FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve provided a list of answers to questions we frequently receive regarding our services and other activities related to funerals. If you don't see the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us. We'd be happy to give you more information and clarify any of your concerns.

Preplanning

  • What is preplanning?

    Watch our video about the preplanning process here.

  • Why is preplanning necessary?

    Pre-planning is simple, and is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. Pre-planning allows you to discuss arrangements with your loved ones and make your plans together with a clear mind and a more relaxed atmosphere. In addition, it protects your estate from unnecessary financial outlay. Pre-planning also helps to protect your loved ones both emotionally and financially, at a time when they need that security.


    What our Prearranding Answers video here.

  • I'm not sure what I want, so how do I pre-plan?

    Watch our Prearranging Decisions video here.

  • How does the preplanning process work?

    Watch our Prearranging: The Details video here.

  • Do I need to pay for pre-arrangements?

    No. Although there are many benefits to pre-paying funeral arrangements, the most important thing for you to do is to get your information, wishes and instructions on file with the funeral home.

  • What are the benefits to pre-financing?

    Pre-planning and pre-financing work together to offer peace of mind. From a financial standpoint, pre-paying beats future inflation by freezing the cost of the funeral at today's prices. Pre-payment plans give you flexibility today while ensuring the financial resources will be there when they are needed. The financial burden is lifted from your family, minimizing the mental & emotional stress of major decision-making at the time of death.

  • How does pre-financing work?

    If you choose to, you may also arrange for pre-funding your funeral services. Several options are available to meet your needs. We can also help you select the most appropriate means of funding - whether through insurance, trust or a local bank. It’s important to know that, when you pre-fund with a licensed funeral director, 100% of the funds must be kept in trust until the funeral services have been provided.


    Watch our Pre-Financing video here.

  • What happens if I move, relocate or desire another funeral home?

    Your account is listed under your own social security number with our funeral home listed as the service provider. If you move, or for any other reason or desire to change service providers, your plan is completely transportable. Wherever you go, your money will follow. Changing funeral homes is easy and only requires completing a short form.

  • Are pre-arrangements a good idea for both cremation and traditional burial?

    Yes. All of the decision making and information gathering involved in a traditional burial are involved in a cremation. Although cremation allows for the most simple of arrangements, the only real difference between cremation and a traditional burial is the final mode of disposition.

  • Can I make all of my funeral arrangements through a funeral home?

    Complete arrangements, including professional services; casket, vault and urn selection; cremation; church, floral, newspaper & cemetery coordination can be accomplished through our funeral home.

  • Can I make all of my funeral arrangements through a cemetery?

    No, since non-licensed sales people, by law, cannot arrange funeral services.

Cremation

  • What is cremation?

    Cremation is an age-old practice used for centuries around the world and is now becoming increasingly popular in the United States. An alternative to burial, cremation uses intense heat to return the body to its natural components. Prior to cremation, the body can be placed in a variety of containers designed to be consumed during the cremation process. The cremation process reduces the body to several pounds of ashes. Following cremation, the ashes are placed in a container or urn. Family members can then choose to scatter the ashes in a significant place, keep them or enter them in a cemetery or memorial park.

  • Why choose cremation?

    People choose cremation for a number of reasons. Some people do not feel comfortable with traditional funeral or burials. Others think that using declining available land for burial wastes natural resources. And some choose cremation as a lower-cost funeral option. Choosing cremation does not mean having to give up the time-honored traditions that help commemorate a life.

  • Are funeral service options still available with cremation?

    Yes, you may also choose to hold funeral services in conjunction with cremation. Prior to cremation, you may elect to hold funeral services that may include a private viewing, public visitation and/or religious service. Another option is to hold a memorial service after cremation. Depending on your wishes, the services can contain traditional or contemporary elements to suit your personal wishes.


    Watch our Prearranging For Cremation video here.

  • Who provides cremation services?

    A common misconception is that only so-called "cremation societies" provide cremation services. In fact, most funeral homes, including Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, provide cremation services. In addition to the actual cremation, the funeral home can also provide a number of funeral service options. You may also choose to have traditional funeral services in conjunction with cremation.

  • Is it true that cremation is less expensive than traditional burial?

    As with any funeral service, the selections made impact the overall cost. A direct cremation, as well as immediate burial, can be substantially less than a funeral service that includes a viewing/visitation, religious ceremony and graveside services. At Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, our direct cremation service includes the basic services of our funeral director and staff, handling necessary paperwork and transportation of the body.

Veteran Benefits

  • As a veteran, what benefits are my family entitled to upon my death?

    1. If served during wartime (doesn't have to be
       overseas)

    • Flag for burial
    • $100 County VA benefit
    • 10 death certificates
    • Granite or bronze marker
    • Presidential Memorial Certificate(s)

    2. If retired from armed services

        All of the benefits listed above in A and…

        + Federal monetary benefit to be determined by
       how many years of service


    3. If service related disability (must have a VA
       Claim #)

        All of the benefits listed above in A and…

        + Federal monetary benefit to be determined by
       percent disability


    4. If served during non-war time

    • Flag for burial
    • 10 death certificates
    • Granite or bronze marker
    • Presidential Memorial Certificate(s)
  • I’ve been asked to give the eulogy. What should I say?

    The eulogy doesn’t have to cover every aspect of the person’s life, however. In fact, often the best eulogies are those that focus on the eulogy-giver’s personal thoughts and memories. Try to acknowledge those who were closest to the person who died as well as important achievements in the person’s life, but don’t feel obligated to create an exhaustive biography.

Death Certificates

  • What is a death certificate?

    A death certificate is the legal record of the death of an individual. As a permanent legal record, the death certificate is extremely important to the decedent's family.

  • What are death certificates used for?

    Death certificates are needed to prove that a person has actually died in the following situations:


    • To certify death to an insurance company, so that the life insurance policy can be paid.
    • To prove to creditors that a death occurred.
    • Lawyers need an official death certificate to execute a last will and testament.
    • Needed for real estate transactions to deal with property ownership situations.
    • Many other legal and financial situations require a death certificate.
  • What does a death certificate include?

    The filing of the death certificate is the responsibility of the funeral director. However, others share the responsibility for the completion of the death certificate. Pennsylvania Law (35 P.S. Sec. 450.105) states that a physician must sign a death certificate within 96 hours of the death occurring. The certificate includes:


    • Vital Statistics: This section includes the name of the deceased, marital status, race, education, employment, parents’ names and next of kin, where death occurred, and method of disposition. The vital statistics section is usually completed by the funeral home.
    • Pronouncement & Certification of Death: This section includes the name of the person that was physically present and pronounced the time and date that the death occurred. The physician or coroner then includes up to four causes of death and the interval of death. There is also information about pregnancy, smoking and if an autopsy was performed. Finally, it asks if an injury occurred and requires all available information about the injury. The only persons that are permitted to pronounce death are registered nurses (RN), certified nurse practitioners (CRNP), physicians and coroners.
    • Registrar of Death: The registrar of death signs the last section of the death certificate and submits it to the PA Vital Records.
  • What is a registrar?

    A registrar is an official delegated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health - Division of Vital Records to process and handle death certificates. It is their job to verify the information contained in the death certificate is completed correctly and accurately and they then sign and have the ability to issue certified copies of the original. It is the responsibility of the local registrar to submit the original completed death certificate to Vital Records within 90 days. Once the original is forwarded to Vital Records, it remains there as a permanent record.

  • How many death certificate copies will I need?

    In most cases, it is necessary to provide a copy of a certified death certificate when you are submitting claim forms and completing paperwork. Parthemore Funeral Home will obtain the initial copies of the death certificate for you. The checklist below will help you determine how many copies of the death certificate you may need.


    Death Certificate Checklist

    • Register of Wills
    • Social Security
    • Medicare / Medicaid
    • Veteran’s Benefits
    • Pension & Retirement
    • Life Insurance (one copy needed for each policy)
    • Health Insurance
    • Credit Cards (one copy needed for each account)
    • Personal Loans
    • Home Mortgage
    • Bank Accounts (one copy needed for each banking institution)
    • Safe Deposit
    • Financial Investments
    • Department of Motor Vehicles
    • Real Estate Deeds
    • State Revenue Department
    • Internal Revenue Service

    Please note that not all of these items will apply to your particular circumstance. For example, Parthemore Funeral Home notifies Social Security of the death. The only time you should need a death certificate for Social Security is if there is a dependent child.

  • What if I need more copies?

    As you begin the process of working through the legal and personal documents of your loved one, you may find that you need additional copies of the death certificate. There are several ways you can get additional copies. You can contact Parthemore Funeral Home to obtain additional copies within 90 days of the date of death. Copies requested after 90 days must be processed by Vital Records in New Castle, PA. You can also order copies of the death certificate online at https://www.health.pa.gov or https://mycertificates.health.pa.gov.

  • How much do death certificates cost?

    All fees for death certificates are established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and paid directly to them. Currently, the standard death certificate fee is $20, along with a processing fee. This fee may be waived for records of individuals who served in the Armed Forces and their dependents.

  • Is the fee for a death certificate waived for military personnel?

    Yes. This fee may be waived for records of individuals who served in the Armed Forces and their dependents.

  • What is a short certificate?

    A short certificate is issued by the Register of Wills and states that a personal representative has been appointed and sworn in to administer an estate. The short certificate identifies who the executor of the estate is if there is a valid will, or who the administrator of the estate is if there is no valid will.


    A short certificate is not required in every instance that you need death certificate. Generally speaking, a short certificate is required to transfer assets and accounts that were titled in the decedent’s name at the time of their death. These are accounts that do not provide for transfer to a designated beneficiary upon death.


    Short certificates can be obtained in any number, at any time, for a modest charge. How many short certificates are needed will depend on how many accounts the decedent owned in their name that requires an executor or administrator to be appointed by the Register of Wills to transfer title to the account.


    Estate administration is a complicated matter. It is always wise to consult with an attorney who is experienced in estate administration matters.


    You will need to take the following items with you to obtain a short certificate:

    • Original copy of the deceased’s will
    • The witnesses that signed the will (when able)
    • 1 certified copy of the death certificate
    • Short certificates currently cost $6.00 (Dauphin County), $5.00 (Cumberland County), $3.00 (Perry County), and $5.00 (York County)

    We recommend that you call the Register of Wills before going to their offices to be sure you have all the necessary paperwork. Local county offices for short certificates:


    Dauphin County

    Dauphin County Courthouse

    1st Floor – Room 103

    101 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17101

    Phone: (717) 780-6500 | Fax: (717) 780-6474

    www.dauphincounty.org


    Cumberland County

    Cumberland County Courthouse

    1 Courthouse Square, Room 102 | Carlisle, PA 17013

    Phone: (717) 240-6345 | Fax: (717) 240-7797

    www.ccpa.net


    Perry County

    Perry County Courthouse

    2 East Main Street | New Bloomfield, PA 17068

    Phone: (717) 582-2131 | Fax: (717)582-5149

    www.perryco.org


    York County

    York County Judicial Center

    Second Floor

    45 North George Street | York, PA 17401

    Phone: (717) 771-9607 Fax: (717) 771-4678

    www.yorkcountypa.gov

Social Security

  • Who is eligible for social security benefits?

    To receive monthly benefits, the deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death. Those eligible for monthly benefits include:


    • A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) or at any age if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
    • A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
    • Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full-time).
    • Children who were disabled before reaching 22 as long as they remained disabled.
    • Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.
  • What is a lump-sum death payment?

    A one-time payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:


    • A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased person at the time of death.
    • A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
    • A child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
  • How do you apply for social security benefits?

    You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply at any Social Security office, by telephone at 1-800-772-1213, or online at www.ssa.gov.

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