The idea behind advance planning is simple. Some day, vital information about you or a loved one will be needed by your family or anyone assisting them. Planning ahead will allow personal wishes to be fulfilled and will avoid unnecessary difficulties. Without time constraints, making specific decisions about ceremonies and disposition methods will be much easier and will avoid decisions that can be emotionally and financially difficult. Making funeral arrangements in advance can provide the peace of mind that all details have been taken care of in a way that is satisfying to you and your surviving family members with adequate time to make these decisions. A family discussion will help assure everyone involved is comfortable with the arrangements.

Below are some commonly asked questions about advance planning that should help you understand what it involves.

Is advance planning difficult?
No. The most difficult part of advance planning is making the decision to do it. Once you know what you want for yourself or your family member, the rest is very simple.

Can arrangements be planned without making payment in advance?
Yes. These days, you can do just about anything you wish. It is entirely possible to plan the type of service and disposition method you wish with great or little detail. Your arrangements may be funded in advance or not. How much detail and whether you pay in advance is entirely up to you. We will make every effort to accommodate your wishes.

Can arrangements be paid for in advance?
Yes. After recording the necessary personal information and deciding the type of arrangements and merchandise to be used, payment may be made. When a funeral home in the state of Maine accepts payment in advance for services, the funds must be deposited within ten days into a mortuary trust. The funds are invested in money market or government backed securities that are very stable investments.

What happens if prices increase?
For those choosing to pay for services in advance in a lump sum payment, we guarantee 'payment in full' regardless of when services are provided. The amount of the advance payment is invested at the time the payment is made and earnings generated on this amount over time finances future costs when services are performed.

May payments be made over time?
Yes. We leave it up to the individual to fund their services however he/she chooses. If an individual chooses to make several payments in advance, the funds are still deposited into a trust and the trust still generates earnings. We will apply these funds to the cost of the services when the service is provided. If an adequate amount has been paid to finance the entire cost of the services desired, the trust may be established as 'payment in full.'

May life insurance be used for funding funeral costs?
Yes. Many families use life insurance proceeds to pay for their final expenses. Arrangements may still be planned in advance even though payment will not be made until after the services have been provided.

May the trust be cancelled or closed?
Yes. A mortuary trust may be established as a 'revocable' trust or an 'irrevocable' trust. Unless it is specified, Kiley Funeral Home will set up a mortuary trust as a revocable trust giving the consumer the right to close the account if chosen. It is important to note that if an individual is in receipt of Medicaid benefits and the mortuary trust is closed, these trust assets may disqualify them from receiving these benefits.

What needs to be done to initiate an advance plan?
First, give us a call. We will arrange a time to meet either at your home or at our facility to discuss the specific arrangements that you have chosen. This would include recording personal information for completing necessary documentation and placement of an obituary, discussing services & merchandise to be provided, financial arrangements and signing necessary authorizations.