In Connecticut, funeral service contracts must be in writing and include the following:
Contact Information
- The name, address, phone number, and Social Security number of beneficiary and/or purchaser signing the contract.
- The name, address, phone number, and license number of funeral director providing the service.
- The escrow agent designated to hold the prepaid funeral service funds. This cannot be the funeral director or embalmer.
Description of funds and services
- List of selected goods and services.
- Amount of funds paid or to be paid by consumer and the payment method.
- Description of how funds will be invested and how investments are limited to those authorized by the law.
- If the prepaid Funeral Service Contract is funded by a life insurance policy, this contract provision does not apply.
- Establishes if there is a price guarantee or not.
- If there is no price guarantee, the contract must clearly state that the price may increase at a later date.
- A written representation, in clear and conspicuous bold type, that the consumer should receive a notice from the escrow agent.
- Within 25 days of making a payment to the funeral home, consumers should be notified by the escrow agent that they received their funds and the exact amount deposited by the escrow agent.
- If the prepaid funeral service contract is funded by a life insurance policy this is not required.
- Description of any fees to be paid from the escrow account to the escrow agent or any third-party provider. If the Prepaid Funeral Service Contract is funded by a life insurance policy, this is not required.
Cancellation clause
- The contract must have a section that establishes if the contract can be cancelled or cannot be cancelled.
- For contracts that can be cancelled:
- A description of how the consumer or the beneficiary can cancel the funeral service contract.
- For contracts that cannot be cancelled:
- A description of how the contract can be transferred to a different funeral home.
- If there is a particular merchandise not available at time of death:
- The contract must explain if the funeral service establishment will furnish merchandise similar in style and at least equal in material quality and workmanship.
- If the prepaid funeral service contract is funded by a life insurance policy, this is not required.
Signatures
- The signature of the purchaser or authorized representative and the licensed funeral director of the funeral service establishment.
- A statement signed by the purchaser attesting that the purchaser received a copy of the fact sheet on funeral service contracts published by the Department of Consumer Protection and has had time to review the fact sheet.