Missouri preneed law (past and present) authorizes three forms of funding: trusts, insurance and joint accounts. Of the three, joint accounts have been used by many rural funeral homes that did not want the hassles of trusts and insurance. But with new reporting requirements, these funeral homes are on the clock to pull together information
August 2010
Will there be an Exhibitor’s hall?
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Reform
Conventions and seminars provide trade associations and trade journals important sources of revenue. Accordingly, the death care industry has plenty of ‘retreat opportunities’ to choose from. However, there will be a death care convention held in Montgomery Alabama this weekend that will be off limits to funeral directors, cemeterians and their legions of industry vendors.
Death care …
Missouri’s Preneed Funding Agents: You want what?
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Missouri - SB1
Missouri’s preneed seller renewal forms include reports regarding each contract that is funded either by a trust, a joint bank account or an insurance contract. What may not be apparent to both funeral homes and funding agents is the requirement under SB1 that the funding agent attest to the accuracy of the information set out…
What a difference a year makes
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Missouri - SB1, Preneed
In August 2009, the members and staff of the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors put in a lot of overtime to keep the preneed industry operating. Senate Bill 1 established brand new licensing requirements for preneed sellers. Without a license, a seller’s preneed contracts could be voided. However, the State Board lacked authority…
Missouri’s New Preneed Reporting Requirements: Provider Renewal
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Missouri - SB1
License renewal packets mailed to Missouri funeral homes in August are a little thicker than what has been sent out in prior years. The new renewal forms include five new preneed reporting forms: a Preneed Seller Annual Report, a Preneed Provider Renewal Form, a Report form for Trust Funded Pre-Need Contracts, a…
Serving Time in Kansas: Fairlawn Burial Park
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Cemeteries, Preneed
Families and funeral homes harmed by NPS will hope that company’s owners and officers have to face a judge like the Honorable Richard Rome.
The Hutchinson News reported that District Judge Richard Rome rejected a plea bargain for probation, and sentenced Fairlawn Burial Park’s owner to almost 5 years in prison. A Kansas Secretary of…
Mt. Washington: More NPS Fallout
By Bill Stalter on
Posted in Cemeteries, NPS/Lincoln
Almost a year to the date after SB1 was signed into law, one of the NPS sister companies was forced to close its doors. The recent Kansas City Star article about Mt. Washington Forever Funeral Home and Cemetery describes a situation that confused and disheartened the families who purchased Mt. Washington preneed contracts. The Missouri…