Mississippi Code
Article 3 - Preneed Cemetery and Funeral Registration
§ 75-63-53. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context requires otherwise:
"Buyer" means the person who purchases the preneed contract.
"Cash advance item" means any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a "cash advance," "accommodation," "cash disbursement" or similar term. A cash advance item is also any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser's behalf. Cash advance items may include, but are not limited to: cemetery or crematory services; pallbearers; public transportation; clergy honoraria; flowers; musicians or singers; nurses; obituary notices; gratuities and death certificates.
"Cemetery" means an organization as defined in Section 41-43-33.
"Contract insured" or "contract owner" means the person upon whose death will initiate the performance of a preneed contract.
"Contract provider" means the funeral home, cemetery or other providers of merchandise and/or service in a preneed contract that will be responsible for performing a preneed contract.
"Crematory" means an organization as defined in Section 73-11-41.
"Financial institution" means a bank, trust company, savings bank, or savings and loan association chartered or authorized to do business in this state.
"Funeral home" means a business licensed under Section 73-11-55.
"Inflation proof contract" means a preneed contract that establishes a fixed price for funeral services and merchandise without regard to future price increases.
"Insurance" means a life insurance policy, an annuity policy or a Class A or Class B burial insurance policy.
"Merchandise" means personal property associated with the disposal of or memorializing a deceased human being, including, but not limited to, a casket, burial vault, burial clothes, urn or monument.
"Preneed contract" means any contract, agreement or any series or combination of contracts or agreements, whether funded by trust deposits or insurance, or any combination thereof, which has for a purpose the furnishing or performance of funeral services, or the furnishing or delivery of merchandise, of any nature in connection with the final disposition of a dead human body, to be furnished or delivered at a time determinable by the death of the person whose body is to be disposed of but shall not mean the furnishing of a cemetery lot, crypt, niche or mausoleum.
"Preneed contract for caskets" means any contract, agreement or any series or combination of contracts or agreements, whether funded by trust deposits or insurance, or any combination thereof, that is for the purpose of furnishing or delivering a casket or caskets for the final disposition of a dead human body, to be furnished or delivered at a time determinable by the death of the person whose body is to be disposed of.
"Seller" means the person who sells a preneed contract.
"Services" means services of any nature in connection with the final disposition of a dead human body.
"Standard contract" means a preneed contract that applies the trust funds or insurance proceeds to the purchase price of specific funeral services and specific merchandise at the time of death of the contract insured without a guarantee against future price increases.
"Substitute provider" means any funeral home, cemetery, or other provider of merchandise and/or services who furnishes final needs to a beneficiary of a preneed contract sold by another provider regardless of whether the substitute provider honors the terms and conditions of the original preneed contract.
"Trust" means an express trust created by a trust instrument whereby a trustee has the duty to administer a trust asset for the benefit of a named preneed contract insured.
"Trustee" or "trust officer" means an original, added or successor trustee including its successor by merger or consolidation.
"Trust documents" means documents, including, but not limited to, preneed contracts, receipts, contract owner's death certificate, proof of death, the trust agreement, and any and all correspondence between the trustee or trust institution and the contract provider or contract insured.

Structure Mississippi Code

Mississippi Code

Title 75 - Regulation of Trade, Commerce and Investments

Chapter 63 - Sales of Cemetery Merchandise and Funeral Services

Article 3 - Preneed Cemetery and Funeral Registration

§ 75-63-51. Short title

§ 75-63-53. Definitions

§ 75-63-55. Preneed contracts to be evidenced in writing on forms approved by and on file with Secretary of State; contracts in violation of article and chapter; contents of written preneed contract; contract to be funded by trust or insurance

§ 75-63-57. Record-keeping requirements

§ 75-63-59. Requirements for contract funded by trust

§ 75-63-63. Preneed contracts to be portable; who may name a substitute provider

§ 75-63-68. Conversion of trust funded prepaid funeral benefits to insurance funded prepaid funeral benefits or annuity contract upon appeal to Secretary of State; written disclosure of terms to affected preneed purchasers

§ 75-63-70. Joint and several liability of preneed operator's managers, officers, directors, etc.

§ 75-63-71. Disclosure of information contained in registrations, statements, applications, and reports; confidentiality of information obtained through investigation or examination

§ 75-63-73. Examination of business or person offering preneed funeral services and merchandise; records open to inspection; subpoena power of Secretary of State

§ 75-63-75. Article does not constitute authorization for unlicensed persons to sell life insurance

§ 75-63-81. Preneed Contracts Loss Recovery Fund; creation, purpose, administration, loss recovery fee, reimbursement for claims; prohibition against use of existence of fund for sales, solicitation, or inducement to purchase contract; Preneed Contra...