John E. Maloney Funeral Directors, Chicago, Illinois

For the same reasons you write a will, make retirement plans, or buy life insurance, people feel that it is a good idea to plan for the future and make their funeral arrangements.

Peace of mind... At the time of an actual funeral most decisions need to be made within a few hours. By pre-planning, you can take your time and make the decisions in an unhurried and thoughtful way.

You can save money... You can select the type of service you would like and how much you would like to spend. By paying for a service now, you can protect your assets from future unexpected expenses and may qualify for Medicaid or SSI benefits.

Your personal touch... Many people have very specific ideas of how they would like their service to be conducted. Many have personal hobbies or interests that they would like incorporated into the service such as a quilt display, fishing gear, or favorite family photos. Many people have a special poem or Bible verse they would like read or a favorite song played. Making a service that is a personal tribute is a lasting memory for the survivors and helps the grief process.

Please use this page to begin the process of preplanning with us. If you have questions or need help, please do not hesitate to call.

Your Full Name:
Your Email Address:
Your Maiden Name:
Street/Mailing Address:
City:
State:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Social Security Number:
Marital Status:
Date of Marriage:
Place of Marriage:
Names of Previous Spouses:
Names of Parents:
Address of Parents (if still living):
Names of Children:
Addresses and Phone numbers of Children:
Names of Brothers and Sisters:
Addresses and Phone numbers of Brothers and Sisters:
Names of other friends and relatives who should be notified:
Addresses and Phone numbers of other friends and relatives:
Occupation:
Names of present and previous employers:
Addresses and Phone numbers of present and previous employers:

If you are a veteran
Date of enlistment:
Place of enlistment:
Date of discharge:
Place of discharge:
Rank:
Service Numbers:
Organization or outfit:
Commendations received:
Location of discharge papers:
Flag desired to drape casket:

Religious affiliation:
Professional and fraternal organization memberships:
Education (list schools attended and dates of any degrees or honors received):
Names of newspapers for obituary:
Organ Donation (list of authorized card and anyone who should be notified):
Funeral director or funeral home you prefer:
Clergyperson or anyone else you would like to officiate:
Funeral Service Location:
Visitation instructions:
Music, hymns or readings you would prefer during your service:
Memorial Donations you would like in your memory:
Names and Addresses and Phone Numbers of casket bearers:
Cemetery Name:
Address and location of cemetery property (include lot and grave number):
Casket and/or vault preference:
If you wish to be cremated, include disposition preference:
Location of will:
The name of the executor of your estate:
Address and phone number of the executor of your estate:
Location of safety deposit box and key:
Attorney's name:
Attorney's address and phone number:
Location of checking accounts, checkbooks, savings accounts and passbooks:
Credit cards and charge accounts to be canceled. (For security purposes do not list Credit Card Numbers here, just the names of cards.)
Insurance company name and policy numbers:
Location of insurance policies:
Any additional instructions:

Illinois Consumers Guide to Pre-Need Funeral and Burial Purchases
The "Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act" 225 ILCS 45/1 (the law) sets forth rights protecting consumers who purchase funeral services and/or merchandise in advance of need (pre-need).The State Comptroller has jurisdiction over the administration and enforcement of this law.

This guide is intended to assist you in making decisions in connection with the purchase of funeral services and merchandise, and to advise you of your rights and protections under Illinois law.

What is "Pre-Need" Funeral or Burial Purchasing?
A Pre-need funeral or burial purchase is purchasing, in advance, funeral services and merchandise that you select for yourself or loved ones. In connection with the purchase of pre-need services and merchandise, you enter into a pre-need contract with the seller, funeral home or cemetery.

What are Some of the Protections Provided to You by Illinois Law?
Sellers of pre-need services and/or merchandise must be licensed by the State of Illinois through the Office of the Comptroller. You should verify that the person with whom you are doing business is licensed to sell pre-need services and merchandise before you make your purchase. You may contact the Comptroller's Office to verify whether a seller is licensed.

What Services and Merchandise are Covered by the Funeral or Burial Funds Act?
The law covers the purchase of funeral services, clothing, caskets, burial containers commonly referred to as burial vaults and urns. Sales of cemetery services and merchandise are not covered by the law. The purchase of cemetery services and merchandise may be covered by the Illinois Pre-Need Cemetery Sales Act and Cemetery Care Act. Those laws are also administered by the Comptroller. If you have any questions concerning those laws, you should contact the Comptroller's Office.

Be Sure to Read Your Contract
All pre-need contracts sold in Illinois must contain disclosures to assist consumers in their purchase of pre-need services and merchandise. Required disclosures include: a clear identification of the seller's name and address, the purchaser and the beneficiary; a complete description of the goods and/or services purchased; clear notice as to whether the contract is for a guaranteed or non-guaranteed price; how you will pay for the services and/or merchandise (i.e., trust account, life insurance policy or annuity); and the cancellation and penalty policy of the seller.

What are Guaranteed and Non-Guaranteed Contracts?
A "Guaranteed" Contract means that the cemetery or funeral home guarantees to provide you with the services and/or merchandise you selected for the amount of money stated in the contract. This means that you or your estate will not be required to pay any additional costs for the items guaranteed, except for unexpected charges incurred (which may include, for example, the need for shipment of remains from a distance).

If the contract does not guarantee the prices charged it must be clearly identified as a "Non-Guaranteed Contract." The amount you pay will be determined at the time the services and/or merchandise are needed. Any amount you pay pre-need will be considered a deposit to be used toward the purchase price, which will earn interest.

Consumer Payments on Pre-need Services and Merchandise Must be Placed in a Trust Account.
When you purchase pre-need services and merchandise, the seller must place a certain percentage of the costs of the purchase price in a trust account to ensure delivery at the time of need; 95% of the purchase price of all services and merchandise and 85% of the purchase price of outer burial containers (burial vaults) must be placed into trust.

May I Fund a Pre-Need Arrangement With a Life Insurance Policy or Annuity?
Yes, under Illinois law a pre-need contract may be funded through an insurance policy or tax deferred annuity. The insurance policy or annuity may or may not be sold in connection with a commitment from a licensed funeral establishment or cemetery to provide you with specific services and/or merchandise. If there is no provider of funeral services and/or merchandise, this fact must be disclosed in your contract. Without a provider you may only be purchasing insurance coverage providing a payout of a certain amount, and not entering into an actual pre-need contract that guarantees the actual provision and price for the services and/or merchandise. Be sure to read your contract or insurance policy carefully.

Can I Get My Money Back If I Change My Mind?
Yes, depending on the circumstances. The penalties for canceling a pre-need contract will be different depending upon when the contract is canceled. If a pre-need contract is subject to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) three-day cancellation rule (which applies to door-to-door sales made at a place other than the seller's place of business) you may cancel the contract within three business days after it was signed without a penalty.

If a pre-need contract is funded by an insurance policy, Illinois law allows you to cancel the insurance policy within 30 days without penalty. Cancellation of an insurance policy does not necessarily serve to cancel the pre-need contract. After 30 days you are entitled to the accrued "cash surrender value" of the policy upon cancellation.

Unless made irrevocable, you may cancel a pre-need contract at any time. If cancellation occurs as a result of your default on payments, the seller is permitted to retain the lesser of 25% of the sales proceeds or $300.

What Can I Do if I Believe I am Treated Unfairly?
If you think that you have been a victim of unfair or illegal practices in the handling of pre-need funds, you may file a written complaint with the Office of the Comptroller, Department of Cemetery Care and Burial Trust, James R. Thompson Center, Suite 15-500, 100 West Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, (312) 814-5921. In addition, the State Attorney General can seal a court order for restitution and issuance of fines. If you believe that improprieties exist in connection with the sale of insurance used to fund a pre-need contract, you can file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Insurance, 320 West Washington, Floor 4, Springfield, Illinois 62767.

For more information on preplanning or prepaying, see your local cemetery or funeral director or:

Illinois Funeral Director's Association
215 South Grand Avenue West
Springfield, Illinois 62704
(800) 240-4332 or (217) 525-2000

Funeral Directors Services Association
499 Northgate Parkway
Wheeling, Illinois 60090-2646
(847) 808-7500

Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Home Association
P.O. Box 267
Belvidere, Illinois 61008-0267

About Us Services Pre-Need Obituaries Links Contact Us

1359 West Devon Avenue - Chicago, Illinois 60660
Phone 773-764-1617 - Fax 773-764-0063
staff@MaloneyFuneralHome.com