Funeral Arrangments

[McMouse]

My 93 year old ma-in-law has made it clear that when her time comes she wants a simple non religious interment at a woodland burial site. Mrs McM agrees with this but has been told by her two brothers that they will insist on the full monty of open casket viewing followed by full church service. Hope this problem is still years off, but it will spark an almighty family row.

[Barmaid]

Although not legally binding, get your ma in law to make her wishes clear in her Will.

[jaydah]

She must make her wishes known by will.

[ummmm]

Hard one McM.... :-(

[society]

I think MIL wishes should be respected and granted.

[EcclesCake]

Tell M-in-L and suggest she adds a codicil to her will along the lines that if her wishes aren't followed her entire estate will go to the Dogs Home! The brothers might just change their minds....

[McMouse]

Her wishes will be carried out. Mrs McM has power of attorney and is also executor of will. The issue is the almighty row when what we should be doing is mourning a greatly missed person.

[Barmaid]

Nice idea Eccles, but I don't think that one will work. Because funeral wishes are not legally binding, it would be difficult to make them binding by use of a clause like this.

Best that MIL can do is make her funeral arrangements herself and prepay them. Then appoint Mrs McMouse as sole executrix.

[Barmaid]

Unfortunately McMouse an almighty row is very often what follows a death! You will just have to hope that the two brothers see that they really should do the best by their mum.

[EcclesCake]

I hate funerals and the whole family squabble which seems and inevitable part of it. As Barmaid has said my idea has no basis in law but it's the kind of threat that I would use to scare the dissenting bar stewards in my family. Having said that as I have no kids, it probably will be the dogs home that inherits my debts ;-)

[woofgang]

yup, prepay the funeral and choose everything and make Mrs McM sole executrix if she is up for it. While funeral wishes have no strength in law, i think that you can make bequests conditional upon certain things happening...like the two brothers shutting up and playing nice during their Mum's funeral.