Buying a monument can be challenging. But it must be done. You may be wondering why you should buy a monument. Or maybe if you should purchase one from a monument builder or someone else. You might even be considering what type of headstone marker that you should get. If you want to know why you should buy a monument as soon as possible, read on. We will tell you exactly why, here.
Save Money and Time Later
When you purchase your own headstone marker now (or any kind of monument) you can save lots of money, later. Prices for headstones will no doubt raise in the coming years. By paying for one in today’s dollars, you can save yourself quite a bit when you need to pay for your funeral. You can also save your loved ones grief and some very hard decisions after your passing. Give them the time to grieve that they need, instead of expecting them to meet with a monument builder and take care of your final arrangements.
Things to Consider
Before you talk with a monument builder or head to a monument showroom, there are some things you want to consider. Here is a short list:
The rules and regulations of the cemetery where you plan to purchase your grave plot;
Your overall budget for the marker;
What sort of marker you would like;
What material you would like for it to be in;
Your inscription or inscriptions;
Will anyone else be buried with you? If so, who? Think of this when choosing the marker and inscription;
Do you want input on your family about what sort of headstone marker or marker you choose?
Who to Buy From?
There are quite a few options when it comes to who to purchase a tombstone from. This includes the funeral home, the cemetery itself, a local monument builder, or a showroom in your local area. You should know that it is your right to purchase from whoever you would like. No cemetery or funeral home can tell you that you or your family must buy from them. We recommend that you choose somewhere that specializes in monuments and monuments, only. And try to purchase a headstone from someone who is very close to you, geographically.
What to Ask the Cemetery
Here are some questions you should ask the cemetery before buying a plot there, or settling upon what sort of headstone marker or marker to purchase:
Do you allow monuments? If so, are there any restrictions?
Is there a certain section where monuments are or are not allowed?
Are there any size restrictions? What about height restrictions?
Does it cost extra to place a monument on the grave?
How large of a plot must be purchased before you can install a monument?
Where can I buy my monument from? (If they say only them, then you probably need to find a new cemetery.)
Talking to the Monument Retailer
Talking to a monument builder or showroom owner can also be tricky. Here are some things you can ask yourself (and them) before purchasing a headstone marker from them:
Is this business local? (They should be.)
Do they only sell monuments? (This should be yes, too.)
Are they willing to work with you to make your vision come true?
Will they work with you well before you actually need a monument for any reason?
If you are being cremated and not buried, do they still offer monuments that you can use are your grave site?
Choosing Your Legacy Now
One of the most popular reason for contacting a monument builder in advance about your marker or headstone marker is because you can decide your legacy, now. Think about what you want for your relatives to think about you for years to come. Then, use that as a way to guide your purchase. You might even want to consult with your relatives or significant other, now, so that you can be sure that you all agree on your monument choice. Remember that you will only have to buy a monument once, and it will be around generations to come.
No Question about Your Final Wishes
Not only does purchasing your headstone marker now allow you to choose your legacy, but it also leaves no question about your final wishes. Choose the marker that you love the best. Or the one that you can afford. In this way, there will be no question about what you wanted to mark your grave. Even if you are not sure about what the options are, contact a local monument builder. They can help you to design a final monument that is fitting for your grave. They can also help you to make your marker completely your own and totally unique to you.
Lately, I’ve received many notes from clients with regards to their wills and trust, and how they can arrange the assets they own to gain advantage of various protections.
In response, I have drafted this memo in order to clear up their concerns.
The first bit of advice is that if you have a trust, it could be more beneficial to avoid transferring assets to the trust while you’re still alive. Instead, if you’re currently married, you should own all of your assets as JTBE or Joint Tenants by Entirety.
If you do not have this arrangement currently, and the joint accounts you do have are entitled as “husband and wife” or “joint with right of survivorship”, or indeed, any other classification that is not JTBE, you should close these accounts and open an account in both your names as a JTBE account.
The reason for this is that in the event that one spouse is involved in a lawsuit, the joint assets stored in the JTBE account will be protected.
However, if one of the spouses should die, or if they divorce, then the protection of the assets provided by JTBE discontinues.
When you first set up a JTBE account, it is well worth enquiring with the financial institution you are doing business with, if you can name a beneficiary of the account should you both die. The beneficiaries of that account could either be an individual or your trust.
One word of caution
The one thing that should not be in joint ownership is an automobile, because if only one of you is involved in an accident, all of the assets that you own jointly could be at risk, and that includes JTBE assets.
In addition to which, you should also check your automobile insurance provision, as a lot of people are often under insured, so you should opt for an excess liability policy of at least $1 million. These excess liability policies are also called Umbrella policies.
Being able to protect your assets is vital, and you need to take all necessary steps in order to achieve this prior to being involved in any lawsuits, or before your financial situation becomes difficult.
As well as this, many assets come with their own forms of protection, such as the cash value life insurance policy and annuities that are fixed on your home. Pensions can also offer a certain level of protection against general and unsecured liabilities.
The world of understanding assets may be overwhelming to some, as the process deals with many legal guidelines and many papers that require filing.
Most of the time, we sign papers or converse with professionals that we believe are doing their job correctly, but sometimes we are left unsure.
If you feel this way, don’t worry you are not alone, as many feel the same way.
However, building a trust through a grantor can be one of the best decisions you make in your life. If you understand how a trust works, and how to create a fitting system, you have the ability to save a lot of money!
What Is A Trust?
A trust is a legal arrangement, in which a amount of property or assets is held by one party, in terms of benefiting one or several people belonging to a different party.
Usually, a trust is split up into four different categories.
The first category is the grantor, sometimes called settlor, who deals with the creation of the trust.
This then creates a trustee, or the person who will hold the assets, most of the time it is a bank, or a named entity. Sometimes, a grantor and a trustee may remain as the same person, having the person who creates the trust as the handler of the trust also.
The principal is the third category, and this deals with the certain property or assets that is being handled. This can be money, or property, or a combination of both.
Finally, the beneficiary wraps up the trust categories, marking the party who will receive the assets or property, this last category usually deals with the case in which the original owner dies, and the trust isn’t put into the will.
How Do Trusts Work?
There are four different types of trusts:
Named Living
Testamentary
Revocable
Irrevocable
These trusts are similar, but some details separate them.
Many people choose trust creations because of the potential benefits of saving money.
Trusts usually help save on estate taxes, can help control your assets in case of your demise, like decline in health or mental capability, and can help avoid a probate.
Probate is the process in which a will is verified, a process that can sometimes turn ugly and may require a lengthy period of time to validate.
It is known death is a part of life, but sometimes a persons death will affect someone in terms of financial reasons, not emotional.
Too often wills are either left un-made, or are sloppily drafted, in which confusion is then enacted across the parties.
Knowing what a will is, and what’s available in terms of property to be included in a will, will make the process easier, and will guarantee the right people are getting your estate property and other items you own.
What Is A Will?
A will is a written document that validates what events will occur after you die.
If a will isn’t created, the court will appoint who they see fit, however this isn’t always the best decision.
A will is usually split into three categories, listing beneficiaries, or who will receive property from you after you die, executors who will oversee the estate, and will put the will through probate, or validating a will in the process of court.
After these two categories is dealing with children who are under 18, who may still require a guardian, in this chunk you will decide who would make the best guardian the case that you don’t live past them turning 18.
What Property Can Be Placed In A Will?
Before you think about dealing with what property goes where, you should take an in depth inventory of your assets.
This will help in deciding which beneficiary gets more or what not, and it will also help you in knowing what you got to work with.
In terms of property available in a will creation, real property, cash property, intangible personal property, and unproductive property are all available in place for a will.
Real property deals with physical estate, like houses, land, and buildings. Cash property applies to money, whether it be available in safes, checking accounts, or other bank accounts. Intangible deals with bonds and stocks that are tied with business ownership.
Unproductive property is property that is usually sentimental, property that cannot be reproduced.
This is family heirlooms and jewelry that has been passed down through each generation. This also deals with valuable objects like cars and other investments that are owned solely by one party.
Property Not Allowed
Not all property is allowed, as housing jointly owned, by two parties, cannot be included in a will.
This works in terms of marriage or split leases, where there are two identified people owning an estate.
Trusts also cannot be included in a will, as they highlight a specific beneficiary already.
Palliative Care is a new method in dealing with illness.
Hopefully, you will never have to experience it, but more than likely at one point, or another you will have a family member face a serious illness.
Whether this be cancer, aids, or any other life threatening condition, you may feel hopeless in the battle against these horrific acts that are affecting your friends and family.
If you find yourself helpless while your close ones experience the extremities of these diseases, with horrific pain bouts and extreme weight losses, you may find solace in the Palliative Care option.
Through this option, you can find relief knowing that the remaining moments of your family or friends life is being lived with little pain and worry.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is a very unique treatment option for patients, as it works almost completely distinctively in accordance to other treatment solutions like hospices.
True, both Palliative care and hospices work towards relieving the pains and symptoms of those who are struck with illness, but unlike hospices, Palliative Care chooses more to work with the patient at any time, in accordance with any condition.
Whether the problem is treatable or terminal, Palliative care is offered to reduce the pains typically felt through several conditions, making the patient more relaxed and less stressful over their condition.
Where hospices may work exclusively as a pain and symptom reliever, Palliative Care works with other treatment options, making it a very strong force against any illness.
Benefits And How To Get Access
Palliative Care has many potential benefits for its users, one of its highlights in positive reviews is the ability for this care system to be available in a wide range of hospitals and emergency rooms, with most hospital beds being infused with this care system.
If you are faced with a tragedy like learning a family member is ill, and need a care system that will work to treat the illness, while making the patient as comfortable as possible, you should really think about picking Palliative Care, as it is growing more popular with each passing year.
The care system is actually relatively cheap in accordance to other treatment options that may require weekly, or even daily trips to the emergency room, as it cuts these expenses out.
Truly the best method in finding out if you, or a friend/family member qualifies for the care system, and if the hospital offers it, is by asking your primary doctor about Palliative Care.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.