FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

1. When arranging a service, what are some documents the funeral director will complete based on the information obtained from the family?

We will be discussing a variety of items with the family. The information we obtain will be used to write the obituary, complete the required death certificate, if the deceased was a veteran we can complete applications for possible federal and local death benefits, submit information to Social Security, just to name a few.

 

2. What is the purpose of certified copies of the death certificate?

A Death Certificate is a legal document that records vital information about a human death and is signed by the physician, funeral director and county clerk. A Death Certificate is filed in the county where death occurred, most likely at the county Court House. The only legal copy of a Death Certificate is a certified copy. Only the office where the Certificate is filed can offer certified copies. Their purpose is to legally remove the name of the deceased from things of value, such as the deed to the home, bank accounts, titles to automobiles, etc., and are used to make claim on insurance policies, or to otherwise show proof of death.

 

3. What if my spouse and I are away on vacation or living in another area for part of the year and a death occurs? Who do I call?

This is a situation that can occur to anyone at anytime. The simplest thing to remember is to call the funeral home back home where services will be handled. We can arrange for all necessary services and transportation from our office. Doing so will save you time and money. Please visit our Travel Plan page for information on how to protect yourself from these added expenses.

 

4. I have all of my funeral wishes explained in my Will; do I still need to make arrangements for my funeral with the funeral home?

Yes. Considering the Will is read after the funeral, it is always the best policy to communicate your wishes to your family and then to the funeral director.

 

5. Someone I know just prearranged and prepaid their funeral with their funeral director. I am interested in doing the same for myself. What basic things should I look for so I know I am doing it correctly and that the funeral home is safely holding my money?

First, speak to a qualified funeral director. Most states will require the funeral director to be licensed to sell prearranged funerals. Some states allow only funeral directors to sell prearranged funerals. Michigan does require preneed providers to be licensed but does not limit who can sell preneed, which means you may not be speaking to a licensed funeral director. While some firms employ preneed "counselors" to handle their prearrangements, only the licensed funeral directors at our firm will provide this service to our families, assuring the family additional piece of mind.

Since the required trusting levels will vary from state to state, you will want to check with the proper state agency or your state's funeral directors association to verify your state's requirement for trusting preneed money. Michigan has several requirements, which includes a high level trusting standard for funeral homes. However, there are Michigan businesses, such as cemeteries, soliciting preneed arrangements to consumers and trusting their money at a rate far less than funeral homes. Furthermore, many of these same businesses do not provide the same access to your money if you decided to cancel the contract. The simple point here is to ASK QUESTIONS! After all, it is YOUR money.