Connecticut Funeral Directors Association

To Advance the Profession of Funeral Service in Connecticut through Public Awareness, Education, Advocacy and High Ethical Standards.

Courtesy Discounts by Funeral Homes When Funding Irrevocable Funeral Contracts
Recently, our legal counsel contacted the Dept. of Social Services about a problem several funeral homes were encountering with discounted funerals. Click here to view the correspondence from Atty. John McHugh and the response from the DSS. (members only)

Disclaimer of Warranties in CT
CFDA Attorney John McHugh has researched whether Connecticut Funeral Homes are permitted to disclaim warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or to exclude or modify a consumer’s remedies for breach of those warranties in connection with their sale of funeral goods to Connecticut consumers. Click here for more information and a PDF of the statute. (members only)

Connecticut State Website - http://www.ct.gov

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Have the Talk of a Lifetime. One voice impacting our future.
FAMIC Study of American Attitudes Toward Ritualization and Memorialization

Mission

Five Mile Point Lighthouse, New Haven, CT
Bushnell Park and Connecticut State Capitol
Cove Harbor, Connecticut
Hartford skyline on the Connecticut River

Welcome

Every day, we face new experiences and challenges in funeral service. Some are specific to the business of providing funeral service to the people in our communities. Still more often we find ourselves in a sea of questions about trusts, taxes, marketing and licensing, or the ever-changing requisites for employees, their insurance, their rights and their responsibilities. These solutions and their resources are the business of CFDA.

Browse our website for the latest information relating to funeral service in Connecticut. If you are a funeral service professional, join CFDA now and receive all our member benefits.

What’s New !

CFDA Collects for Operation ELF & Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Toy Closet Program

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September/October
The Associate
Exclusively on the Website
(members only)

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CFDA 2023 Legislative Summary
Prepared by
Michael Dugan & Liz Connelly
July 11, 2023
(members only)

June 2023 Legal Update
By Jennifer L. DiBella, Esq.
CFDA Legal Counsel
June 1, 2023

Elizabeth Frugale has offered this comprehensive explanation of the EDRS System presented at the 2022 December Annual Meeting of CFDA.
Please Review (members only)

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2023 Annual OSHA Training Web Series.
Register Your Funeral Establishment Today!
There are 6 sessions to choose from!
Download PDF

CFDA 2023 Membership Directory
Download PDF
(members only)

CFDA 2022 Legislative Summary (members only)

Is Your Website ADA Compliant?
Find out here (members only)

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Cremation Permit (Part IV: Pre-Authorized Cremation) (members only)

Guidelines for Record Keeping and Retention
(members only)

Authority of Guardians and Conservators with respect to Pre-need Funeral Contracts
(members only)

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January 2023
Download the Value Worksheet PDF

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Power of Attorney and Conservator Questions
Recently the question was asked whether an agent acting under a durable power of attorney has the authority to execute an advance directive on behalf of his/her principal giving a person disposition rights for such person and directing the manner of disposition.

For a summary and the relevant statutes members only may go to the Legal Section of the Resource Guide for the following links:

Decedents’ Estates
Summary of An Act Concerning the Duties of a Conservator and other Persons Authorized to Make Decisions Relating to the Care and Disposition of a Deceased Person’s Body
General Authority with Respect to Personal and Family Maintenance
Protected Persons and Their Property

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COVID-19 the Reference Library (members only)

FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program - What You Should Know
Click here

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Updated Army Military Request & State Firing Party Request Forms
The Connecticut Army Military Funeral Honors & Connecticut Firing Party request forms have been updated to version 4. Starting October 15, 2020 all previous versions are obsolete. The new versions can be completed digitally and emailed to
ctarng.mfh@gmail.com. The Army Military Funeral Honors program is moving away from fax machine requests. Any questions contact the Army Office at 203-568-1741.

To Download the Updated:
U.S. Army Military Funeral Honors Request (effective April 1, 2020) (members only)

To Download the Updated:
Connecticut Firing Party Request (other than Army) (Effective April 1, 2020) (members only)

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How To Package and Ship Cremated Remains
Download PDF

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CFDA Career in Funeral
Services Flyer
Download PDF

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Funeral Trusts and Contracts NEW 2020
Funeral Trusts & Contracts:
Regarding Medicaid & Title 19

To Order printed copies from CFDA.
Brochure Pricing.

Click here for brochure in English.
Click here for brochure in Spanish.

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CFDA Membership Alert
Effective January 1, 2020, all pre-need irrevocable funeral service contracts must set forth a statutory notice regarding the disposition of unused funds following performance of the contract. The statutory language can either be included directly in the irrevocable contract, or placed on a separate page and incorporated into the contract. A sample form is provided for your review.

NEW 2020 (September 2020)
Amendment to Prepaid Irrevocable
Pre-Need Funeral Contract

New Connecticut Sexual Harassment Laws
Public Act 19-16 Explained
Download PDF

House Bill No.7424
Public Act No. 19-117
An act concerning the state budget for the biennium ending June 30, 2021, and making appropriations therefor, and provisions related to revenue and other item to implement the state budget. Download PDF

New Form: Authorization and Indemnification Agreement
Please use this to simplify questions when working with a client family regarding SB 467 An Act Concerning the Custody and Control of a Decedent's Body. - Download PDF

New Form: Cremation Fee Waiver Request for Indigent Decedents - Download PDF

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Mortuary Science Students Scholarship Awards
Click here for more information.

Connecticut Department of Public Health issues a Revised Certificate of Fetal Death
View a sample copy of the form that has been sent to all birthing hospitals and to the Medical Examiners office. Although the form is revised, the process for completing, filing and issuing the document has not. It still remains a paper-based process.

DSS Reimbursement for Indigent Funerals
An explanation from CFDA Attorney John P. McHugh - Click here for more info (members)

OCME Offers Death Certification Tips
Tips to Assist in Keeping Connecticut Vital Statistics Accurate - Download PDF

Q&A on New White Collar Exemption Rule
by T. Scott Gilligan, NFDA General Counsel
Download PDF

The Most Common Financial Mistakes People Can Make When They Lose A Loved One View here

CT State Veterans Cemetery Updated Form
Required for Veterans Burial - Download PDF

Read additional CFDA News! >>

Members Resource Guide
Click here (members only)

Youth and Funeral Resources.
eBook in English • eBook in Spanish

The Funeral Service Foundation

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Thank You Funeral Directors During the Pandemic

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A Message from
The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association

We are honored to serve our neighbors in Connecticut, and to support them every day by helping families and friends celebrate the lives of people they love.

Our members' commitment is to continue to serve our state's communities and remain strong as we work together. The only way we can effectively face the future, with unforeseen and ever-changing health crises, looming financial uncertainties, and cultural changes is with RESPECT. Also KINDNESS and a healthy dose of FLEXIBILITY. We continue to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and stand ready to help plan personal and meaningful visitations, funerals and memorials, regardless of the individual's cause of death.

Our intent is to provide a safe, healthy environment where people can grieve and visit with each other.

I came upon a quote by an unknown (at least to me) scribe that reads, "The beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people." We are in the business of showing the world, one family at a time, a measure of beauty and respect with every call we receive.

We look forward to a safe return in 2023 and more normal operational environment as the vaccine is distributed and our community is able to regain more control over the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 and its variants.

On behalf of the entire team at CFDA, thank you for your support and for the trust you have placed in us to keep you and your families safe during such a difficult time.