WHEN AND WHY SHOULD A PRE-NEED ARRANGEMENT BE PUT IN PLACE?
As a guardian you should make pre-need cremation or funeral, burial arrangements for your ward if arrangements were not put in place by the ward or their family. It is a good practice to include the pre-need in your 60 day initial guardian plan to the court. As you know guardians are to follow as close to the wards wishes as possible if circumstances allow. Duties and legal responsibilities of a guardian include making pre-arrangements for cremation or funeral, burial arrangements. This will be a legal document that will be created. To review the document you can go to www.eternalcremations.com at the bottom of the page under forms. It is an easy process and we are here to assist you with any questions.
Prior court approval is required to pay for funeral arrangements for your ward. You have to provide the documentation to support the burial decision.
In Florida the following people have the right to make end of life arrangements. The cremation service or funeral director will contact the following family members in this order. Spouse, adult children, adult siblings, parents, aunts or uncles, or any blood relative who wishes to come forward. It is always best to have the pre-need in place with prior authorization. And if there is not a family member the guardian gives consent.
The document should be kept in your file for your ward along with other legal documents, and medical documents. Did you know the Power of Attorney ceases at the time of death? You should provide name and phone number of the cremation or funeral company for end of life transition to the assisted living facility and/or nursing home and anytime your ward goes to the hospital.
Mark Grande, President of Eternal Cremations (727) 934-3800 Toll free 888-405-7735 Fax:727-934-3804
*This excerpt is from The Professional Guardian, a publication by the Guardian Association of Pinellas County for the purpose of promoting advocacy & education
