Planning FAQs

A preneed allows you to plan and fund your funeral or cremation arrangements in advance. This helps ensure your wishes are known and can reduce emotional and financial stress on your loved ones at the time of death.

When your preneed is guaranteed, the funeral home agrees to honor the cost of the services and merchandise you selected, even if prices increase in the future. This guarantee applies as long as the plan remains in good standing.

Yes. Plans can be paid in full or through monthly payments. Payment plans may include finance and insurance charges, and the total amount paid over time may be higher than the original price. Payments are typically made directly to the funding provider, and payment terms and amounts are determined based on personal information.

In most cases, yes. If the policy is paid within the first 6 months, it is treated the same as cash (Single Pay Policy). If paid after 6 months but before the first policy anniversary, it is treated as cash plus a $150 processing fee. After the first policy anniversary, a formula is used to calculate the payoff amount.

If payments are not completed and the plan defaults, the price guarantee may no longer apply and benefits may be reduced.

A revocable preneed may generally be canceled, subject to the terms of the plan. An irrevocable preneed cannot be canceled or refunded.

An irrevocable preneed is set aside specifically for funeral expenses and cannot be canceled or refunded. This is often used for Medicaid eligibility or asset protection.

A preneed can be made irrevocable at a later time by completing the appropriate form. However, once a plan has been made irrevocable, that designation cannot be removed.

Yes. A revocable preneed may be changed or updated at any time. An irrevocable preneed may have items added, but items cannot be removed. It is recommended to review arrangements periodically.

Yes, as long as you have an insurable interest. This generally includes close family members such as spouse, parent, child, grandparent, or sibling. It may also include someone for whom you have power of attorney (POA) or legal guardianship. The insured individual must typically give consent.

Your funds are held by a third-party funding provider, not directly by the funeral home. If the funeral home is sold or goes out of business, your preneed can generally be transferred to another funeral home.

Yes. Preneed arrangements can be transferred to another funeral home. However, the price guarantee only applies at the original funeral home. If used elsewhere, the value transfers but pricing may differ.

At the time of death, the preneed funds are applied toward the selected arrangements. Any items not included, or any differences in non-guaranteed pricing, may result in a balance due.

Your family does not need to have all paperwork on hand, but it is helpful if they know that a preneed exists, where documents are located, and who the Authorizing Agent is. Our funeral home also keeps a copy on file.

These are third-party expenses such as death certificates, obituaries, flowers, clergy, and some cemetery or crematory charges. These items may increase over time. If included, the amount paid will be applied as an allotment toward the updated cost.

Preneed funds are held through a third-party funding provider and are set aside specifically for funeral expenses. These funds are not accessible for general use, which helps ensure they are available at the time of need.

An Authorizing Agent Affidavit allows you to name the person who will have authority to make your arrangements. You may choose anyone you wish. If none is designated, the general order is spouse, adult children (majority), grandchildren (majority), parents, siblings, grandparents, and next of kin.

A preneed allows you to clearly document your wishes and greatly guides the arrangements at the time of need. However, the Authorizing Agent has legal authority and is responsible for carrying them out. It is important to choose someone you trust and communicate your wishes.

No. A legally authorized person must still complete and sign all required documents at the time of death.

No. Cremation must be authorized at the time of death by the legally authorized individual.

Insurance Preneed (Homesteaders): Funded through life insurance with payment options and early payoff terms. Trust Preneed (ClearPoint): Funds held in trust, typically used when arrangements must be funded over a shorter timeframe.

Cremation Services of East Alabama
256-403-6257