Cremation Pre-Planning
Make your wishes clear. Make future decisions easier.
Plan Ahead, and Prepay If You Choose
Planning your own final arrangements can feel uncomfortable at first. For many people, it brings reassurance: you make informed decisions while you have the time, and the people you care about are spared from guessing later.
Modest Cremation Alternative offers pre-planning to document your cremation wishes in advance, and you can prepay those arrangements if you choose. Prepaid funds are held in trust, and the price of our services is locked in. Third-party fees, such as the coroner’s certificate and crematorium fee, may change. Planning and prepaying are separate decisions: you can do one without the other.
What Is Cremation Pre-Planning?
Pre-planning means documenting decisions about your future cremation arrangements before they are needed. You can set out preferences for:
- Cremation and the type of service
- Urn or container
- Memorial preferences
- What should happen to your cremated remains
- Important contacts and personal wishes
The goal is not to plan every detail of a memorial. It is to provide clarity.
Why consider pre-planning?
Your wishes are known. You decide, rather than leaving family members to guess.
Less uncertainty for your family. After a death, families often wonder: did they want to be cremated? Would they have wanted a funeral? Where should the ashes go? Documented wishes answer those questions.
Fewer immediate decisions. Grief makes even simple decisions hard. A plan reduces what has to be decided right away.
Important conversations happen now. Planning is a natural opening to talk with family about your preferences, which can prevent misunderstandings later.
You understand the costs. Today, direct cremation with us costs $2,287.05 including HST under our 2026 price list. See cremation costs in Ottawa. If you prepay, the price of our services is locked in, so later increases to those prices do not apply. Third-party fees can still change.
Pre-Planning and Prepaying
Pre-planning means documenting your wishes and choosing your arrangements. Prepaying means paying toward those arrangements under a prepaid contract.
You can do either with Modest Cremation Alternative. Some people document their wishes and leave payment for later; others prepay so their family does not have to. When you prepay, your funds are held in trust and the price of our services is locked in. Third-party fees, such as the coroner’s certificate and crematorium fee, may change. If you do not prepay, payment is made at the time of need, and payment plans are available; financing charges apply.
Ontario has consumer-protection rules for prepaid bereavement contracts. Before signing a prepaid agreement, make sure you understand the cancellation and refund terms, and what happens if you move or your circumstances change. We will walk you through ours before you sign.
You do not need to make every decision at once. Call 343-227-2393 and we will explain how pre-planning works and answer your questions.
What to Discuss with Your Family
Even with your wishes documented, someone you trust should know the plan exists. Consider discussing:
- Your preference for cremation
- Whether you want a formal memorial
- Religious or cultural wishes
- What you would like done with your cremated remains
- Where important documents are stored and who should be contacted
- That your plan is with Modest Cremation Alternative
You do not need to discuss every detail. Making sure your family knows a plan exists is often enough.
What about my will?
Final wishes may be mentioned in a will, but a will is not always found or read right after a death. Keep your arrangements somewhere accessible and tell the right person where. For questions about wills, estates, powers of attorney or legal authority, speak with an Ontario lawyer.
Is pre-planning only for older adults?
No. People plan ahead to simplify future arrangements, to organize an estate, or because they have clear preferences about cremation. It is simply another form of personal planning.
Pre-Planning FAQ
Can I prepay my cremation?
Yes. You can plan and prepay your cremation arrangements with Modest Cremation Alternative. Your funds are held in trust, and the price of our services is locked in. Third-party fees, such as the coroner’s certificate and crematorium fee, may change.
Can I plan without paying in advance?
Yes. Planning and prepaying are separate. You can document your wishes now and leave payment until the time of need.
Can I change my wishes later?
Yes. You can update your documented wishes by contacting us. If you have prepaid, review the modification and cancellation terms in your agreement.
Should my family know I have pre-planned?
Yes. At least one trusted person should know that your arrangements exist and how to find them.
Does my will automatically control my cremation wishes?
Not necessarily. Authority over arrangements can involve legal considerations, so a lawyer can advise on your situation. In practice, it also helps to tell your family your wishes directly.
How do I get started?
Call us at 343-227-2393 or contact us online and say you would like to plan ahead. More answers are on our cremation FAQ, and you can read more about direct cremation.
Compassionate Guidance When You Need It
Whether you are planning ahead or a death has just occurred, Modest Cremation Alternative is here with clear information, dignified care and compassionate support.
This page is general information, not legal, tax, estate or financial advice. For advice specific to you, consult an Ontario lawyer or other licensed professional. Modest Cremation Alternative Inc., 2037 McGee Side Road, Carp, ON K0A 1L0. Licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, licence TS1-0014812.