Indiana Statutory Funeral Planning Declaration
What is this form?
The Statutory Funeral Planning Declaration is a legal document that allows you to specify your preferences for funeral arrangements. This form is distinct because it enables you to appoint a designee to ensure your wishes are carried out after your passing, including the disposition of your body and arrangements for services. By using this form, you can clearly communicate your final desires, providing your loved ones guidance during a challenging time.
What’s included in this form
- Declaration stating your name and age, confirming you are of sound mind.
- Appointment of a designee responsible for carrying out your funeral instructions.
- Options for body disposition, including burial, cremation, and entombment.
- Details on funeral service arrangements, including specific instructions and preferences.
- Provisions for selecting grave memorials and other merchandise.
- Instructions for your designee regarding alternative arrangements if initial plans cannot be met.
When this form is needed
This form should be used when you want to ensure your funeral wishes are known and followed. You may need this declaration if you want to avoid confusion among family members about your preferences or if you want a specific person to make arrangements on your behalf. It is especially useful in circumstances where discussions about death are often avoided, allowing you to take control of your final arrangements proactively.
Intended users of this form
- Individuals who wish to specify their funeral preferences in advance.
- People wishing to designate someone to handle their funeral arrangements.
- Adults over the age of eighteen who are mentally competent and want peace of mind regarding their last wishes.
- Those who may have complex family dynamics and wish to clarify their wishes to prevent misunderstandings.
How to complete this form
- Identify yourself by filling in your name and the date of declaration.
- Appoint a primary designee by providing their name in the designated space.
- Choose how your body will be disposed of by marking your preference (burial, cremation, etc.).
- Specify any funeral service arrangements, including preferred providers and ceremonial details.
- Consider any additional requests or instructions you wish to include.
- Have the document signed by you and witnessed in accordance with state laws.
Is notarization required?
Notarization is not commonly needed for this form. However, certain documents or local rules may make it necessary. Our notarization service, powered by Notarize, allows you to finalize it securely online anytime, day or night.
Mistakes to watch out for
- Failing to appoint a designee, leaving your preferences unclear.
- Not providing specific details for the desired arrangements, which can lead to confusion.
- Forgetting to have the form witnessed by individuals not related to you.
- Neglecting to update the form to reflect changes in preferences or designees over time.
Benefits of using this form online
- Convenience of downloading and completing the form at your own pace.
- Editability allows you to make adjustments as your preferences change.
- Reliability of professionally drafted content that meets legal standards.
- Accessibility from anywhere, making it easy to take care of your end-of-life planning.
Form popularity
FAQ
Under California law, if you write down your funeral instructions before you die, these decisions take precedence. Your health care agent, as named in an advance directive. Your spouse. Your adult child.
Your spouse or registered domestic partner. your adult child, or a majority of your children if you have more than one. your parents. your siblings.
In these cases, the degree of incapacity will have to be determined, usually by the doctor overseeing care for the next of kin. In some states, the next of kin who will be making arrangements will need to fill out a form asserting that they have the legal right to control the disposition of remains.
Cremated remains may only be kept in the dwelling place owned or occupied by the 7100 right holder(s). Contrary to the opinion of some, this privilege can not, in my view, be delegated to other family members.
Are funeral wishes in a will legally binding? In short, no. Under current law, funeral wishes in a will are not legally binding. The executors appointed in a will have ownership of the body and are technically considered the decision-makers with regards to funeral arrangements.
Contact the deceased's legal representative. Select a funeral home. Choose a form of disposition. Choose a service type. Choose a location for the funeral service. Find and schedule a clergy member or officiant. Select a casket. Select a burial container and/or vault.
Most funerals are arranged by the nearest relatives and if not by a close friend. If there is no one, the local or health authority will arrange a simple funeral. The person may have left instructions about the type of funeral and burial they wanted.
Generally, a person's parents, spouse or children have the authority to make funeral and burial arrangements for that person. However, since these people do not exist in your case, you should consider naming an agent to make these arrangements for you.
Most funerals are arranged by the nearest relatives and if not by a close friend. If there is no one, the local or health authority will arrange a simple funeral. The person may have left instructions about the type of funeral and burial they wanted.
