PUXICO — Right now, nobody knows how many contracts with Morgan-Sifford Funeral home exist, how much money is outstanding, or where the money is at.
Some time ago, Morgan-Sifford lost its license but continued to perform and sell funeral services. The funeral home has since been shut down, and the owner has passed away, but there’s a concerning lack of a paper trail for many customers.
Additionally, many now need to move services to a new funeral home of their choice, but that new funeral home is under no legal obligation to honor any Morgan-Sifford contracts.
A crowd of about three dozen people attended a meeting in Puxico on Thursday trying to figure out what, if any, options they have.
“We don’t know where all the money is at or where it has been placed,” Greg Mathis of Mathis Funeral Home said.
Because Morgan-Sifford was operating without a license, the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors has no authority to gather records and wasn’t performing regular audits. Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver is aware of the issue and was in attendance. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office, as well as the Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance, have been informed of the fraud. Still, before any legal direction can be pursued, they need to understand the scope of the issue.
Those at the meeting were advised to make photocopies of all contracts, receipts or proof of purchase and take those to either their new funeral home of choice or the Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney’s office
“This information needs to be compiled because right now, nobody has it,” said Jim Sanders of White-Sanders Funeral Home.
In a statement, the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors advised those who purchased a preneed contract from Morgan-Sifford to reach out to local banks and ask if there is a joint account in your name with Morgan-Sifford. If there is, ask what the process is to transfer the money.
However, if the money was pocketed, things become more difficult likely would have to be resolved legally.
If you cannot locate your money, you should contact the Missouri Attorney General’s office. Its Consumer Complaint Form can be filled out online or mailed in. Those attending Thursday’s meeting were also given copies of the form, and the packet handed out stated your new funeral home of choice would be more than happy to assist you.
You can take a copy of your contract to the Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, and he can tell you what direction he can or cannot take.
“Nobody is going to come in and do this for you. You’re going to have to take the initiative and do it yourself,” Mathis said.
Another concern is someone dying before getting their money back. Mathis said in a few instances already, Morgan-Sifford customers have come to him with their contract, and then he enters into two new contracts, one for funeral services and another saying that if your contract is reimbursed after you die, that money goes to him.
The other two types of contracts issued by Morgan-Sifford were them being made the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, and National Prearranged Service Contracts.
If you named Morgan-Sifford as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy, you can call your life insurance company, give customer service your policy number and tell them that you need the necessary paperwork to designate another entity as your beneficiary.
If Morgan-Sifford is an irrevocable beneficiary, then ask your insurance company to provide you with the insurance company’s policy on making a beneficiary change when the business is no longer active. If your insurance company cannot help, you may file a complaint with the Missouri Division of Insurance. That form was also provided by the funeral homes to those in attendance at Thursday’s meeting.
In the case of a National Prearranged Service Contract, you need to go to the funeral home of your choice with your contract and see if you can work out an agreement to service your contract. Because the new funeral home is under no legal obligation to honor your contract, concessions by both parties may be needed to reach an agreement.
With your new contract, call the Capitol Life Insurance Company and tell them Morgan-Sifford has ceased doing business and you need the necessary forms to go to the funeral home of your choice, and the new funeral home will assist you in completing the forms.
“It is extremely important that you have something in place with another funeral home prior to the death of the contract holder,” said an informational sheet given out at Thursday’s meeting.