These days, we hear much about “going green”, leaving an “environmental footprint”, “climate change”, etc.  We are all responsible to do our part to preserve and protect our environment while we are alive.  But, what about after we die?  Can you still do your part? Hmmmmm.

Think about how much wood is used to make caskets.  How many tons of steel and/or concrete are used for burial vaults?  And, what about the amount of embalming fluid used? 

The numbers are staggering – 30 million board feet of wood, 90,000 tons of steel, 1.6 million tons of concrete and 800,000 gallons of embalming fluid.  That would be enough metal to build a Golden Gate Bridge every calendar year!

Many individuals are grabbing the idea of eco-friendly funerals and some of the ideas are centuries old for certain cultures.  This has also created new industries for society. 

Here are but a couple of eco-friendly ideas for consideration:

• If you are firm with a ground burial, you could consider a coffin made out of seagrass, bamboo or woven willow.  These materials decompose naturally.  Also, certain burial garments are made out of materials (such as mushrooms) which will decompose naturally.  Kosher caskets are made of soft pine or poplar wood, with no metal parts – totally biodegradable.  Likewise, Muslim burial traditions are naturally green.  Jewish and Muslim rituals allow for the preservation of a body for a couple of days to give time for families to gather for a funeral, as embalming is avoided.  This keeps formaldehyde out of the ground and the deceased is gently washed and dressed in cotton or linen which will biodegrade naturally.

• If you prefer cremation, biodegradable urns come in a wide range of materials, including handmade paper, sand and gelatin, cornstarch, bamboo and recycled paper. A biodegradable urn in the earth will decompose over time; the rate depending on the material chosen and environmental conditions.  If you wish to be cremated and have your remains scattered, scattering tubes made from recycled paper ease the process from opening a plastic bag.  These scattering tubes are allowed for placement in carryon luggage for airline travel. 

• If you would like to have a part in regeneration of our environment, you might want to explore an Italian burial pod, which focuses on the life cycle.  A biodegradable egg-shaped burial container has been designed for cremated remains and full bodies folded in a fetal position. The Capsula Mundi project has created burial pods meant to be paired with a live tree in a natural burial ground with the pod being buried as a seed planted beneath a tree chosen in life by the deceased.  It is hoped that family and friends would continue to nurture the tree as it grows.

• If you love the ocean, cremains can be cast to the sea in a seashell or turtle-shaped urn that floats for a few moments, then gracefully sinks under the surface. Biodegradable urns for water are made of a variety of natural materials, including recycled paper, rock salt, gelatin and sand.

Regardless of your preference for disposition of your body/remains, it is vital that you have a conversation with your loved ones to let them know your wishes.  Without having what may seem to be a difficult conversation is really a conversation that will relieve your loved ones of trying to decide what your preferences would be.  In fact, you can make the task easier by doing some pre-planning and telling your loved ones that you have done so and exactly where to find the details when that time comes. 

Don’t delay.  It would be a great burden off of your loved ones, whatever choices you make.

When engaging in estate planning for individuals, attorneys must be diligent in asking the right questions, not only for financial purposes and the objects of one’s bounty, but also for religious beliefs and practices and to complete the planning by honoring the wishes of the individual doing their planning.  If you are doing your estate planning, don’t be intimidated or shy when stating your wishes to your attorney. 

So, what are some areas that are important to be recognized in estate planning, according to religion? 

First of all, the selection of fiduciaries is important to anyone doing their estate planning.  Deeply religious individuals may wish to have trustees, executors and agents under powers of attorney and health care directives who are strong in their religious beliefs and who share the same faith.  However, this person may not be the choice for investing and other responsibilities that come along with the role.  Selection of persons to fulfill these fiduciary roles is extremely important. 

Next, let’s look at a few important considerations impacted by religious beliefs:

• Are there provisions for specific priority of distribution of one’s assets based upon relationship?
• What are the beliefs with regard to end-of-life matters?  Be kept alive regardless of the prognosis or allow nature to take its course, and, if so, what comfort measures are permitted? 
• Is organ donation permissible?  If so, are there limitations on the allowable organs for donation? 
• Funeral arrangements and timing?  Is embalming allowed?  Is cremation permitted?  Manner for interment or disposition of cremains?

These are but a few very important matters which should be addressed in your estate planning.  To ensure that your beliefs and wishes are carried out, there should be a form of a statement of last wishes prepared and left, not with your Last Will and Testament, but where your fiduciaries can easily locate the same and be informed to carry out your wishes. 

While estate planning is done between the client and the attorney, it is important that once you have completed your planning, you let your fiduciaries know where to find documentation for guidance and perhaps consider having a conversation with them as to your wishes.  You want to avoid something being done against your wishes when it is too late. 

Please do not assume that your attorney knows what your beliefs are.  Within any religion, practices range from very conservative to very liberal and the only way to ensure that your practices are fulfilled is to be open with your attorney.  Ask them for their suggestion on how to make your wishes known to your loved ones. 

Communicating with loved ones with regard to estate planning is so important.  While your fiduciaries may be very much loved and respected, why would you want to place the burden on them to know what your wishes are without you sharing the same?