Why Pre-Planning Matters

Pre-planning a funeral isn't about death — it's about love. Veterans who served put their families first their entire lives. Pre-planning is the final act of that same protection. It means your family won't make expensive, irreversible decisions while in grief. It means your wishes are honored. It means you've done one last thing for the people you love.

The VA Pre-Need program lets veterans formally establish their national cemetery eligibility before they need it. You receive an official eligibility letter that makes national cemetery burial seamless at time of need. Without it, families must prove eligibility under time pressure — often with missing documents. Processing takes 90+ days, so apply well in advance.

Submit VA Form 40-10007 (Application for Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility) with your DD-214 or other proof of service. You can apply online at VA.gov, by mail to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, or through a Veterans Service Organization. Store your approval letter with your DD-214.

Pre-planning means documenting your wishes and applying for VA eligibility in advance — no money required. Preneed insurance is a funded plan: you work with a funeral home to select specific services and merchandise, and a preneed insurance policy locks in those prices and pays the funeral home at time of need. Both can be done together, and together they provide the most complete protection for your family.