Regarding Funeral Prearrangement
- What is a prearranged funeral?
- How do you make funeral prearrangements?
- Who prearranges a funeral?
- What are the advantages of prearrangements?
- Can a prearranged funeral be prepaid?
- If I choose to prepay my funeral what prepayment options do I have?
- What does the insurance plan and trust fund plan have in common?
- What information does a funeral director require for prearrangement?
- What are my responsibilities as an estate trustee / executor?
- What should an estate trustee / executor know?
- Can I transfer my prearrangements from another funeral home?
- Do You Know?
What is a prearranged funeral?
- A prearranged funeral is a funeral arrangement made prior to a death.
- It is a practical way of determining your wishes for your own funeral, or
- For the funeral of a person for whom you are responsible.
How do you make funeral prearrangements?
- It is not a difficult or complicated task.
- Simply call a Funeral Director and make an appointment.
- There is no charge for prearrangement consultation.
- Price lists of services and caskets are available upon request, without obligation or charge.
- Prearrangements can be made at the Funeral Home or in the privacy of your own home.
- Your wishes are recorded in writing and retained on file until needed.
- Usually retired people who are making a will or changing a will.
- Family members or an executor who is responsible for the care of someone in a nursing home or retirement home.
- People who travel and vacation outside Canada.
- Family members who are caring for someone terminally ill.
- Anyone can consider prearrangement.
What are the advantages of prearrangements?
- Most people tell us “Peace of Mind”.
- Provides an opportunity to ask questions to get clear and concise answers on all aspects of the funeral.
- Personal choices are considered and economic decisions can be made while not under emotional stress.
- Ensures your wishes are recorded in writing and retained on file.
- Relieves family members of difficult choices at time of death.
- Prearrangement is a practical idea that makes sense.
- Prearrangement is part of sensible estate planning
- IE: Making a Will, Pensions/RRSP, Life Insurance Benefits, Prearrangement
Can a prearranged funeral be prepaid?
- Yes, at your option.
- Payment is made in advance at today’s cost.
- Payment can be made in instalments.
- You can also prearrange without prepayment.
If I choose to prepay my funeral what prepayment options do I have?
- With a Preplanning Funeral Insurance Plan:
- No medical is required.
- Payments can be made by single payment or 3, 5, and 10 year instalments.
- With a Trust Fund Plan - Single Payment - No age restriction
- The funeral home must deposit your funds in trust.
- The accrued interest growth is applied to any cost increase when the services are required.
What does the insurance plan and trust fund plan have in common?
- The funeral services prepaid are guaranteed.
- There are no further charges to the family or estate -- except newspaper, flowers, clergy, etc.
- Interest growth on a prearranged funeral is not subject to income tax.
- Prepaid funds are protected by law by compensation funds, either the Prepaid Funeral Services Compensation Fund or the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Compensation Corporation.
- The maximum anyone can contribute to a prepaid funeral is $15,000.00.
- You can withdraw prepaid funds upon request with all accrued interest, less an administration fee.
- For example:
- An Insurance funded plan is 15%;
- A Trust funded plan is $200.00 or 10%.
- For example:
What information does a Funeral Director require for prearrangement?
- Name, address, birth date and birthplace
- Social Insurance Number
- Full name of husband or maiden name of wife, even if widowed or divorced
- Occupation
- Father’s name and birthplace
- Mother’s maiden name and birthplace
- Cemetery or crematorium
- Clergy’s name
- Place of service - Church, Funeral Home Chapel
- Name and address of executor, legal representative or next of kin
What are my responsibilities as an estate Trustee / Executor?
- One of the first responsibilities of an executor is making or assisting with the funeral arrangements. Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Funeral Home provides an “Executor’s Toolkit”© to assist families.
What should an estate Trustee / Executor know?
- Where the will is located and what it contains.
- If you trust a person enough to make them an executor, give them a copy of your will.
- Keep your original will in a safety deposit box, but keep a copy at home. Generally banks are not open on holidays and weekends.
- Inform your executor of what your funeral prearrangements are. Many wills only state what Funeral Home to call, not what the person’s wishes are.
Can I transfer my prearrangements from another funeral home?
- You have the legal right to transfer your arrangement. In fact, we will assist you and absorb any administration fee levied. For further information, please contact Preplanning Department at (613) 233-1143 ext. 280 or preplanning@mcgarryfamily.ca.
- We provide complimentary seminars on a variety of topics including: Funeral Planning, Executor and Estate Settlement and Cremation Options. Specifically tailored seminars for your group can also be arranged.