§ 42-203 — Disposition of funds held in escrow.

(a) Funds held in an escrow account in accordance with the provisions of a funeral service contract shall remain intact unless such funds are commingled in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f) of section 42-202 or the purchaser of funeral services, property or merchandise defaults in making payments required under the terms of the contract, as provided in subsection (e) of section 42-202, or until the services contracted for have been performed or the contracted for property or merchandise has been delivered. Upon submission to the escrow agent, by the funeral service establishment, of proof that the services, personal property and merchandise contracted for have been fully performed or delivered, the escrow agent shall pay to such funeral service establishment the amounts deposited therein pursuant to such funeral service contract, and all income earned thereon and retained in the escrow account. If, for any reason, the funeral service establishment that has entered into a funeral service contract for the sale of services, personal property, or merchandise and that has deposited the funds into an escrow account in accordance with the provisions of sections 42-200 to 42-206, inclusive, fails to meet its obligation under such contract promptly after the death of the person to be benefited, the family, the next of kin, or the legal representative of the deceased person, having provided for such services, personal property or merchandise on behalf of the deceased person, may receive from the escrow agent the amount of money in such escrow account. An affidavit that states that services have been performed or property delivered, signed by a member of the family, next of kin, or legal representative of the deceased, and by the funeral service establishment that has provided such services, personal property or merchandise, and that is delivered to the escrow agent shall be sufficient to authorize an escrow agent, acting alone, to make such payment without liability to the person making the deposit of such money into the escrow account or to any other person. Nothing contained in this section shall relieve the funeral service establishment of its liability for nonperformance. (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a funeral service contract funded through an assignment of a death benefit payable under an individual or group life insurance policy.

Legislative History

(P.A. 85-376, S. 4; P.A. 88-364, S. 55, 123; P.A. 90-46, S. 2; P.A. 12-36, S. 5.) History: P.A. 88-364 changed incorrect references to “this section” to references to Sec. 42-202; P.A. 90-46 amended section to require that only one escrow agent, rather than two, be named to administer escrow accounts established pursuant to funeral service contracts; P.A. 12-36 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and made technical changes therein and added Subsec. (b) re provisions not applicable to contracts funded through assignment of a death benefit, effective May 14, 2012.