Preplanning Your Funeral

Why should we preplan for our own funeral? Perhaps we should ask ourselves why don’t we? Today funerals are tailored to meet the needs of each individual family. Each person is unique. There are many types of services we can provide for you. A funeral service, while being a reflection and celebration of a person’s life is really for the deceased’s loved ones left behind. It is the last thing they can do for you. Families feel a sense of comfort knowing they were able to follow your wishes. It is truly a gift you give your loved ones when you have made your wishes known to them.

At the time of your death, the Funeral Home must obtain certain information. Sometimes it can be difficult for families to find the information needed such as the deed to your cemetery plot, Veterans discharge papers, Social Security number etc. If you make prearrangements all the information is kept on file and you are taking a heavy burden off your family.

Prefunding Your Funeral

Some families choose to prefund their funerals. We at the Kearns Funeral Home use the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Prepaid Funeral Trust Fund called “Choices”.

The Trust Fund places your money in an FDIC insured account. Your money stays in your name and is 100% refundable with interest and no penalty, with the exception of SSI/Medicaid. If you should need to apply for public assistance, State and Federal law allow you to prepay your funeral expenses and place the monies in an irrevocable account and the funds are considered excludible assets. The funds however are non refundable and may only be used for the sole purpose of your funeral expenses. If you already have, a Revocable prepaid funeral trust account and are applying for Medicaid or General Assistance the Trust can be converted into an irrevocable account to qualify as an exclusion of assets.

The New Jersey Prepaid Funeral Trust Fund meets all Federal and State consumer protection preneed laws. You may visit Funeral Planning Choices at www.njsfda.org

We at the Kearns Funeral Home are here to answer any questions you may have about prearrangements and prepaying a funeral. Please feel free to call us anytime. We are available seven days a week with the flexibility to meet with families evenings and weekends.