The most selfless and responsible thing you can do for your family and friends is to give them the peace of mind that comes with being prepared for whatever the future will bring. Funeral Pre-planning is one way of doing this.
Pre-planning simply means that by planning now, you can assure that your wishes reflect your personal lifestyle, customs and beliefs.
Life Transitions offers simple, alternative services that are highly flexible and personalized to suit your needs. You determine your wishes in advance and record them with us. Understandably this is a difficult issue to discuss but by making arrangements beforehand, you have the opportunity to ask questions, receive clear answers, and determine costs.
It is important to discuss your pre-arrangements with your family and or executor, and have the information readily available for reference. In addition, maintaining a current signed and sealed Will is extremely important. Regardless of whether you have a huge estate or no estate, it makes taking care of final details at death easier on your family or your designated individual.
While there is no prerequisite to prepay when you make your pre-arrangements, it does make sense from a financial standpoint. The principal, and all interest earned, remain on deposit until the time of death, to cover any increases in cost. Excess funds will be refunded to your estate. As soon as we receive the call that death has occurred, we respond and start the pre-planned arrangements.
Just a single phone call means being prepared, and eases the financial burden that can surround unprepared families and friends at the time of loss.
Arrangements can be made in the comfort of your own home by clicking HERE. Fill in as much information as you are comfortable with and we would be pleased to meet with you to discuss further. See the form below for details.
Pre-Payment FAQ
Can Pre-Arrangements Be Made? Can I Prepay For Those Arrangements?
Yes, If you would like to speak with someone to make pre-arrangements, just give us a call us at (519) 351-4444 or visit the Contact Us section of this site to send us an e-mail.
Do I have to pay in advance?
No, it is your choice. Some families will pre arrange their information at no cost or obligation and take care of payment at time of need.
If I Prepay My Arrangements, Are The Services Guaranteed Regardless Of Cost Increases?
Yes, our costs and services are guaranteed when the arrangements have been paid in full. The charges will be calculated using the price list in effect at the time of the death, the growth on the principal investment is applied to the cost of delivering services and then any surplus in the funds would be refunded to the estate. You would only have to pay extra for any service, supplies or taxes that were not included in the prepaid contract. All prepaid contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2012 must be guaranteed.
Are The Funds For Prepayment Held By You?
It is against protocol for a funeral establishment to hold prearrangement funds in their own care. For consumer protection, they must be placed into a trust account or an insurance policy. The decision as to where the funds are placed very much depends on individual clients and their own personal situation.
What Happens If I Change My Mind About My Plans? Are The Funds Returned?
After signing a contract with us, there is a 30-day cooling off period in which you can change your mind at any time and get all of your money back. After 30 days you would receive your money back less 10% of the trust amount, up to a maximum of $350.
If I Move Out Of The Area, Do You Have Affiliates To Whom The Prepaid Arrangements Can Be Transferred?
Unfortunately at this time, we do not have any affiliate offices. We are currently a single entity corporation but do provide our services in many areas outside of Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton. We do, however, have contacts in many cities so that we can comfortably refer families to an establishment that will provide good care. Any prepaid arrangement funds can be transferred to another establishment through written letter to the trust or insurance company.