After the fiscal cliff deal, the estate tax rate increased from 35% to 40%.

While we don't want to think about death, some say it's better to plan ahead.

Local funeral homes are finding that preplanned funerals are becoming more popular.

They're planned and paid for before death, so it's an already paid for expense.

If you leave your family with money after you pass for them to plan it, then that's part of your estate, and can be taxed.

"Whenever a person prepays on preplanning, actually comes out of the estate and reduces the value of the estate and you're not taxed on it. It's simply a purchase that guarantees the price of the funeral," said president of Omps Funeral Homes, Larry Omps.

He says families are always grateful when their loved ones' funeral arrangements are already made because it's a relief for the family.

Omps says they're seeing in increase in people planning and personalizing their own viewings and funerals.

And in the long run, it actually saves your family money.

He says it's worth talking to a funeral director about different preplanning options.

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