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COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mike Carroll |
  
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To: Editor
From: State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe
RE: Bill could help families with funeral expenses
Sept. 16, 2008
Funerals can be a difficult time for families. In addition to the emotional stress involved, there are also financial considerations. The average cost of today's funerals, including a burial site and monument, ranges from between $10,000 and $12,000.
Often, the deceased's estate isn't settled when the funeral takes place, leaving families scrambling to come up with the money necessary for services and burial. Banks do make funds immediately available for funeral expenses to the decedent's relatives, but the amount has remained the same since 1993, not enough to cover the costs of funerals today.
House Bill 1931, currently in the House Judiciary Committee, would increase the amount banks and financial institutions make immediately available to survivors of deceased account holders for funeral expenses. It would increase the amount from the current $3,500 to $10,000. The bill has received wide bipartisan support in the House and should move out of committee soon.
People grieving the loss of a loved one shouldn't have to face financial hardship and additional mental strain. Allowing families access to enough money to pay for their family member's funeral expenses would help to ease their burden at a very difficult time.
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