37-19-827. Contract for prearranged funeral plan or related services -- trust requirement -- interest -- exception. (1) Prearranged funeral or related services may be presented, negotiated, and sold to the public only by a licensed mortician.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (5), all money paid pursuant to a contract for a prearranged funeral or related services must be held in trust for the purposes for which the money was furnished until the obligations of a mortuary, a branch establishment, a crematory, a cemetery firm, or a mausoleum-columbarium corporation have been:
(a) fulfilled according to the terms of the contract; or
(b) terminated, by mutual consent of the parties, and the money is refunded to the proper party.
(3) Any interest accrued by money in a trust must be held in the trust and is subject to the terms of the trust agreement and the rules of the board.
(4) The board may require a mortuary, a branch establishment, or a crematory to provide an accounting or audit of the funds held in trust.
(5) Money paid for the purchase of a lot, grave space, mausoleum, crypt, niche, or burial right or part of a lot or grave space is not subject to the trust requirements of this section if title passes to the purchaser at the time that the payment is made.
History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 336, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 49, L. 2019.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 37. Professions and Occupations
Chapter 19. Morticians and Funeral Services
Part 8. Perpetually Maintained Cemeteries -- Trusts
37-19-803. Application of this part -- exceptions
37-19-804. through 37-19-806 reserved
37-19-807. Powers and duties of board -- rulemaking
37-19-808. Inspection of cemeteries and audit of cemetery companies
37-19-809. through 37-19-813 reserved
37-19-814. Permit -- application
37-19-815. Permit -- amendment
37-19-816. Permit -- transfer of ownership
37-19-817. through 37-19-821 reserved
37-19-822. Cemetery perpetual care and maintenance fund
37-19-825. Preexisting cemeteries
37-19-828. Funeral trust fund -- deposit of money