Planning Ahead

The idea behind funeral prearrangement is simply that you can have your funeral plans completed in advance so the difficult decisions that need to be made to not have to be addressed immediately following a death. It is important to understand that there are over ninety items that need to be decided on when making funeral arrangements. Preplanning is a step by step approach which allows you to take your time with these important choices. Choosing to make these decisions in advance gives you and your family peace of mind in knowing your final wishes have been recorded and will followed through. There is no charge for our preplanning services.

Below is a general guideline to help you begin this important process.

1. Set up a conference with one of our funeral directors.
   • This is a one on one meeting with your funeral director to discuss how you want your legacy to be remembered.
   
   
2. Record your wishes.
• Our funeral directors will thoroughly explain all of the decisions that need to be made when planning this important event.


3. Choose your pre-funding option.
• Set up a Trust or Insurance Account to fund the funeral
• Interest accrued on the Trust or Insurance Account offsets the rising costs of funerals. By funding in advance, your family can save a lot of money in the long run.


4. Share with your family.
• Let your family know you have made these important decisions to give them peace of mind knowing they will not have to go through the stress of choosing what they think you would have wanted.

Common questions regarding preplanning:

Where does the money go that I prepay into the plan?

We are mandated by law to deposit 100% of the money into a Trust or Insurance Account in your name to cover the cost of the funeral. This money cannot be released until an official death certificate is presented. Therefore, it is important to understand that our funeral home has no control over your money until the funeral services are rendered.

How do I know you will really put my money in the appropriate account?

If you have chosen to put your money into a trust, it will be registered with Interment Trust in Chicago, IL who will confirm directly to you that the trust has been set up. If you have chosen an insurance account, the Forethought Life Insurance Company will confirm that the account has been set up appropriately. In both cases, you will also receive periodic updates on the performance of your account.

How can I be sure the funeral home will not charge my loved ones more at the time of my funeral?

When your selected funeral is fully funded, the Shaughnessey-Banks Funeral Home guarantees the charges for our services and merchandise will never be more that what you paid in. The only additional charges would be if the survivors wish to purchase and service or merchandise in addition to the prearranged plan. The funeral home cannot guarantee cash advance items such as the price of certified death certificates, church fees, obituaries, or opening and closing of the grave to name a few. Cash advance items are outside charges we put on our bill for your convenience, but have no control over price increases above the rate of inflation. However, you can certainly put money towards these items, but a small balance may be owed if their prices have gone up dramatically.

What is your funeral home is no longer in business at the time of my death?

Because your money is held in a Trust or Insurance Account in your name, the money will always be there. If this was the case, the money in your account can be transferred to another funeral home of your choice.

What if my family moves out of the area and no longer wishes to have services in Connecticut?

Should you move outside of our service area, your account can be transferred to another funeral home of your choice.

Won't my life insurance benefits cover all of my funeral expenses?

It may, but life insurance is often intended for your family's security after you are gone. Also, remember when your funeral is prepaid using a funeral home contract, we can guarantee your family will never have to pay more for our services or merchandise should our prices go up, saving you money in the long run. Also, in the instance you may have to go on Title 19, any and all personal life insurance must be liquidated as they are considered a monetary asset. Funeral Trusts and Insurance Accounts are exempt as assets by Title 19.

Doesn't Social Security provide a death benefit?

Social Security provides a one time lump-sum payment of only $255, payable to a surviving spouse, or dependant child. Obviously this is well below the cost of any funeral.

Can Shaughnessey-Banks Funeral Home ever cancel my funeral plan?

Absolutely not.

Planning Ahead Form