No one likes to talk about the subject of death and the implications for the deceased and his or her family.
However, it is necessary to talk about it at some point because if you don’t prepare your last wishes before death, you will leave this painful task to your loved ones.
In Ontario and Quebec, prearrangement contracts are used to plan a funeral ahead of time and avoid leaving the burden to one’s family. In some cases, funeral arrangements lead to bitter disputes at a time when the family is in mourning.
Thus, a prearranged funeral service is practical, convenient, and even economical because they can be paid for via installments and cost less.
But what are prearrangement contracts and how do they work? Keep reading to get all the details and know how making a prearranged funeral can benefit you and your family.
What is a pre-arranged funeral contract?
A pre-arranged funeral contract (also called “prearranged funeral”) is a package that combines two types of contracts in one: the funeral services contract and the burial contract.
The purpose of pre-arranged funerals is to choose in advance the services to be provided at the time of death, the ceremony, the disposal of the body, and the place where you wish to have your body or ashes placed.
The funeral services contract
The first part of a pre-arrangement is the funeral services contract. It tells your loved ones what services you want to have at the time of your death such as the ceremony, cremation, embalming of the body, etc.
It also covers the purchase of goods for your funeral or for your remains: casket, tombstone, urn, and more. In this contract, you indicate exactly what you want so that your wishes will be respected at your death.
The burial contract
The second contract that completes the funeral pre-arrangement is the burial contract. This contract provides for the purchase and maintenance of a plot, whether in a cemetery, mausoleum, columbarium, etc.
This allows you to clearly indicate to your loved ones and to the funeral home the exact location where you wish to be buried after your death. This way, your family does not have to take on this delicate task which can often lead to conflicts.
2 Huge Benefits of prearrangement contracts
As you can see, there are many decisions to be made about your death. If you don’t choose anything yourself, you will leave it to your loved ones.
Taking the time to make a prearrangement contract while you are alive gives you two important advantages.
You decide what happens after your death
By expressing your last wishes in a prearrangement contract, you made the decision on what will happen after your death. You remain in control until the very end. Not only will your loved ones have no choice but to respect what you have chosen, but you will have informed the law of the funeral service you expect, and the location where you wish to be laid to rest.
If you do not leave instructions, it will be up to your loved ones to decide, and their choices may not necessarily be consistent with your values. Deciding and planning ahead is the best thing to do.
You save your loved ones from a difficult and painful task
When a loved one dies, we go through a difficult ordeal. We are not in the best state to make decisions or to have to accomplish certain tasks. With a funeral prearrangement, you save your loved ones from the painful task of organizing your funeral and everything that comes with it. You spare your loved ones this painful and potentially conflicting ordeal. This is the best gift you can give them. They will be able to grieve in peace.
Is a contract valid under the law?
In order for a pre-arranged funeral contract to be valid in the eyes of the law, you must first consult a funeral service company. Then, the funeral services contract and the burial contract must contain certain information, including:
- The name and address of the funeral home and its representative
- Your name, address, and contact information of the persons to whom you wish to give a copy of the contract
- The contract number, date, and place of signature
- A complete description of the services and goods selected, the prices including taxes, as well as the terms of payment
- The terms and conditions for managing your money between the date of the signing the contract and your death
- The terms and conditions for cancelling the contract
Finally, the funeral services company must give a copy of the pre-arrangement contract to you and the people named in the contract within 10 days of signing it. In the event that a contract does not include all of this information, you may request a cancellation by the court.
Is it possible to cancel the contract and the services reserved?
What happens if you change your mind and want to review, or even cancel, your contract? Is this possible? Yes, under certain conditions!
The law provides for different cancellation procedures depending on whether the contract is for funeral services or burial services, and whether the contract was signed at the seller’s premises or elsewhere.
Type of Contract | Option for cancellation | Penalty | |
Funeral Services | Contract solicited, negotiated, and concluded at the vendor’s premises | Anytime | At most, 10% of the value of the services or goods reserved or purchased |
Funeral Services | Contract solicited, negotiated, and concluded anywhere other than the vendor’s premises | up to 30 days after the receipt of the contract | No penalty |
30 days or more after the receipt of the contract | At most, 10% of the value of the goods and services reserved or purchased | ||
Burial Services | Contract solicited, negotiated, and concluded in the vendor’s premises | Anytime, but only if the seller agrees | Based on the agreement with the vendor |
Burial Services | Contract solicited, negotiated, and concluded anywhere other than the vendor’s premises | Up to 30 days after the receipt of the contract | Without penalty |
Up to 30 days or more after the receipt of the contract | As per agreement with the vendor |
**Source: Office of Consumer Protection
Preparing funeral prearrangements: Compare and save
Do you understand now why it is so important to plan your last wishes in advance?
A prearrangement contract can be very convenient for family members, including you and your estate, and avoid conflicts when you die.
Unfortunately, death is inevitable and funeral planning cannot be avoided. For this reason, it is important to take the time to shop around for the right funeral or burial services.
What type of ceremony do you want to have? How do you want your body to be disposed of? What urn, headstone, or casket do you want? Where do you want your remains to be laid to rest?
There can be significant price differences between locations, services, and goods offered by funeral homes. This is why you should compare multiple offers before signing a contract.
Get a quote from a funeral service company for funeral services
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