Why your family may need these wishes sooner
Funeral arrangements may need attention before a death-verification process is complete. If preferences are available only after that process and a separate release authorization, they may arrive too late to help with immediate decisions. Important practical wishes should not depend on someone waiting for a private message to be released.
That is why YoursSomeday’s Funeral Planning Capsules, created through Funeral Wishes, can be shared ahead of time. The Share Now choice is an owner-directed sharing option while you are living. It is different from Share After My Passing and does not require the post-death verification workflow. Tell the people helping you where the current wishes are, and keep an accessible copy outside the service as well.
Separate what matters from what is flexible
A useful set of wishes is not necessarily a detailed event plan. Start with the preferences that would help someone make a decision. Explain which are important, which are suggestions, and which you are happy for your family to choose. Consider costs and practical constraints rather than asking others to deliver an exact picture.
If you have arrangements with a provider or formal documents, note where those records can be found and whom to contact. Do not assume an informal Capsule creates legal authority or guarantees a preference can be followed; requirements differ by location and circumstances. Ask an appropriate professional about legally effective instructions.
- The people or provider to contact, and where existing arrangements are recorded.
- Cultural, spiritual or personal preferences you want considered.
- Music, readings, photographs or stories that feel meaningful.
- Any strong preferences, alongside areas where others can choose.
- What you would like people to understand about the kind of gathering you have in mind.
Make the conversation reassuring
You can introduce the subject as ordinary preparation: ‘I have written down a few preferences so you would not have to guess.’ Make clear that sharing wishes does not mean something has happened. Ask whether the person is comfortable being involved, and do not assume they have agreed to organize everything.
Talk about where the information is kept and how they can recognize the latest version. A quiet conversation can clarify a misunderstood preference more effectively than a longer document. Keep personal messages in separate Capsules if you do not want them mixed with arrangements that others may need to discuss.
Using a Funeral Planning Capsule
Prepare your Funeral Wishes in an Instructions Capsule, choose the recipients, and make an explicit timing choice. With Share Now, sealing starts sending the sealed wishes to those recipients. Check the actual sharing status; an unsuccessful send needs attention and should not be treated as delivered. Share Now wishes are not also scheduled for post-death release.
When your wishes change, save and intentionally re-seal the updated version, then use Send Updated Wishes to share the update. Simply reopening a Capsule is not a new delivery. If you choose Share After My Passing instead, the post-death verification and release safeguards still apply. Automated post-death verification and delivery are still being completed and tested during beta.
Keep the practical essentials available
Review names, contact details and the location of arrangements when circumstances change. Let the relevant person know when you have shared an update. Keep your own copy, especially of anything irreplaceable, and do not rely on any online service as the only source of time-sensitive instructions.
YoursSomeday complements conversations and formal planning. It does not replace a will, trust, attorney, estate plan or legal advice. A Capsule records your wishes; it is not a substitute for legally required documents or professional guidance.
