NYSFDA

Preplanning a Funeral

What are some of the benefits of preplanning a funeral?
Preplanning a funeral allows an individual to make specific choices for a funeral service based on personal preferences. It ensures peace of mind, and relieves the individual’s loved ones of a decision-making process at a stressful time. Preplanning also sets aside funeral funding so that the family will not have to deal with monetary considerations when a death occurs. Prepaying funeral costs can be financially beneficial by paying for a future funeral at today’s costs. It gives you comfort that your funeral will take place according to your own wishes, and eases the burden on your family members.

What are the steps in preplanning a funeral?

Select a funeral director and then meet with him or her to explore options and discuss costs. Once the details of the funeral have been determined, the funeral director will prepare a preneed agreement and fully itemized statement. Preplanning arrangements are portable, and can be changed at the consumer’s direction.
The consumer has several choices for payment of the preneed agreement. One is to prepay in full. These funds must be deposited in a trust account within ten days according to New York State law. Many New York State funeral directors participate in NYSFDA’s PrePlan premier funeral funding program available to NYSFDA member funeral directors and the families they serve.
Family members, one’s attorney and the estate executor should be advised about the preplan agreement and where the relevant documents are stored.

Helpful resources for preplanning a funeral

Consumer Checklist for Prefunding a Funeral (PDF)
Personal and Financial Affairs Checklist for End-of-Life Planning
Before Prepaying Your Funeral, Know Your Rights
A Consumer's Guide to Arranging a Funeral
PrePlan Consumer Information Brochure
Top 10 Things You Should Know About Medicaid/SSI
Preplanning/Prefunding A Funeral: Why and How
SSI/Medicaid Information

NYSFDA's PrePlan is New York's premier funeral funding program available to NYSFDA members and the families they serve.

Search for a PrePlan Trust Fund participating funeral home.

Net consumer yield as of April, 2008 is 3.97%
For more information on PrePlan, E-mail to:preplan@fdss.com