Connecticut law requires that prepaid Funeral Service Contracts be in writing and include the following:
- Contact information, including name, address, telephone number and Social Security number, of beneficiary and consumer signing the contract.
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Contact information, including name, address, telephone number and license number of funeral director for the service-providing establishment.
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List of selected goods and services.
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Amount of funds paid or to be paid by consumer and the payment method.
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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.
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Description of any price guarantees by the funeral service establishment (guarantees that the price will not change).
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If there is no price guarantee, meaning the price may increase at a later date, there must be a specific statement in the contract to this effect.
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Contact information of the escrow agent designated to hold the prepaid funeral service funds. An escrow agent cannot be the funeral director or embalmer.
- A written representation, in clear and conspicuous type, that the consumer should receive a notice from an escrow agent that acknowledges the initial bank deposit no later than 25 days of receipt of such deposit by funeral director. 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.
- 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.
- The signature of the consumer or authorized representative and the licensed funeral director of the funeral service establishment.