Where to Purchase an Irrevocable Funeral Trust
You cannot buy an irrevocable funeral trust online. You buy it through a licensed insurance agent, by phone or in person. This page shows you where to buy one, who can set it up, what to have ready, and each step from the first call to the finished paperwork.
Where You Can Buy an Irrevocable Funeral Trust
Most families use one of three routes.
A licensed insurance agent
I set up trusts through two highly rated insurance companies. Your money goes into a whole life policy that the trust owns, so it is locked in for your funeral. The trust is portable, so your plan moves with you if you change states.
A funeral home
Many funeral homes sell prepaid plans. A plan bought through one funeral home may be tied to that funeral home. Ask whether the plan is irrevocable before you pay, because a revocable plan still counts for Medicaid.
A referral from an elder law attorney
If you work with an elder law attorney on Medicaid planning, they may send you to an agent for the funeral trust. I work alongside your attorney so the trust fits the rest of your plan.
Who Can Set Up an Irrevocable Funeral Trust
Anyone can qualify. There are no health questions, so age or a nursing home stay does not stop you.
You can set up a trust for yourself. Married couples can set up one for each spouse.
Adult children often start the process for a parent. If your parent can no longer sign, the person named in their financial power of attorney may be able to sign for them, depending on your state. We confirm this on our call.
How to Set Up an Irrevocable Funeral Trust in 5 Steps
1
Book a free call
Pick a time on my calendar or call 402-769-2485.
2
Review your state's rules
We go over your state's funeral trust limit and your Medicaid timeline.
3
Price the funeral
We look at what a funeral costs where you live. In Iowa, a trust over $13,125 needs an itemized list of funeral costs from a funeral home.
4
Sign and fund
We complete the application together by phone or in person, and you fund the trust from savings or another account.
5
Keep your copies
Store the trust paperwork with your other Medicaid documents. You will need it later.
What to Have Ready for Your Call
The name, date of birth, and state of the person the trust is for.
A rough total of savings and the timeline for Medicaid, if you know it.
A price list from a funeral home, if you have one.
A copy of the financial power of attorney, if you are signing for a parent.
Details on any prepaid funeral plan or burial life insurance already in place.
You do not need all of this to book. We can sort it out on the call.
How Much to Put in a Funeral Trust
Fund the trust to match the cost of the funeral, within your state's limit. Nebraska allows up to $6,696. Most states allow $15,000 or less.
Do not overfund it. Money above the cost of the funeral can be treated as a gift, and gifts during the five-year look-back period can delay Medicaid. Learn more about how Medicaid treats a funeral trust.
After You Buy
Keep the trust documents where your family can find them. Tell the person who will handle your arrangements where they are.
If you apply for Medicaid, the application asks about large moves of money. Include your funeral trust paperwork to show where the money went. That helps the caseworker see the money went to an allowed purchase.
Why Families Buy Through Me
I am a licensed insurance agent who works with families going through a Medicaid spend down. I offer funeral trusts in 48 states, every state except Michigan and New York. If you live in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area, we can meet in person. Everywhere else, we work by phone.
Buying a Funeral Trust FAQs
Can I buy an irrevocable funeral trust online?
No. Every plan is set up by phone or in person with a licensed agent.
Can I set up a funeral trust for my parent?
Yes. You can start the process. Your parent signs the paperwork, or in many states, the person named in their financial power of attorney.
Do I need a funeral home before I buy?
Not to get started. A funeral home price list helps us set the right amount, and Iowa requires an itemized list for trusts over $13,125.
How much should I put in a funeral trust?
Enough to cover the funeral, and no more than your state allows. Most states allow $15,000 or less.
Which states can I buy a funeral trust in?
Every state except Michigan and New York.
Start Your Funeral Trust Today
One call covers your state's limit, your funeral costs, and the paperwork. There is no cost and no obligation.
Funeral Trust Gal is part of the Aging Parent Resource Center.
Sara Guida is a licensed insurance agent, not an attorney, and does not represent any state Medicaid agency. Content on this site is general education, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid rules and funeral trust limits vary by state.