Quora Answer: What are the Options in Terms of Setting Up an Irrevocable Trust for Funeral Costs?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What are the options in terms of setting up an irrevocable trust, for funeral costs if you do not know the funeral parlour because it may be, for example, in Maryland or New York?”

You can make a provision in your irrevocable trust to cover the costs of the funeral.  Since you do not know the exact cost, you can estimate it, and add a bit extra. I would think $5,000 is a reasonable provision for a simple funeral.  At the very maximum, unless you are planning for something extravagant, it should be $20,000.  The excess can be distributed to your chosen beneficiaries.