Funeral order
A funeral warrant is a living person's explanation of what to do with their corpse after death. From a legal point of view, it is a declaration of intent . It is created during lifetime and is used for the time after death. It can be drawn up with the help of the advice of an undertaker, a corporation under public law (e.g. parish) or a notary . A funeral decision can be changed or canceled by the person making the decision at any time. The funeral decree is aimed at those responsible for caring for the dead if it is not combined with a post-mortem power of attorney .
Sense of a funeral order
Many people do not care what to do with their remains after death. Relatives often find it difficult to organize a funeral because they have little or no knowledge of the ideas and wishes of the deceased. In view of the time pressure, the emotional stress caused by the loss and the upcoming costs, the wishes of the deceased can often not be properly implemented. A funeral decree that you have written yourself during your lifetime can significantly defuse this situation.
Form specifications
The funeral order is not subject to any special formal requirements. This is not regulated separately under German law. The general rules for declarations of intent are appropriate. It is important that it corresponds unequivocally to the will of the person responsible and that it was created without external pressure. Handwritten by the disposer himself is considered proven. Printed rulings can be documented better than beyond doubt with confirmation from a notary or the family doctor. The disposition of the funeral can be part of a will . Since the opening of the will usually takes place later than the funeral, this can lead to difficulties. Internet-based pension platforms offer another option for creating, managing and approving a funeral directive.
Content of a funeral order
- Minimum notes on a funeral directive (usually)
- Heading “Funeral Order” or similar wording
- Place and date of creation
- Name, address , date of birth
- Input formula “ Requests for my funeral” or similar
- Note on the desired type of burial and the place of burial
- signature
- Possible content
- Determining whether a funeral celebration to take place, and for information about design.
- Information about a possible funeral insurance , an existing pension contract or a savings account intended for this purpose (including granting a bank power of attorney to the person liable for the funeral).
- Determination of the scope of the funeral.
- If there is a grave site at the time the decision is made, information about an alternative if the grave site can no longer be used at the time of the burial.
- Specification of a person who should make decisions in the event of ambiguity .
- Reference to other documents and their storage location
- Will ,
- Family register ,
- Insurance documents ,
- other rulings such as cremation rulings , sea funeral rulings , invitation list to the funeral ceremony .
Additional notes on implementation
A funeral order should not be drawn up alone without the involvement of relatives. This is especially true if the author chooses a type of burial that does not leave a burial site that can be visited later. A grave site is used to overcome grief .
Web links
literature
- Brief Goertz: Funeral law in practice . Bonn 2012, ISBN 978-3-941586-45-1 .
