Estate-Planning Essentials: Burial, Cremation, and Beyond

Most people haven’t ever heard of the “right of sepulcher,” but this uniquely American legal concept refers to the right to control the final disposition of a deceased person’s body, which in modern times might include traditional burial and cremation or newer practices such as water cremation, green burial, or human composting. In a recent American College of Trust and Estate Counsel video, Lauren Wolven talks with Stacy Singer, National Practice Leader for Trust Services at Northern Trust, about:

• State vs. federal laws on burial and cremation
• Why it’s important for individuals to determine and properly document their wishes
• The history of these practices across Islam, Judaism, and Catholicism
• And modern burial trends and disposition methods in the U.S.

To learn more about how to ensure your burial wishes are followed, reach out to Lauren Wolven or another member of LP’s Trusts and Estates group.