Pre-Planning a Funeral in Canada — Why and How

Last updated July 4, 2026 · 3 min read
Quick answer
Pre-planning a funeral means documenting your disposition, service, and memorial wishes in advance, while you can think clearly without time pressure. It costs nothing, removes burden from grieving family, allows comparison shopping among providers, and typically saves 20-30% versus reactive arrangements. Pre-planning is distinct from pre-payment — you can pre-plan without putting any money down. Most Canadian funeral homes provide pre-planning consultations free of charge. The plan can be updated any time circumstances change.

The most common regret families express after a funeral isn't about cost or quality of the service — it's not knowing what the deceased actually wanted. Pre-planning solves that. It's free, takes a few hours, and removes a substantial weight from your family at the worst time.

Why pre-plan

Removes decision burden from grieving family. They follow your wishes rather than guessing under emotional pressure.

Allows comparison shopping. You have time to visit multiple funeral homes, compare pricing, evaluate options. Reactive arrangements often default to whatever the first funeral home suggests.

Reflects YOUR preferences. Not the funeral industry's standard package, not what family thinks you might have wanted.

Typically saves 20-30%. Comparison shopping plus avoiding emotional upgrade decisions adds up.

Reduces family conflict. Documented wishes are honoured; absence of documentation is when families argue.

What to document

Most pre-plans cover:

  1. Disposition method — burial, cremation, green burial, body donation, etc.
  2. Service style — traditional, memorial, celebration of life, none
  3. Religious or cultural elements — specific traditions to observe
  4. Specific elements — music, readings, officiant preference
  5. Location of final remains — specific cemetery, scattering location, columbarium
  6. Funeral home preference — if pre-selected
  7. Notification list — specific people to be told personally
  8. Budget level — modest, moderate, no constraint
  9. Anything to AVOID — sometimes more useful than what to include

Most pre-plans run 1-3 pages. The Funeral Pre-Planner in It's Simple Will captures all of this in a structured way.

How to do it

Option 1 — Pre-plan with a funeral home. Most Canadian funeral homes offer free pre-planning consultations. You meet, discuss your wishes, they document and keep on file. Cost: free.

Option 2 — Pre-plan independently. Document your wishes in a personal document (letter to family, structured pre-plan template, the Funeral Pre-Planner). No funeral home commitment.

Option 3 — Pre-plan and pre-pay. Combines pre-planning with locking in current prices via regulated trust account at the funeral home. Different tradeoffs (see below).

Pre-payment considerations

If you're considering pre-payment:

  • Funds held in regulated trust account per provincial rules (protections in case the funeral home goes out of business)
  • Locks in current prices (inflation hedge)
  • Ties up money that could earn returns elsewhere
  • Most useful if you expect to use within 10-15 years
  • Less useful for younger Canadians
  • Generally not refundable in full if you change providers (varies by contract)

Many financial advisors suggest pre-planning without pre-paying for most Canadians, and only pre-paying if you have specific reasons (locked income, want to remove the decision from your estate, etc.).

Updating the plan

Review annually as part of your overall estate plan review. Update after:

  • Move to a different city
  • Major life event (marriage, divorce, death of named contact)
  • Change in preferences after a recent funeral experience
  • New funeral options become available (e.g., aquamation becomes legal in your province)
  • Pre-selected funeral home closes or changes ownership

What we focus on at It's Simple Will

The Funeral Pre-Planner captures every element a typical funeral home pre-plan would, plus integrates with your overall estate plan and Life Discovery Kit. Updateable anytime, accessible to your designated family/executor.

Citations & sources

  1. [1]Funeral Service Association of Canada — Funeral Service Association of Canada
  2. [2]Bereavement Authority of Ontario — Government of Ontario

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between pre-planning and pre-payment?

Pre-planning is documenting your wishes (no money up front). Pre-payment is paying now to lock in current prices. Pre-planning is universally recommended; pre-payment is a separate financial decision with tradeoffs.

When should I pre-plan?

Any time. Common triggers — major life event (retirement, illness diagnosis, milestone birthday), recent funeral in your circle that highlighted gaps, doing your estate plan. The right time is 'before it matters' which is essentially always now.

What does pre-planning involve?

Documenting key decisions — disposition method (burial, cremation, body donation, etc.), service style (full traditional, memorial, celebration of life, none), religious or cultural elements, specific music/readings/officiant if relevant, location of final remains, contact for specific funeral home if pre-selected. Most documents 1-3 pages.

Does the funeral home keep my plan on file?

Yes if you've selected a specific funeral home. They keep your pre-arrangement on file and reference it when your family contacts them after death. You should also keep a copy at home and tell your family where it is. The Life Discovery Kit captures all of this.

Can I change my mind later?

Yes. Pre-plans are not binding contracts (unless you've pre-paid into a trust, which has different rules). You can update anytime — change funeral home, change disposition preference, add or modify specific elements.

What if I move?

Update the plan. If you've selected a specific funeral home in your old city, you may want to switch to one in your new city — particularly if your family is also relocating.

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