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.

What is a funeral director and do you really need one?

In the state of New York, a funeral director is the only person who is legally empowered to handle any death arrangements. They must be licensed and registered with the state and must be present and personally supervise the burial or cremation as well as the transportation of a body. They must also complete the paperwork to be submitted to the registrar in which district the death occurred.

Not everyone can be a funeral director or a mortician. You need to have a degree in Mortuary Science from an accredited college by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. And in many states, you need to be involved in a continuing education program to ensure that the funeral director are well versed with the latest techniques and regulations. To perform embalming a funeral director need to be licensed to do so.

A Funeral Director handles all aspects of a funeral ceremony including procession

In the US, although individual states have their own regulations pertaining to licensing, generally at least an associate’s degree is required with examinations by the National Board Examination and state board examination and on top of that at least a year’s work as an apprentice.

A funeral director’s basic tasks include transporting the body, custodial care which include dressing, casketing and cosmetizing the body especially if there is going ot an open casket viewing, and may also involve embalming, and presentation of the body for viewing, burial or cremation and transfer of the body elsewhere if necessary. Besides that, a funeral director can advise you on the various services either offered by the funeral home itself or by a third party vendor.

He or she would also be able to help you with regards to cemetery requirements and burial permit, and specific religious rites.

Almost all of the paperwork involve would also be taken care by a funeral director. This would include claims for social security, veterans benefit, insurance and wills. Not forgetting permits, certificates and obituaries. The cemetery deed should be given to you by the funeral director within seven days of burial.

Other services that a funeral director can coordinate include arranging for a clergy, musicians, flowers and donations. A funeral director would also be able to advise you on the suitable burial vessel or container for cremation. However, it is illegal for him to pressure anyone to purchase certain services or goods that isn’t required by law.

A funeral director does not only coordinate the ceremonial arrangements and supervise the logistics of a funeral but they may also provide grief counseling for beloved survivors of the deceased. He is also the person whom you can go to for any advise in almost all aspects pertaining to the death of a loved one.

To engage a funeral director will help lessen the burden when you are at a time consumed with grief and where there seem to be so many decisions to make, procedures to follow and paperwork to fill out. It will also ensure a professional handling of all pertaining matters and you will fell much better knowing you did the best you can for a respectful and dignified final journey of your loved one.

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.

1. PROTECTING YOUR ARRANGEMENTS FROM INFLATION

By prefunding your funeral arrangements you can guarantee the funeral home charges.  The way it works is when you prepay for a funeral you are placing the cost of the funeral at the price listed on the funeral homes most recent General Price List in an investment vehicle, the most common method is a Prepaid Funeral Trust account, so that the interest earned will keep up with inflation to cover the cost of the funeral, at the future prices from the most recent General Price List, when the death occurs.

2. PEACE OF MIND

Just knowing that you can choose how you wish to be remembered and also knowing that your personal wishes will be carried out.

3. YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR FUNERAL

You get to make all of the important decisions for what type of funeral arrangements you want for yourself.  Whether it be burial or cremation preplanning allows you to make specific choices for the type of services or merchandise based on your own personal preferences.

4. YOUR MONEY WILL BE PROTECTED

Anyone who prearranges their funeral in New York state can take comfort in knowing that their money will be protected by what are honestly the most powerful pre-need laws in the nation.  New York State laws require that 100% of the money used for prearranged funerals be deposited in an interest bearing account.  The account needs to be a government backed trust account where the principle and interest earned remain the property of the purchaser.  According to the law the purchaser must remain in control of the assets in the account.

5. FREE YOUR FAMILY FROM FINANCIAL BURDEN

You can relieve your family of making very difficult decisions at one of the worst times they may have to face.  Prepaying funeral costs can be financially beneficial buy purchasing a future funeral at today’s costs.

July 25, 2009- Michael Jackson died from lack of breathing and whatever else the coroner’s report might read. Seventy days later, the world will once again conduct him accordingly through their prayers and lay his body to its eternal rest. Finally we can have some closure.

I understand in criminal investigations funerals may be delayed for a period of time. Surely when speaking of someone as well noted as the “King of Pop,” extra care must be given so that the fingers are pointed in the right direction. It is unfortunate that while this appears to be necessary for justice to be accomplished, a man lies in a state of unrest.

Michael Jackson’s body is being kept in storage at another cemetery in refrigeration for his family to view him until his day of committal. I believe most will agree that the length of time is a bit extreme. I’m here to also add that it is not unheard of.

There are circumstances such as these where a disposition must be delayed. Aside from criminal investigations, there are situations where the cemetery is the cause. An interment may be delayed for months due to climate conditions where the grave cannot be dug until after the winter months begin waning. Another good example is Arlington National Cemetery, where there is a waiting list for interments. I recall an incident early in my career where a woman died and the funeral home I was working for received permission to remove and embalm. The arrangements had to be postponed until two of the woman’s sons could get to the funeral home. Turns out they were both working for the CIA and one of the sons was undercover and would not be back for the funeral. The other son was going to return for the services and funeral but that was not going to take place until a month later. The two boys explained that their aunt who was working for the embassy in Italy could not get back to the states until her work there was finished. Not only that but she would be the authorizing agent for the funeral arrangements. The length of time from date of death to the day of burial was 21 days.

Did I mention that I specialize in pre arrangements otherwise known as advance funeral planning? Let this be a lesson to any person who works for the CIA, FBI, some foreign embassy, military personal… get my drift? Basically, any person whose lifestyle warrants them to be away from home and responsibility…Please make sure you have funeral plans in place- it just makes everything that much easier.

Getting back to Michael, with the interment scheduled for tomorrow I believe that now his family can go on and grieve the loss of their son, brother, husband, father and friend. Let us not forget to mention his undying fans who will keep his memory alive by playing his songs and music videos forevermore. Tributes are already flooding the internet for this great legend and I’m sure more are to come. My concern lies with his contemporaries and when they will write a song fitting to this man’s legacy. There are some who believe such tributes are forthcoming and that they are already in the works just waiting for the right time…I certainly hope so. I believe that time is now.It would bring disgrace to his name if neglected. Sean “Puffy” Combs, where is the lyric for Michael? Biggie received his tribute just 80 days from his date of death. Now is the time to get it done.

Lastly, if I may quote one of Michael’s lyrics:

But They Say The Sky’s
The Limit
And To Me That’s Really True
And My Friends You Have
Seen Nothin’
Just Wait ‘Til I Get Through . . .

Michael has broken through and the world has changed.

Lord, let his good deeds follow him.



Amen.

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.

to be continued…

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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Long Island Funeral

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.