What happens after a person’s remains are cremated? According to a recent AP story the answer is often – nothing at all.
Cremation has risen in popularity as a means for families to deal with a loved one’s mortal remains. There’s no real surprise there, considering concerns of cost, space, etc.
What is surprising is that many of those families wind up leaving their loved one’s cremated remains with the funeral parlors or crematories indefinitely.
Apart from a sort of morbid interest, of what value is this information? Well, it brings to light the importance of making clear your intentions for all parts of your estate (including your Earthly remains). Does your family know what your wishes/instructions are for your funeral, memorial, burial/cremation, and ultimate laying to rest?
The right estate plan, drafted by the right estate planning attorney, should give you the chance to make those wishes clear. Give careful thought to how you’d like things to go. Make sure you take the opportunity to put those wishes down on paper in a way, and a place, where the right people will be sure to discover and understand them.
