Estate Planning

The Business of Death: Funeral Industry Meeting the Needs of Different Communities

By Hull & Hull LLP

Ontario now has its first eco-friendly burial ground. Read Sarah Hyndman Patrick's previous blog on green burials for some more insight on this growing trend.

Cobourg Union Cemetery caters to the eco-conscious. They insure that nothing goes into the ground that is not harmless and biodegradable. The Cemetery permits no markers, headstones, concrete vaults and avoids digging by machinery. The costs for a green burial, in the range of $2,000 to $5,000 are significantly less that costs for a conventional burial.

A funeral business group in Columbia is meeting the needs of another community.
Prevision Exequial sells funeral insurance to Columbia immigrants who live in United States. There was a need in the community to provide affordable funerals for new immigrants from Columbia. For a low monthly cost of $4.12 a month that group guarantees covering the costs of transporting the body or remains to Columbia or the costs for a burial and funeral service in the United States. It also assists with the related paperwork associated to obtaining a death certificate that may be taunting to new immigrants.
 
The funeral industry has adapted to provide a more personal service and meet the changing needs of the population. And while planning your funeral might not be a fun thing to do, there are a lot of choices out there.

On a less morbid note, enjoy the long weekend!

Diane Vieira

Full post as published by Toronto Estate Law Blog on September 04, 2009 (boomark / email).