Pre-Plan

If you’re here to get your own details squared away before anyone has to deal with them, this is the form you want. It lets you make the actual decisions—the ones your family would otherwise have to guess at while juggling paperwork and emotions.

This isn’t a ceremony. It’s not a commitment. It’s just you being practical so your people don’t have to play detective later.

• Use this if you’re planning ahead.

• If you’re dealing with an at-need situation, skip this—it’s not for right now.
  

"Pre-planning isn’t deep or symbolic. It’s not a ‘final gift’ or a ‘legacy moment.’ It’s you taking care of the logistics now, so your family doesn’t have to play 'Document Scavenger Hunt' while they’re exhausted. Think of it as a 'Do Not Disturb' sign for your afterlife—it’s the only way to ensure nobody tries to hold a seance just to ask you where you kept the title to the Ford Pinto."

• You lock in today’s prices.

• You decide what you want.

• You keep your family from getting talked into anything you didn’t ask for.

That’s the whole story. It’s basically the difference between leaving your house keys on the counter… or leaving them “somewhere safe” and hoping someone finds them.

Talking about what you want when you're gone doesn't require a mahogany table or a family summit. You don’t need a workbook, a “legacy journal,” or a PowerPoint. You just need to tell your people the basics so they aren’t standing around later trying to reverse-engineer your personality while they're stressed out.

And look—it’s not an “if.” It’s a when. You might as well make it easy on the folks who have to deal with the aftermath. This doesn’t have to be a Deeply Meaningful Moment. You can knock it out:

• In the car (they can’t escape).

• During a commercial break.

• While waiting for your Uber Eats.

• Basically, anytime nobody is already crying.

Just say things like:

• “When the time comes, keep it simple. Don’t buy the fancy box.”

• “If there’s music, play [X]. If you play [Y], I’ll find a way to haunt you.”

• “Please don’t let the ‘production’ get out of hand."

• “And absolutely no doves. I am not a magician.”

That’s it. That’s the whole conversation. No candles, no hand-holding, no circle-sharing. You’re just giving them the cheat sheet so they don’t have to guess.

If you want a nudge, here’s a straightforward guide—no branding, no fluff, just the questions people actually argue about when nothing is written down.