Buying a headstone before death

Yes — you can buy a headstone before a death, and many families do. Pre-need purchasing settles final wishes while everyone can weigh in, and for couples it means a companion memorial can be completed later, with the surviving spouse’s dates added when the time comes. There is no rule, at our shop or anywhere else, that says a memorial must wait for a loss.

We have walked families through pre-need orders since 1979, and the process is the same collaborative one we use for every memorial: nothing goes into production until you approve the final proof. The only real difference is that you get to take your time.

Why do families buy memorials pre-need?

• Your wishes are unambiguous. The stone says what you wanted it to say — the style, the granite, the verse — because you chose it. No one has to guess, and no one has to wonder later whether they guessed right.
• It removes a painful decision from a grieving family. Choosing a memorial in the weeks after a loss is one of the hardest purchases a family ever makes. Pre-need planning means that decision is already made, thoughtfully, ahead of time.
• You design it yourself, the way you want it. Browse styles, choose a granite, and take as long as you like over the wording — our epitaph collection is a good place to start.

How do companion and pre-need memorials work?

A companion memorial carries both spouses’ names, engraved when the stone is made. When one spouse passes, the memorial is set with their dates complete — and the surviving spouse’s final date is added later. This is standard practice at our shop: when the time comes, the family calls us and we arrange the final inscription.

Any style can serve as a companion memorial, from upright monuments to memorial benches. Our design collection catalog is a good way to see what is possible, and our gallery shows work we have actually made and installed.

What should you document — and where should you keep it?

A pre-need memorial only does its job if your family knows about it. Keep these together, with your other important papers:

• Your cemetery deed and plot information — proof of where the memorial belongs.
• Your approved design proof — the exact stone, wording, and layout you signed off on.
• Our contact information — Sierra Headstone & Monument, 775-323-1835, info@sierraheadstone.com — so your family knows exactly who to call.
• A conversation with your family. Documents help, but telling the people closest to you is what actually prevents confusion later.

How do you coordinate with the cemetery?

Two things need to be true before a memorial can be placed: the plot must be secured, and the cemetery’s rules must be verified — size limits, style restrictions, and whether the cemetery requires its own installer. Confirming cemetery requirements is the first of the five steps in our design process, so this happens naturally when you work with us. Our cemetery regulations guide explains what to check and how to check it.

Does buying pre-need lock in the price?

Here is the honest answer: prices change over time, and final pricing is confirmed at the time of order, per our terms. What pre-need planning reliably locks in is the design — the decisions, the proof, the wishes — which is the part your family would otherwise have to reconstruct without you. Current starting prices are listed openly on our pricing page, and for payment specifics on a pre-need order, call us at 775-323-1835 and we will walk through it plainly.

Questions families ask