In Connecticut, funeral service contracts must be in writing and include the following:
NOTE: Beginning July 1, 2027, eligible individuals will be able to apply for up to $10,000 in restitution from this account.
Contact Information
- The beneficiary and/or consumer signing the contract (this must include the social security number)
- The funeral director for the establishment providing the service (this must include the license number)
- The escrow agent designated to hold the prepaid funeral service funds (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.
- A description of any price guarantees by the funeral service establishment (guarantees that the price will not change).
- If there is no price guarantee, there must be a specific statement in the contract explaining 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 an escrow agent that acknowledges the initial bank deposit and the amount of the deposit no later than 25 days after the funeral director receives the deposit. 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.
Establishes if the contract can be cancelled or not
- A provision describing 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 and the effect of cancelling such contract.
- For contracts that cannot be cancelled, a description of how the contract can be transferred to a different funeral home.
- A provision explaining that if the particular merchandise provided for in the contract is not available at the time of death, the funeral service establishment will furnish merchandise similar in style and at least equal in quality of material and workmanship to the merchandise provided for in the contract. If the Prepaid Funeral Service Contract is funded by a life insurance policy this is not required.
Signatures
- The signature of the consumer 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.
Funeral Service Guaranty Fund
- The Funeral Service Guaranty Account was created to help compensate victims of unlawful practices by funeral directors in the execution of funeral service contracts This account is established for individuals that have signed funeral service contracts and have been victim to unlawful practices by funeral directors.
- Beginning July 1, 2027, eligible individuals will be able to apply for up to $10,000 in restitution from this account.