Frequently Asked Questions about New York Funeral Pre-Planning
Answers to Common Questions about How the Process Works
When you die, you don’t want to create added stress and anxiety for your loved ones, as they try to make decisions about the details of your funeral and burial. One of the greatest gifts you can leave them is a preplanned funeral and burial, where you’ve set forth the details of the memorial service, where you’ll be buried, and the type of casket or monument you want. You can even pay most of the expenses before you die. Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit can help.
At Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit, we have provided comprehensive funeral and burial services to families in the Jewish community for more than 130 years. With funeral chapels in Florida and New York, we can assist with any matter related to a funeral or burial, from the order of service at the memorial to the selection of a monument, the arrangements for sitting Shiva or the creation of a Yahrzeit calendar. We have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the funeral preplanning process in New York. To learn more, contact us by email or call us at one of the numbers listed below.
The Things You Want to Know about Funeral Preplanning in New York
What is funeral preplanning?
With a funeral preplan, you work directly with a funeral home director to identify the details of your funeral and burial, which can include the order of service at your memorial, the selection of a casket or monument, and the location of your burial. While most preplanning also includes some level of prepayment, it’s not a requirement. The funeral director will typically keep a copy of your plan on file, to be followed upon your death.
When is the best time to preplan a New York funeral?
The sooner you preplan your funeral, the better, as a general rule. When planning is done before needs become critical, better decisions tend to be made. In addition, the earlier you plan, the more financially manageable the process will typically be.
How do you prepay for funeral or burial services in New York?
There are two methods to prepay funeral and burial expenses in New York. You can put funds in a bank account which specifies the funder home as the beneficiary or you can enter into an agreement whereby you transmit the funds to the funeral home, with the funeral home acting as a trustee for your benefit.
Does prepayment cover all the potential costs of your funeral or burial?
No. Some expenses will be fixed by your agreement and others will not. Fixed costs include the expense of funeral arrangements, use of the chapel, refrigeration, casket or monument expenses, and costs associated with a limo or hearse. The expenses related to the cemetery, including the grave opening, are typically not fixed, nor are the costs of clergy or death certificates. The common terminology in New York is “guaranteed” vs. “non-guaranteed” funerals. With a guaranteed funeral, you won’t have to pay anything extra for the goods and services listed in the contract at the time of your funeral, but cemetery costs, death certificates and clergy fees will customarily be excluded. With a “non-guaranteed” funeral, you will be charged prevailing fees at the time of your death and any funds you have deposited will be used to offset those costs.
What happens to the money that you give the funeral home to fund your preplanning?
By law in New York, the funeral director has 10 days from the date of receipt of any funds from you to deposit those funds in either an interest-bearing account or a government-backed investment. The funeral director must provide you with notice of when and where the funds were deposited within 30 days of making the deposit.
Can you change your mind and void a funeral preplanning agreement in New York?
Only if you entered into a “revocable” agreement. If you specified that the agreement was revocable, you can take your principal and any interest earned and cancel the agreement at any time. You cannot be charged a penalty or any type of administrative fee for cancellation.
What are the benefits of entering into an “irrevocable” funeral preplanning agreement in New York?
If you are applying for Medicaid or for Supplemental Security benefits through Social Security, you must enter into an irrevocable funeral preplanning agreement. These are the only situations where an irrevocable agreement is allowed.
Can you change funeral homes after you’ve entered into an irrevocable agreement?
Yes. You must notify the funeral home that is holding your funds in writing. The funds must be sent to the new provider within 10 days of the receipt of your request.
What happens if there is money left in the account of an irrevocable funeral preplan after all expenses are paid?
Any remaining money will be paid to the county in which the funeral is held.
Let Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit Help You With the New York Funeral Pre-Planning Process
At Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit, we have more than 130 years of experience providing comprehensive funeral and burial services to individuals and families in the Jewish community. To learn more about how we can help you with New York funeral pre-planning, call us at one of the numbers below or contact us online. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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