What happens to money I pre-pay if you are no longer in business or you sell your business?

By: William Spence
Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Nearly every person who pre-funds their funeral will ask this question, and rightfully so. It’s wise to know how your money will be invested and what safeguards are in place to protect it for its intended purpose. While our intent is to be personally available to each person pre-arranged with our funeral home, changes sometimes occur beyond our control. We use an insurance policy uniquely designed for the purpose of pre-funding funerals. That money plus the growth remains with the insurance company until services are provided. As the owner of the policy, you always maintain total control of the policy. If the business changes hands, the new owner would be obligated to honor all pre-funded agreements. If the business closed, it would not affect the money you invested in a pre-funded insurance policy. That money would still be there for your future services; however, you would need to choose a different funeral provider.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

What happens if I die away from my hometown?

Although it is seldom that death occurs when traveling for business or pleasure, it occasionally happens.  The short answer to the question is, “Call the funeral director of your choice in you...

Can I have a viewing if I choose to be cremated?

Absolutely! Cremation is only one of several forms of disposition of a body. Other forms of disposition are burial, body donation, aquamation, and composting. Not all these options are permitted in...

Organ and Tissue Donation verses Anatomical Donation

Anatomical Donation and Gift of Life are each programs to consider when individuals and families are considering end-of-life decisions. Both programs are designed that others benefit from another’s...

Considering donating your body?

Anatomical Donation is a recognized and accepted form of human body disposition in the United States. As with all manners of disposition, donating one’s body is a very personal decision. Befor...

“Grief is just love with no place to go.”

Although I have been a licensed funeral director for 29 years, families are still teaching me new things about love, death, and grieving.  I appreciate this thoughtful quote: “Grief ...

What happens to the money when we pre-pay our funerals?

In Pennsylvania, funeral directors are required by law to deposit in escrow or trust the entire amount of the monies received by the funeral director for future expenses. None of this money is avai...

What is “preplanning” and how does it benefit me?

Preplanning is simply a matter of taking care of your funeral service details before the need arises. Today, more and more people are making the thoughtful decision to discuss their final arrangeme...

Do you provide traditional funeral services?

Do you provide traditional funeral services? The answer is “Yes, we provide traditional funeral services.”  Actually, we provide a range of funeral services from traditional services, includi...

Who is William P. Spence?

I was raised in rural Indiana County. Prior to becoming a funeral director, I was employed for 12 years as an underground coal miner by Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Company. In 1993, I graduated...

FEMA Funeral Reimbursement to End September 30, 2025

Since FEMA began accepting applications for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance in April 2021, the agency has provided nearly $3 billion in assistance to more than 438,000 people, with an average award of ...