Peace of Mind for You and Your Loved Ones…and More
When your loved one passes, the most important thing you need to do is grieve…everything else should be secondary. Unfortunately, there’s usually a funeral and burial that need to be planned. But it doesn’t have to be that way. By preplanning your funeral and burial, you can alleviate much of the stress and anxiety your loved ones will experience in the immediate aftermath of your passing. They won’t have to worry if they’re following your wishes, and they can focus their attention and energy where it needs to be…on honoring your presence in their lives and grieving that loss.
The Many Benefits of Preplanning a Funeral
There are many good reasons for putting a plan in place for your own funeral:
- It’s one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones—Experts estimate that there are some 70+ details that must be addressed after someone dies. That doesn’t leave much time for reflection or for simply acknowledging the loss. A preplan eliminates the guesswork for your family, but it also assures them that your wishes are being followed.
- You (and your family) will have much more control over the costs of the funeral and burial—You can pre-fund most or all of the costs of your funeral, often locking in prices on some aspects of the service. In addition, it relieves family members of concerns about how your funeral and burial will be paid for.
- You can determine exactly what your memorial will be and how you will be remembered—With a preplan, you can identify who will speak, what will be recited and other particulars of your funeral
- A preplan can help ensure that life insurance proceeds go to your loved ones
Consumers Who Preplan Funerals Are Protected under New York Law
The state of New York has long been at the forefront of protecting individuals and families who engage in funeral preplanning. New York has specific statutes requiring:
- That anyone seeking to preplan a funeral receive a price list, a copy of the pre-plan agreement and a complete and detailed list of goods and services provided
- That the person or entity offering the preplanned services (funeral director) deposit any funds placed in the preplan in a financial institution or trust, in a government-backed investment, within 10 business days. The funeral director must notify the purchaser of the name and location of the institution within 30 business days of the deposit.
- That the funeral director provide annual written notice of all account activity, including expenditures and earnings
- That, upon request from the purchaser, the funeral director return all funds deposited and interest earned, without penalty or fee
In New York, funeral directors may not charge a fee for preplanning a funeral or burial.
Furthermore, because the funeral director does not directly hold the funds, consumers are protected if a funeral home closes. In such circumstances, the financial institution must notify the accountholder within 30 days. The accountholder may transfer the funds to a new funeral home or may request a return of all funds and interest earned.
Gutterman’s—Comprehensive Funeral and Burial Services for the Jewish Community
At Gutterman’s, with chapels in New York and Florida, we have provided compassionate and detailed funeral and burial services for more than 125 years. We understand the traditions and customs of the Jewish faith, and can assist you with all matters after the death of a loved one, whether it’s the determination of the order of service, the selection of a monument or memorial, the creation of a Yahrzeit calendar, the choice of a casket, the language of an obituary or arrangements for sitting Shiva.
Because we’ve been providing services to individuals and families for five generations now, we understand the critical role that grieving plays in the healing process. We are also committed to the health and well-being of our customers, their loved ones, and our staff. Accordingly, we will work closely with you to find ways to honor your faith and customs, pay your respects to cherished family members and stay safe. Today, as we have throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain committed to helping you honor those who have passed on while minimizing the risk to those who remain.
For a statement of the current safety measures in place at our chapels, go to our website.
To learn how we can be of comfort and assistance to you after the death of a loved one, contact us online or call us at one of the numbers listed below. At the present time, because of the COVID crisis, we remain available by phone, text message or videoconferencing. We will take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.