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March 5, 2020

Can I Transfer My Pre-Arrangements To Another Funeral Home?

Making funeral arrangements in advance makes a lot of sense. Taking care of things ahead of time is a gift to loved ones that spares them the stress of having to do it during such an emotional time. You can also save money because you can decide exactly what type of service you want. But sometimes, due to a move to another town or simply changing your mind about which funeral home you want to use; you may need to transfer your arrangements.

 

Pennsylvania law requires that money related to prearranged funeral contracts be placed in escrow by a licensed organization. Preneed contracts are usually done through insurance or a trust fund. At the time of making arrangements, the original funeral home should have provided you with a copy of the paperwork related to your selection and any funding.

 

If you decide that you would like to transfer your pre-arrangements to another funeral home, the first thing you need to determine is if you prefunded the arrangements. If you only made funeral plans, but did not prefund; making a transfer is as simple as notifying the funeral home where you would like your paperwork transferred. It may be helpful to ask the staff at the new funeral home to assist with this process.

 

If you have prefunded in some form, the process to transfer arrangements requires a few more steps. In most cases, it’s helpful to ask the staff of the funeral home you want to transfer arrangement to, to assist with the process. Here are some common ways that funerals are prefunded and what you need to do to transfer them.

 

Funeral Insurance Policy

 

These type of policies are written specifically to cover funeral costs. Funeral homes often work with specialized insurance companies to set up these policies. Unlike a general life insurance policy that has a person(s) as beneficiary, these policies name the funeral home as the beneficiary. The funeral home must provide documentation about the services that they provide in order for any insurance monies to be paid to them. The funeral home does not receive any funds until services have been provided.

 

To transfer an insurance policy, you simply need to contact the insurance company and notify them of the change of funeral home beneficiary. More than likely, you will need to fill out a form and send it to the insurance company.

 

Funeral Trust

 

Another option for prepaying funeral costs is to set up a trust with a financial institution. The money needed to fund the funeral is deposited into an interest bearing account that the financial institution holds on your behalf. In many cases, the funeral home is designated as the recipient of the trust to offset expenses after your death.

 

To transfer a funeral trust account, you should contact the financial institution and notify them that you want to change the beneficiary. Some paperwork may be necessary.

 

If you would like to transfer your pre-arrangements, simply call us. We can assist you with the transfer process at no cost to you.

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