The next section of Missouri’s preneed record rule is confusing.  A prior provision of the rule (¶D(1)) would require a seller to maintain records reflecting the receipt of funds from an insurance company, and documents showing the seller’s performance of the contract.  However, for insurance funded contracts, the rule would also seek the following additional

The next section of Missouri’s seller records rule proposal seeks the following documents:

  For all fulfilled preneed contracts:

(2)    Documentation showing payment to the provider by the seller including the name of the person or entity to whom payments were made, the date and amount of each payment, and a description of payment to the

Funeral homes frequently allow the assignment of insurance as partial payment towards a trust funded preneed contract, but the manner in which the assignment is made can cause problems for them.  Preneed trustees will not accept an insurance policy for a host of reasons.  Insurance proceeds paid to a trust are not tax free and

Here in the Midwest, the death care industry is just beginning to experience the increase in preneed reporting and oversight. Some funeral directors are already frustrated with the new requirements, and are biding the time to when they can vent towards the preneed regulator.

Over the past 4 years, state agencies in Illinois, Kansas and

The new era of preneed exams and audits got off to a slow start in Missouri, but now there are indications the process is picking up speed.   The first notices of preneed financial examinations went out to sellers last January, and some are now going through on-site examinations.  A second wave of examination notices has gone out, and the State Board has begun preparations for

Maybe it’s a response to shrinking state budgets, or the fact that the tracking of preneed funds is becoming more effective, but state and local prosecutors are assuming an expanding role in the enforcement of preneed laws.

While a recent report released by the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors reflects a drop

The start of Missouri’s new era of preneed oversight began when document requests were mailed to sellers on January 3rd. Sellers were requested to provide the following documents by January 28th:

· A current statement from your state or federally chartered financial institution’s authorized to exercise trust powers in Missouri of any preneed trust accounts

With the exception of a few states, each form of preneed funding has its own statutory requirements. Consequently, different contract forms are required for each method of preneed funding. So, what does this mean for the consumer worried about the safety of funds paid to the funeral home or cemetery.

Among the pecking order of