Health ;
• Cemetery operators must file an annual report disclosing the status of the permanent care and improvement trust fund with their County Auditor ; and
• The Minnesota Department of Health , Mortuary Science Section offers information and takes complaints on funeral goods and services . They can be reached at ( 651 ) 201-3829 .
ANNANDALE MONUMENT AND COUNTERTOPS ( 612 ) 293-4176 ; 205 Myrtle Dr S , Annandale , MN 55302 ; granitemn . com
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COKATO CHARITABLE TRUST ( 320 ) 286-2158 ; 182 Sunset Ave . NW , Cokato , MN 55321 ; cokatoseniorcare . com
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This ESTATE , PRE-PLANNING , & SYMPATHY GUIDE edition is brought to you by the following busnesses :
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SWANSON- PETERSON FUNERAL HOME COKATO ( 320 ) 286-2534 ; 655 Broadway Ave . S , PO Box 280 , Cokato , MN 55321 ; swansonpeterson . com HOWARD LAKE ( 320 ) 543-3401 ; 1224 6th St ., PO Box 679 , Howard Lake , MN 55349 ; swansonpeterson . com
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