Most people who call us about pre-planning begin with an apology. “I know this is strange to ask about.” It isn’t. It is one of the most practical conversations a family can have, and it usually takes less than two hours.
What pre-planning is, and isn’t
Pre-planning means recording, in advance, the decisions your family would otherwise make in the first hours after a death: which cemetery, which casket, which rabbi to call, what kind of service. It does not require paying anything. Funding is a separate step, and many families never take it.
Jewish burial customarily happens within a day or two. That timeline is a mercy, but it compresses a great many choices into a short, painful window. Pre-planning moves those choices to a calm afternoon.
Step one: the conversation
We meet at our office in Takoma, at your home, or by phone. We ask about your congregation and your family’s practice, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or unaffiliated, and about anything you feel strongly about. Some people have a cemetery plot already; some have never thought about it. Both are fine starting points.
Nothing is sold in this meeting. The only outcome is that your wishes are written down.
Step two: your choices, on file
We record the service type, the cemetery, the casket (we will show you the options and the posted prices), Taharah and shemira instructions, readings, who should be notified, and anything about the obituary. You receive a copy; we keep one. You can revise it at any time by calling us.
Step three: funding and escrow
If you choose to fund the plan, you sign a pre-need contract at today’s prices for the services we provide. The money does not go to us. Under DC and Maryland law it is placed in an escrow account in your name at a federally insured institution, and we cannot access it until services are rendered. If you move, it moves with you. If you change your mind, it is refunded.
What it costs
Recording your wishes costs nothing. A funded plan costs whatever the services you select cost today; our general price list and casket price list are posted on this site, and we will walk through them line by line.
Common questions
Can I plan for a parent who lives out of state? Yes, and many adult children in Washington do. Is cremation possible? We follow halacha and encourage traditional burial; we will discuss any question respectfully. What if I belong to a synagogue with its own cemetery? We coordinate directly with the congregation.