Prepaid Funeral Services

1. What are the benefits of pre-paying funeral services?

Prepayment and funeral planning procedures give each of us, even during his or her lifetime, the opportunity to remove the burden funeral expenses from family members. In addition, the presence of a pre-specified and pre-paid contract with a funeral home, purchased in advance make it much easier for your loved ones, who, despite their grief, must make important decisions related to the organization of the funeral proceedings. This pre-payment plan includes the option of bundling in a plot on a cemetery, further simplifying the process.

The presence of a prepaid contract makes it much easier to deal with finances when a death occurs – this is YOUR best attempt to help those who are grieving about your care. It is also necessary to note that the prepayment of funeral services is surest way to determine the cost of a funeral because the cost of all services specified in advance is fixed at the time of signing the contract – the cost cannot be changed later.

2. How to prepare for the conclusion of the contract prepaid funeral services?

a. meeting with your chosen funeral director and discuss various options for her funeral, the cost and your preferences. After discussing all the necessary details and nuances, the Funeral Director will make for you a contract and a list of all services specified in it. You need to know that every contract made ​​individually according to personal requirements of a client.

b. contract prepaid funeral services, you have several payment options. So you have the opportunity to immediately pay the cost of service or break the agreed amount for the number of payments. In any case, in accordance with current Legislation of your money within ten days to be credited to a special account (trust account).

c. contract is necessary to inform your lawyer and relatives of its existence and the place of storage.

3. What you need to know when prepaid funeral services contract has been concluded?

First of all, it should be noted that your interests and your family are protected by law. New York has the most stringent in America Legislation of governing the conclusion and execution of the contract to prepay funeral services. Funeral Directors Association of New York State developed a list of questions to which you should pay particular attention to:

Have you provided a copy of the official prices (General Price List) for the services of funeral homes?

Have you provided a copy of the description of all the services and services included in the prepaid service (Itemization Statement) and Contract for prepayment of funeral services that you have signed with the administration’s Funeral Home?

If you currently own Medicaid, then you have subscribed Irrevocable Agreement (contract under the terms of which, the money left over after the procedure and payment of all funeral services and services provided Itemization Statement, are listed in the local Department of Social Services (the local department Social Security)?

Did you receive a 30-day period confirmation (Confirmation Statement), that the money received from you Funeral home as a deposit (deposit), were transferred to a special account within ten days from the date of signing kotrakt?

Whether you received podtverzhldenie (Confirmation Statement) bank name (organization), where you keep your money?

Whether your money transferred to a secure state, special savings account? For example, it may be a US Treasury bonds (U.S. Treasury bonds).

Have you provided confirmation (Confirmation Statement) for each received additional payment from you?

Do you provide a year-end report (Annual Statement) on the status of your account (the total amount of interest earned), intended to pay for funeral services

4. You should always remember that:

Money held in an account to pay for your funeral services – always yours, and, at your request, can be translated into one of the funeral home to another.

On written request, the funeral home must give you information about your account at this time.

If you signed a contract for prepaid funeral services, which may modify or terminate (Revocable), then upon your written request, the money and earned interest can be returned.

Do not hesitate to discuss your probemy and ask questions funeral director, whom you have chosen. You can always turn to the issues in the Association Pohronnyh Directors of New York State (NEW YORK STATE FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, INC.), using the following coordinates:

New York State Funeral Directors Association .
426 NEW KARNER ROAD.
ALBANY, NY 12205-3810
Call: (800) 291-2629, (518) 452-8230

www. nysfd a. o

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Various types of contracts for prepaid funeral services in accordance with the Legislation of the State of New York, all contracts that conclude Funeral Homes to prepay funeral services should be REVOCABLE (contract, the terms of which can be changed). This means that if a person who has entered into a contract wish to terminate it, then all the accumulated money and earned interest shall be returned to him upon request and within ten days. Unless the contracts concluded with the SSI and Medicaid recipients who are IRREVOCABLE (contract, the terms of which can not be changed). Irrevocable the contract with SSI and Medicaid recipient can not be terminated before the onset of death, but it can be transferred from one Funeral Homes in another.

Another classification of contracts for prepaid funeral services this: GUARANTEED (GTD) and NON-GUARANTEED (not guaranteed) contract.

GUARANTEED contract: This contract ensures that the cost of the ritual service will not exceed the amount that has accumulated on the account of your trust at the time of service. If you periodically withdraw money from your account, the Funeral Home reserves the right to cancel the warranty. It should be noted that in most cases the cost of cemetery services, services of religious leaders and the cost of preparation of necessary documents, etc. can not be guaranteed. You should know that the funeral home can not ask more from you than the cost of those services.

NON-GUARANTEED contract: Under the terms of this contract, the funeral home provides you with a pre-specified services at a price that exists at the time of service. If the amount accumulated in the account of your trust is not sufficient to pay for services covered by the contract, the shortfall must be paid. If your savings exceed the amount needed for the ritual service, the rest of the money should be returned to the heirs (this does not apply to irrevocable Trusts). Prices for the services provided must comply with the official rates (General Price List), existing in the funeral home at the moment.

How does a contract to prepay funeral services?

  • You choose the Funeral Home.
  • You meet with the funeral director.
  • You (the buyer) select the dates of your services and
  • related products, then checks their cost with official rates Funeral Homes.
  • Funeral Director provides you with a list of specified services and contract to prepay the ritual service.
  • You (the buyer) and the funeral director sign all necessary documents.
  • You (the buyer) pay the full or partial cost of funeral services by check for funeral homes or Programs Funeral Trust. If payment is made by cash, you must be provided with an appropriate receipt.
  • You (the buyer) receive a copy of the signed documents and official prices funeral homes.
  • Within 10 days Funeral Director must transfer your money to a secure state special savings account.
  • You should get a 30-day period confirmation (Confirmation Statement), that the money received from you Funeral Homes, were transferred to the special account.
  • Money is transferred funeral director only after the ritual service.