What does it mean?

To Prearrange your funeral means to write down your final wishes before they are needed.  Your prearrangement may simply include service details or be as specific as selecting a casket and vault and providing a fund to cover these costs.

Advantages of Prearranging:

First of all, prearranging gives both you and your family peace of mind, knowing that your funeral arrangements have already been made.  This saves your family from having to deal with this stress in an emergency situation.  It also gives you the opportunity to select the casket and vault of your choice rather than leaving it up to someone else to decide.  Prearranging provides information necessary to complete all forms required to be filed at the time of death.  Simply stated, it allows you the opportunity to make informed decisions and relieves your family of two of life's most difficult burdens - arranging your funeral and paying for it.

What Are My Options?

There are basically two types of preneed contracts.

• Revocable - This type of contract may be withdrawn or cancelled at any time.
• Irrevocable - This type of contract may NOT be cancelled or withdrawn

Both of these contracts have advantages and disadvantages, but these are more easily discussed when we are able to consider your particular circumstances.  It is important to note that NO preneed contract binds you to a particular Funeral Home.

Funding Options:

Advantages:

• Money is held locally
• Money is federally insured
• Account may be added to at any time

Insurance Policy - Money entrusted to the Funeral Home purchases an insurance policy which pays at the insured's death.

Advantages:

• There is an automatic increase in the policy value, the amount of which
  depends on your age.
• Money grows at a higher interest rate.
• Interest earned is not subject to income taxes.
• Unused money is returned to the family tax free.
• Most importantly, there is an insurance policy to fit anyone's budget.

With both Trust Deposits and Insurance Policies there is a one time fee of $20.00, which is paid to the State Board of Mortuary Science and used to ensure the safety of your money.

After the Funeral expenses are paid, any funds remaining are refunded to your estate or family, depending on the type of account you choose.

Inflation-proof contracts, while are available, are not recommended.

We would like to have the opportunity to serve your family in their time of need.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about our services or facilities.  We are also available to speak on this or any funeral related topic for church or civic groups by calling any of our three locations.