Preeneed Funeral Contracts

Thinking of purchasing a preneed funeral?

Did you know that . . .

1. Attorney General Darrell V. McGraw, Jr.'s Consumer Protection Division regulates the sale of preneed funeral contracts. Preneed funeral Contracts allow consumers the opportunity to arrange and pay for funerals for themselves and their families in advance.

2. Every funeral home in the state of West Virginia that sells prepaid funerals must be registered with the Consumer Protection Division. The Division provides safeguards so that prepaid funds cannot be dissipated.

3. The funeral director is required to place the prepaid funds in trust until the trust officer is presented a copy of the Death Certificate.

4. Once you purchase a preneed funeral contract you should receive a letter within 15 days of purchase from the Consumer Protection Division stating that your contract has been registered with the Attorney General's Office.

5. If you purchase a preneed funeral contract, that preneed funeral is freely transferable to another funeral home.

6. When you purchase a preneed funeral contract and have fully paid the amount of the contract, the funeral services and goods are provided with no further payment. In other words, you are guaranteed the goods and services you'll need tomorrow at today's prices.

7. In the event a funeral home would discontinue its business, the Preneed law provides a special fund to repay the money you have paid the funeral home.