Pre-planned
funerals have become a reality for many families. Personal,
financial, and legal considerations make pre-planning desirable.
For
those who pre-pay funerals, the guidelines provided by law specify
that funds be held in trust by an independent financial institution.
Methods
of Pre-Funding funerals include:
Funeral
Trusts
Funds
may be placed in a trust fund deposited in a Massachusetts bank
to be invested and earn interest. Interest remains in the trust
and is reinvested. The funeral purchaser is responsible for
the income taxes on the earnings. For most people the earnings
are small enough as to be of no consequence and will not effect
people who already pay no tax. For this service we use The New
England Funeral Trust.
Traditional
Life Insurance and Annuities
Traditional
life insurance policies are sold by a licensed insurance agent
or broker which can be used to pay for funeral expenses. Traditional
policies may be sold by a funeral director if the director is
licensed as an insurance agent. The death benefit of such policies
can be assigned to the funeral home.
Separate
Bank Account
A
bank account may be established in a Massachusetts bank for
the purpose of funding a funeral arrangement. The interest will
increase over time. The interest earned each year is subject
to income tax.