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PRE-ARRANGING: A DETAILED OVERVIEW
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WHAT IS PREARRANGEMENT?
Prearrangement is the process of arranging and funding a funeral before the need actually arises. All of the aspects relating to a funeral are discussed and planned just as if the person has passed. The type of service, the casket and outer burial container, an obituary notification will be recorded and kept at the funeral home. All of your decisions are made without the element of grief being present. By prearranging, a troublesome time is made easier.
Pre-Need Funeral Agreement.pdf | Pre-Need Statement.pdf
The Benefits of Planning Ahead
By Pre-Planning a funeral of a loved one, allows you to share feelings about various aspects of funeral services and inform everyone of your personal preferences. It provides an opportunity to put all affairs in order in a relaxed, unhurried way.
Any questions about this process, ask your funeral planning counselor for additional information. Remember that a funeral is one of the most personal, emotional occasions your family will ever share and there are many options you'll want to consider. By planning in advance, you can ensure that the decisions you make are satisfying to everyone involved.
The Value of a Funeral
Funeral services benefit the family in several ways. The funeral provides for the dignified care of the deceased, so that the Funeral can help those who are left behind take the first step in overcoming grief.
Funeral arrangements that are made in keeping with the personality and interests of the deceased are especially meaningful for those who are left behind. Due to the many details and decisions that must be made when a death occurs, these arrangements are much more gratifying when made in advance, while there is sufficient time to talk about preferences and decisions, together about the various options.
Costs and Payment
Due to the wide range of services and merchandise offered by our home, it is impractical to state what a funeral will cost in general terms. One of the most satisfying peace-of-mind benefits of planning ahead is knowing that the arrangements you make are within your financial circumstances. We will prepare an itemized list of costs for all services and merchandise you choose. To begin the process, you can review our price list here
Price List
PREARRANGEMENT: THE PROCESS
When you have decided that prearranging is a good idea, we will take you through the process stage. First we put together the information for the death certificate and the obituary. The next step is to decide the type of service you want to arrange. Many options are available and we will customize the service to your specific needs. Once we arrange all of the service details, the next step is to select a casket and an outer burial container. While this may seem like a difficult thing to do, we will explain the caskets and outer burial containers completely. As you are deciding, we will keep you informed of the expenses associated with your choices. The process of prearranging is not difficult and we will do our best to make it easier.
THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS:
The reason most people prearrange, is to relieve the survivors from the financial burden of arranging a funeral. Our prearrangement program is insurance-based. What this means is that once you have made all of the necessary decisions, we will issue an insurance policy written for the amount of the services, casket and outer burial container that you have selected. Doing this allows us to freeze the cost of these items. We can do this because the policy will begin earning interest which stays on the policy to offset the effects of inflation. Once you pay the policy in full, there is no further expense to you or your survivors for these items.
What happens if something should happen to you before you pay the policy in full?
In that instance the insurance assumes the responsibility and automatically pays the funeral in full. If the insurance is worth more than the current day cost of the services, casket and outer burial container, the excess is returned to the family of the deceased. If the insurance is worth less than the current day cost for those items, we write-off the difference.
However, there are some items we cannot freeze the cost of. This would be the these items shown on the price list “cash advance” items. Which can include such things as obituary notices, copies of the death certificate, sales tax and cemetery expenses. Funds can be set aside in what we call the “cash fund” to help offset these expenses. We cannot freeze cash advances because the funeral home does not determine them. At the time of need, if the current cash advances are more than the estimated amount then the survivors are responsible for the balance. If the current cash advances are less than the estimated amount, we return the excess to the family.
INSURABILITY FACTORS
Certain factors will determine your insurability. If the proposed insured is in good health and under 83 years of age then we can issue the insurance without difficulty. In the unfortunate event that the proposed insured is suffering from a terminal illness there is a two-year waiting period before the insurance is in force. We also offer the option of not having the insurance protection. Either way, you are still freezing the cost of the service, casket and outer burial container. When you begin making prearrangements, we will help you decide which option is best for you.
Who is the beneficiary of my prearrangement?
The Funeral Home is the beneficiary but only to the extent of current day costs of the service, casket and outer burial container. Any remaining funds are returned to the deceased’s family as listed in the Pre-Need Statement
Pre-Need Statement
What if I move to another city?
Our prearrangements are fully transferable to any funeral home over fifty miles away without any penalty.
What if something happens before my insurance is in force?
Your family is only responsible for the remaining balance on the service, casket and outer burial container at the frozen price not the current day price. They would also be responsible for any cash advances that exceed the balance of the cash fund.
What if I want to cancel my prearrangement?
While we don’t recommend it, you can cancel at any time. You are the owner of your prearrangement. If you want to cancel, we will arrange to have the financial institution refund any and all money you paid into the prearrangement.
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