Fairfield CT funeral homes

Planning Ahead || Planning Ahead Form

Easing the Burden
on Your Family

A pre-arranged service is the one sure way to lighten the load on family members. It avoids the need for difficult decisions to be made immediately following a death, which is a highly stressful time for everyone.

Most people don’t realize that there can be over ninety items that need to be decided on when making funeral arrangements.

Of course, you benefit as well by taking time to insure that everything is exactly as you want it.

Contact us today. We are here to help ease the burden on your family.

Dear Rebecca, All of us thank you so much for your hard work in making Chris’s funeral truly a celebration of his life. You were key to making this happen and we are all very grateful." MARIA

Pre-Arranging a Funeral

Funeral ServicesThe thoughtful gift of comfort you give to others.

Preplanning allows you to take your time with important choices. Choosing to make these decisions in advance gives you and your family peace of mind in knowing your final wishes have been recorded and will be followed through.

We make it easy to take advantage of preplanning, and there is no fee for our consultations.

Pre-Arrangement in 4 Steps

1. Set up a conference with one of our funeral directors.

  • This one-on-one meeting helps you think through how you want your legacy to be remembered.

2. Record your wishes.

  • We will thoroughly explain any decisions that need to be made in advance.
  • Our Planning Ahead Form makes the process simple.

3. Fund the funeral services.

  • Set up a Trust Account to fund the funeral.
  • Interest accrued on your Trust Account offsets the rising costs of funerals. By funding in advance, your family can save a large sum in the long run.

4. Share with your family.

  • Let your family know you have made these important decisions. It gives them peace of mind knowing they will not have to go through the stress of choosing or trying to think what you would have wanted.

Common Questions on Preplanning

Where does the money go that I prepay into the plan?

We are mandated by law to deposit 100% of the money into a Trust Account in your name to cover the cost of the funeral. This money cannot be released until an official death certificate is presented. Therefore, it is important to understand that our funeral home has no control over your money until the funeral services are rendered.

How do I know you will really put my money in the appropriate account?

It will be registered with Interment Trust in Chicago, IL who will confirm directly to you that the trust has been set up. You will also receive periodic updates on the financial performance of your account.

What if your funeral home is no longer in business at the time of my death?

Because your money is held in a Trust Account in your name, the money will always be there. The money in your account can be transferred to another funeral home of your choice, in the unlikely event that we go out of business (Shaughnessey Banks has been in business now for over 60 years).

What if my family moves out of area and no longer wishes to have services in Connecticut?

Should you move outside of our service area, your account can be transferred to another funeral home of your choice.

Won't my life insurance benefits cover all of my funeral expenses?

It may, but life insurance is often intended for your family’s security after you are gone. Also, in the event you may be forced to go on Title 19, any and all personal life insurance with the exception of one policy with a fair market value not greater than $1,500 must be liquidated as they are considered a monetary asset. Funeral Trust Accounts are exempt as assets by Title 19.

Doesn't Social Security provide a death benefit?

Social Security provides a one-time lump-sum payment of $255, payable to a surviving spouse, or dependent child only. Obviously this is well below the cost of any funeral.

Can Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home ever cancel my funeral plan?

Absolutely not. Once your funeral is pre-arranged we will honor all the wishes you set forth.

Contact us today for a free consultation and information on funeral pre-arrangement.