Pre-Need Planning
Pre-Need Planning: Peace of Mind for Tomorrow
Planning a funeral in advance – known as pre-need planning – is one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones. It means that important decisions about arrangements and funding are settled before the time of need, so your family won’t have to make those choices while grieving. Christy Ann Saracino specializes in guiding New Jersey families through this thoughtful process. With her help, you can design a meaningful farewell on your own terms and gain peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of.
Pre Plan
Why Pre-Plan?
Pre-planning is a final act of love that relieves your family of future burden and guesswork.
Remove Burden
Spares loved ones from stressful decisions and guessing your wishes while they are grieving. They can focus on supporting each other.
Financial Protection
Lock in today's prices to protect your family from rising costs. Your prepaid funds are safeguarded by New Jersey law.
Honor Your Wishes
Ensures your final wishes from service type to music and personal touches are honored exactly as you intend. You stay in control.
Peace of Mind
Brings a sense of relief knowing you've eliminated future guilt and heartache. A loving act that comforts your family for years.
How It Works
Pre-need planning with Christy Ann begins with a relaxed, personalized conversation. She ensures the entire process is handled with clarity and care.
The Personalized Planning Conference
You will meet with Christy Ann, a licensed funeral director, to discuss your final wishes. This takes place at a location convenient for you.
- Flexible Location: Your home, Christy Ann’s office, or via video call.
- Covering All Decisions: Discuss preferences for burial/cremation, location, service type, and cultural or religious traditions.
By talking these through now, preplanning takes the guesswork out of funerals and ensures nothing is left out.
Funding and Formalizing the Plan
Christy Ann presents transparent options for funding your plan, ensuring security and compliance with New Jersey’s strict regulations.
- Specialized Insurance: Use an insurance policy (like Homesteaders Life) designed to cover future funeral costs.
- Funeral Trust: Prepay using New Jersey’s official "Funeral Planning CHOICES" trust fund.
- Medicaid Guidance: Assistance with irrevocable contracts to meet state eligibility requirements.
All pre-paid funds are held in secure investments and are fully refundable if you choose a revocable plan.
Documentation and Future Flexibility
Once your plan is set, you receive full documentation, but rest assured: your plans are never set in stone.
- Flexible: Easily update arrangements, upgrade merchandise, or transfer your pre-need plan if circumstances change.
- Coordination: Documentation is filed, and coordination is made with the designated funeral home.
- Activation: Share the plan with a family member so they know to call Christy Ann to activate the plan when needed.
Ready to Plan? Start Your Conversation Today.
The easiest way to begin is simply to pick up the phone. Call Christy Ann directly to ask questions and schedule your personalized planning conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find transparent answers to common questions about funding, New Jersey compliance, and the entire planning process.
Why should I plan my funeral in advance?
Planning your funeral ahead of time (pre-need planning) lets you take control of important decisions now, when you are calm and able to think things through. It spares your family from having to make dozens of choices under stress later. Advance planning also means you can set aside funds or insurance so that your loved ones won’t face a financial burden. Overall, pre-planning is an act of care and love for your family – it ensures everything is organized and paid for, and that your personal wishes will be known. Christy Ann Saracino will help you create a plan that brings you peace of mind and relieves your family of future uncertainty.
Do I have to pay for a pre-need plan upfront, or can I make payments over time?
You do not have to pay all at once if that doesn’t suit you. There are flexible payment options for funding a pre-need funeral plan. Many families choose to pay over time – for example, through a dedicated funeral insurance policy with monthly payments, or by making scheduled contributions to a trust account. Depending on your age and budget, Christy can set up a payment plan (such as 3, 5, or 10-year installments) that is comfortable for you homesteaderslife.com. Of course, if you prefer to pay in one lump sum, that’s also an option. The key is that pre-need planning is made affordable for a wide range of budgets. Christy will go over all funding choices to make sure cost is not a barrier to getting your plan in place.
Are the funds I pre-pay for my funeral secure until they’re needed?
Yes, your money is secure and protected by law. In New Jersey, any funds prepaid for a funeral must be placed into a trust account or a regulated insurance policy in your name web.njsfda.org. This means the funeral home cannot use those funds for anything except your future services. If held in trust, your funds are FDIC-insured and will even accrue interest for your benefit. If you use an insurance policy, it’s structured so that the benefit goes directly toward your funeral. Christy Ann Saracino only uses approved, safe funding methods – she will make sure your funds are handled correctly. When the time comes, that money (plus any growth) will be there strictly to pay for your funeral, and not a penny can be spent otherwise. This gives you and your family full peace of mind.
Can I change my pre-need plan later if my wishes or circumstances change?
Absolutely. Pre-need plans are meant to be flexible. If you decide to update your funeral wishes – say, choose cremation instead of burial, or adjust any detail – Christy will help you amend your plan. Also, if you move or want to switch to a different funeral home, your pre-need contract and funds are completely transferable to another funeral home of your choice web.njsfda.org. New Jersey allows you to make these changes at any time without penalty. Essentially, it’s your plan – you remain in control. Christy Ann Saracino will assist with any modifications and ensure all paperwork is updated accordingly. (For more information on transferring plans or getting refunds, see our full FAQ page.)