Staffan-Mitchell and Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Homes are full service facilities, offering traditional services, cremation services, pre-paid trust funeral agreements and a full line of monuments and markers. Pre-arranging a funeral may seem a difficult task. However, pre-paid funeral arrangements are a growing trend. The desires and wishes for one's funeral, burial and expenses can be specified to eliminate confusion, difference of opinion and difficult decisions on the part of family members. Guaranteed pricing gives peace of mind that your wishes are known and paid for with no additional cost at time of need. It is human to put things off, but proper planning for the event of one's death can spare a family potential conflict and/or financial burden. For more information and guidance in funeral pre-arrangements, fill out the following form, click "send" and someone will contact you to help with your needs.

MAY WE SUGGEST THAT YOUR HOME BE SECURED WHILE AT THE FUNERAL HOME AND THAT IF POSSIBLE SOMEONE WATCH YOUR HOME DURING THE FUNERAL SERVICE.

The following information is needed to properly complete our records and to assist you in applying for Social Security and Veteran's benefits if you are eligible.

         VITAL STATISTICS: This information is needed for the Death Certificate.

* = required field
             

                                                                               
Your Name*
Your Phone Number*
Deceased person's legal name*
Legal Address
Deceased person's date of birth
Deceased person's place of birth
Mother's given (maiden) name
Father's full name  
Deceased person's Social Security Number  
Honorable discharge from Military Service  
Deceased person's attending Doctor  
Marriage date and place  
Highest level of Education  
Ancestry  
Opening/closing grave $  
Payable to  
Minister Honorarium $  
Cemetery or Grave Location  
Name of Pallbearers (Usually six)    
 
 
     
         ARRANGEMENTS    
     
Visitation times and days: FAMILY  
 FRIENDS  
Funeral Service: Time   Day
Place  
Burial: Place   Cemetery
GRAVESIDE SERVICE: Time   Day
     
         Thank you for helping with this information.    
 


MFDA MASTER ESCROW PLAN

Answers to commonly asked questions.

 

What happens to the money that I paid the funeral director?

The money is deposited in the MFDA Masters Escrow Plan. A subsidiary of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association administers the Plan. The Association is located in the Lansing area and has been serving its members and the public since 1880. You will receive a letter acknowledging the deposit of funds into the MFDA Master Escrow Plan. If you do not receive such a letter within six weeks of your payment, please notify the funeral director immediately.

What should be done when death occurs?

Your family should call the funeral home at which the funeral was preplanned immediately. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even if death occurs away from your local area, you should still call the funeral director back home. He will make the necessary professional contacts for you, including, if necessary, a funeral home in the location of the death. Although the funeral home will usually remember or know from their records, be sure to remind them that there is a prepaid funeral agreement.

Will more money have to be paid when the funeral is actually help?

If the contract is designated as a "guaranteed price agreement," it has been paid in full, and there are no changes in the choice of services and merchandise, the answer is "no" for any of the goods and services listed on the contract and accompanying documents. If it is designated as a "non-guaranteed price agreement," the family will be responsible for any difference between the current charges at the time of the funeral for the goods and services selected and the amount in the escrow account. If you are not sure which kind of agreement you have purchased, refer to your contract or ask the person with whom you set up the agreement.

What if I move away or change my mind?

The contract can be canceled at any time for any reason and, by law, you are entitled to receive a minimum 90% refund of both your original payment and accumulated income in your escrow account. Just notify the funeral director and he will be happy to make different arrangements or give you a refund within 30 days. (NOTE: Some contracts may be certified "irrevocable" by the Department of Social Services in order to allow a person to become eligible for Medicaid assistance. Irrevocable contracts cannot be canceled for any reason, although it is normally possible to transfer performance of the contract to another funeral home.)

Who pays taxes on the income in the escrow account?

Under rulings of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the owner (normally the purchaser) of the contract has the tax responsibility. Accordingly, you will have been asked to sign an IRS W-9 form. You will be mailed a statement each January setting out the amount of money you need to add to your taxable income. Normally the resulting amount of tax is very small.

What should I do if I have any questions or have a complaint?

Contact the funeral home with which you have the pre-arrangement. Normally they can handle any questions or problems you might have. In the rare instance that you do not receive satisfaction from you contact with the funeral home, you may contact the MFDA Master Escrow Plan at (517) 349-9565, but it is more convenient for everyone if you always contact the funeral home first.