FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Below is a list of questions and responses that we commonly receive at the funeral home. We will continue to include any new questions in this section that we feel would be helpful to others.

If you have a question that has not been covered in this site we would like to hear from you. You may use the "Ask the Director" section of our site to forward your question or comments to us.

If you would prefer to call us on the telephone, our staff would be pleased to provide an answer to any funeral related matter you may have. If we do not have the answer immediately, we will find it for you and contact you the minute the information is in our hands.

1. Is there more than one type of preneed agreement?
 
2. What happens to my money after the contract is signed?
 
3. If I choose goods and services that might not be available at the time of my death, what is the provider required to do?
 
4. How will I know that the prices of items which I select are the same for everyone?
 
5. What is meant by guaranteed and nonguaranteed prices?
 
6. Is it possible to switch my pre-arrangements that are on file at another funeral home ?
 

Question #1Is there more than one type of preneed agreement?
Answer:Yes. Guaranteed contracts mean that the costs of certain individual items or the cost of the total package will never be more to your family or estate. Nonguaranteed means just the opposite. (See the section entitled General Funding Information for more information on guaranteed and nonguaranteed costs.)

Contracts may be funded by insurance/annuity policies, trusts, or transfer of real estate/personal property.


Question #2What happens to my money after the contract is signed?
Answer:Your money will be handled in one of several ways. It may be deposited in a separate trust account in your name. The trust account will list a trustee who will be responsible for handling your account. The funeral home you have selected as your beneficiary will also be listed. You have the right to change the funeral home and the trustee of your account prior to receiving the supplies and services under the preneed contract.

Your money may be used to purchase a preneed life insurance policy, which may be used to pay for your arrangements upon your death. The proceeds of the policy will be assigned to the funeral home of your choice. You may change the funeral home assignment at any time prior to receiving the supplies and services under the preneed contract.

You may decide to choose a life insurance policy or a trust account that requires regular premium payments and not have to make an up-front, lump sum payment.


Question #3If I choose goods and services that might not be available at the time of my death, what is the provider required to do?
Answer:The funeral home which you select is required to furnish supplies and services that are similar in style and equal in value and quality if what you choose is no longer made or is not available at the time of your death.

Your representative or next-of-kin will have the right to choose the supplies or services to be substituted. However, if the substitute is more expensive than the item originally selected by you, your designee or next-of-kin would be responsible for paying the difference. Under no circumstances will the funeral establishment be allowed to substitute lesser goods and services than the ones you chose.

If, before your death, the funeral home goes out of business or is otherwise unable to fulfill their obligation to you under the preneed contract, you have the right to use the proceeds at the funeral home of your choice.

If the inability to provide services does not become apparent until the time of your death, the individual that you named as your designee could use the funds for services at another funeral home.


Question #4How will I know that the prices of items which I select are the same for everyone?
Answer:The funeral home maintains a general price list and a casket and outer burial container price list. Your preneed arranger will give this to you before you begin talking about arrangements. After your discussion is finished, you will be given a copy of your preneed contract on which charges will be listed. Charges will only be made for the items you select. If there are any legal or other requirements that mandate that you must buy any items you did not specifically ask for, the preneed arranger will explain the reason for the charges to you in writing.

You may ask a funeral home to purchase certain items or make special arrangements for you. If the funeral home charges you for these services, you will receive an explanation in writing. The charges to you for these services may be higher than if you or your family purchased them directly.

At the time of your death, your family or estate will be given an itemized statement which will list all of the specific charges. This is a requirement of the Federal Trade Commission. Although not required to do so, some funeral homes may also choose to give you an itemized statement when you make these arrangements.


Question #5What is meant by guaranteed and nonguaranteed prices?
Answer:Some preneed arrangers may agree that certain prices are guaranteed. Some may guarantee the price of the total package. Other funeral homes may not guarantee any prices.

Guaranteed prices are those that will not increase for your family or estate at the time of your death. Basically, this means that your funeral arrangement for those items will be covered by and will not exceed your funding and the interest it earns. Nonguaranteed prices are those which might increase or decrease. The nonguaranteed prices may be written in at the time of this contract with you understanding that the price is an estimate only and may increase or decrease. A settlement to that effect may have to be made with your family or representative after your death.


Question #6Is it possible to switch my pre-arrangements that are on file at another funeral home ?
Answer:YES - The Frost Funeral Home will accept pre-arrangements from any other funeral home.  Transferring you arrangements can be done with just one phone call to our funeral home and our staff will assist you in the transfer of your arrangements.