Each week we will be adding more articles about typical pre-need and arrangement planning issues and content related to funerals in the Long Island area.

In order to be prepared for your future planning a pre-need trust is often recommended.

Pre-need trust agreements differ than funeral insurance in that this needs to be paid in full by the time of death or the balance of the funeral costs must be paid off either by the deceased estate or family members.

With a pre-need funeral arrangement, either a lump sum or a monthly amount is paid and this money is then invested in a trust fund. This fund is structured to keep pace with inflation, but like all trust funds, there is no real guarantee. Alternatively, there are funeral homes that will undertake the guarantee of payment in full. This pre-need trust fund is also taxable.

If you still want to go for a pre-need trust fund then there are a few points that could be useful. Inquire about a guaranteed price plan. This means that in the future, if the cost of goods and services raises with inflation, you will still get the current prevailing price.

Some items though like caskets, grave marker and grave liners should be bought now instead of later and the funeral home will store them for you until it is needed. You should always get a written statement for everything, including the prices for items yet to be purchased at the time of the funeral. In addition, you would need to have a full written inventory of the items kept in storage. This include the manufacturer or brand, model number, further description like material used or special inscriptions made. It is also prudent to actually know where the items are stored – get the address of the storage facility.

Find out all you can about the trust funds your payments are invested in to make sure they are viable and would increase over time. It would be also wise to have a written instruction as to how any leftover monies be disbursed.

You would also want to know the transaction is transferable or refundable should you change your mind later on and decide on a different funeral home or different cemetery.

Another risk with pre-paying is that the funeral home might go bankrupt or that the trustees of the funds are not honorable. Look also into cancellation clauses because there you might be in need of a change of plans like moving away, you have more money and want a more elaborate arrangements, or conversely you no longer find the monthly payments affordable, or if you simply changed your mind.

Different states have different laws pertaining to trust funds and pre-need arrangements. Therefore, you should read up and find out all you can about pre-need trust agreements before you make your decision.

Funeral homes play a larger role than just being the caretaker

In modern times, funeral homes have played a large part in the dealings with the deceased. Funeral homes generally are able to accommodate the many different faiths and customs.

You can visit the Federal Trade Commission site for the complete details of the Funeral Law but the short about it is that it’s designed to enable funeral consumers to be aware of the charges prior to agreeing to engage a funeral home and to only choose what services and goods they need. It also makes it illegal for funeral homes to pressure consumers to purchase a certain package, or to impose a handling fee for any third party’s merchandise and services,    or to add in extra charges for any services or goods not selected. All funeral homes must provide you with a details list of services and goods and their prices.

The basic service provided by a funeral home include the transportation of the body to the funeral home, the custodial care and preparation of the body, the embalming (if required), the funeral service – either at the chapel, or gravesite, and the burial itself or cremation of the body.
A funeral home is responsible in procuring the death certificate and burial permit. They will also help with paperwork for social security, insurance as well as wills and probate. They will take care of obituaries and help you with the application for veterans benefits such as flag, marker and cash funeral benefit.
Other services it offers include securing a cemetery plot and acquiring the interment vessel – a coffin or any other outer burial vessels or grave liners as required by the cemetery,     perpetual upkeep of the plot, or securing a place at a columbarium . If you choose an above-ground burial, they can assist you with a mausoleum.
There are also funeral homes that offer ‘green burial’ services. This typically means that no formaldehyde-based embalming technique is used, no metal or concrete grave liners are used and the casket is usually made from pinewood or other sustainable natural materials, have no metal handles and utilizes only non-toxic wood glue. You also have the option to open and close the graves yourselves either by hand or using a backhoe.
Funeral homes now have evolved and offer online memorial services as well. Some funeral homes require a promissory note as a personal guarantee for the settlement for any unpaid bills. Generally, funeral expenses shall be borne by the deceased estate or insurance.

To choose a good reputable funeral home will ensure a meaningful and dignified service as well as one that should be affordable to both you and family. Your are encouraged to to shop around for the one which suits best your personal requirements and budget or contact us for more information.

A funeral homes General Price List is a perfect example how you the consumer can protect yourself.  Every funeral home has to have a general price list.  That price list must be presented to anyone who enters a funeral establishment and has a question regarding funeral arrangements.  The FTC requires certain disclosers that are listed directly on the General Price List, Casket Price List and Outer Interment Price List.  Depending on the goods and services selected or those that are being supplied by a funeral home certain disclosers must be made known at the time of discussing funeral arrangements.  Like in the story I shared in my last post “What do I need a Funeral Director For?” The discourteous gentleman, who by the way I have always believed to be one of my managers hazing me, would have needed a rigid container as required by the crematory.  This is just one example of how laws are in place to protect families as well as the funeral homes.

You may have stumbled on my site accidentally as you can see it is at the top listing on some search engines.  You now may be curious just what else I’ve got to say about anything relative to the deathcare industry.  My current area of expertise is in Advance Funeral Planning.  With over 10 years experience I am a true blue soup to nuts funeral director.  I still love what I do, helping families.

Got a question, idea for a post, want to comment, or share a story be sure to visit the sites comment page.  If you leave me a message I will write you back.  In my next post I’ll delve further into what the law requires a funeral director for.  Happy surfing.

Over time as more blogs become posted this site will prove to be a very useful tool for any user looking to tap into the knowledge base the site will eventually emass.

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Thank You.

Long Island Funeral