Q&A
Click on the questions below to reveal each respective answer.
Yes, A funeral firm shall inform persons who call the firm’s place of business and inquire about the terms, conditions or prices at which funeral goods or services are offered, that price information is available over the telephone. A firm shall also inform such persons, who ask by telephone about the offerings or prices of any accurate information from the lists (general, casket, or outer interment receptacle) or other readily available source which reasonably answers the question.
New York State regulations require funeral firms to provide for retention general price lists to any individuals who inquire in person at the place of business about funeral arrangements or prices and availability of funeral services and merchandise offered. The general answer to this question is no, but some of our members will honor such requests. Please call your local funeral firm. They may consider providing the general price list by e-mail. Also search the web sites of funeral firms some may contain the firm’s general price list.
Most people prefer a traditional funeral. However, we offer many other choices to make the service meaningful to the family. Memorial services, special musical requests, cremation, military and fraternal tributes are just a few of the options we make available. We try to honor any special preferences or requests.
The cost of a funeral depends on what you prefer. We offer many services to choose from and a wide selection of caskets, vaults and other memorials. Part of “being prepared” is knowing the cost so you will fell comfortable with the selections you make. We are willing to discuss specific costs with you. Advance planning also helps you prepare for the expense and permits you to set aside the funds over a period of time.
In New York State you need a funeral home to handle the arrangements. The funeral director transfers the remains from the place of death to the funeral home. He (she) then prepares the death certificate and secures the medical certification and cause of death from the attending physician, medical examiner or coroner, files the document and secures the permit for the cremation, prepares the remains for cremation and places them in a cremation receptacle or casket chosen by the customer, transports to the cemetery and lastly retrieves the remains and executes their disposition as per a customer’s designation of intentions signed by the customer. The cemetery/crematory would only provide the service of cremation.
Your funeral directors are established upon service to families. We respect your wished at all times and work hard to meet the special needs and requests from you and your family, both when planning ahead and at time of need. Together we can develop plans to meet your current needs.
The first call should always go to your local Funeral Director. He (she) can make all the arrangements at the point of death. Cost can be kept to a minimum because only necessary services will be ordered and not duplicated.
Some Commonly Asked Pre-Need Questions
At your local Funeral Home. New York State has Laws, Regulations, and rules governing pre-arrangement and the pre-funding of Funeral Services. Your local Funeral Director can provide you with service options, merchandise choices and methods of final disposition. He (she) can also assist you in arranging for the place of final disposition at your Cemetery of choice. Call your funeral professional first.
No, the funeral firm must deposit those funds in an interest bearing account in a federally insured depository in New York State within ten (10) business days. The account shall be in the name and social security number of the purchaser or beneficiary and held in trust for the funeral firm. The purchaser or beneficiary shall be notified within thirty (30) days of the name of the depository and the account number.
Yes, upon receiving a written notice of cancellation, the funeral firm shall refund 100% of the principal and all accruals of accumulated interest to the purchaser or beneficiary within ten (10) business days.
Funeral firms in New York State may choose to guarantee the arrangements against inflation or they may not. This is up to the firm, however the firm’s policy must be clearly be stated in the pre-need contract signed by the customer and the funeral director. A funeral firm guarantees its pre-arrangements by asking the purchaser or beneficiary to open a Trust account and leave the principal and accruals of interest on deposit to be used at maturity to cover the cost services and merchandise as selected. The firm then provides services and merchandise for the amount contained in the account. If there is a short fall the firm discounts to the balance and if there is an overage the firm will return that amount to the purchaser. Make sure you understand the funeral firm’s guarantee policy before you make pre-arrangements and pre-pay for those arrangements.
Note: “Cash Advance” items to be secured by the funeral firm on behalf of the purchaser and will be provided by third parties outside of the funeral firm are usually never guaranteed.
New York State law mandates that all contracts for pre-funded funerals executed by applicants or recipients of Medicaid be irrevocable. This means, if cancelled the deposited funds can not be returned, but are portable and can be entirely transferred to another funeral firm.
Your funeral plans can be transferred at any time should you move. We can even recommend a reputable funeral home in your new community. Through pre-arrangement, you can be confident your wishes will be fulfilled wherever you may live.
You can be assured your funds are protected by state and federal regulations regardless of the operation at our members funeral homes. However, our members have longstanding reputations in their communities and are committed to continuing to serve the many families who have place their trust in us
