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Memorial Plan

Peace of mind The memorial plan What's the cost About choice Security of payment When to purchase Tax and asset testing

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Peace of Mind

Have you considered the option of pre-purchasing your own or your family memorial ?. Many New Zealanders have found there are financial advantages when choosing to do so and that their personal wishes will be carried out. Planning now means relieving your family or close partner of a future financial burden and also the need to make a difficult decision in often emotional circumstances.

The Memorial Plan

The pre-purchase memorial plan makes it possible for people to decide now about the type of memorial they want. This applies equally regardless of a personal choice for burial or cremation.

The plan offers the following choices:

• pre-purchase of a headstone memorial or plaque
• pre-purchase of the additional memorial inscription for surviving partner or family member
• pre-purchase of a future memorial clean and inscription upgrade
• pre-purchase of a regular term memorial clean and inscription upgrade, based on earnings from a lump sum deposit

What is the cost

Depending on the type of memorial chosen, the cost will be different for each client purchasing the plan. Some memorials are simple and inexpensive, others can be detailed which will require special manufacture and will therefore cost more. Your Monumental Mason is experienced in helping client's choose the type of material, design finish and appropriate inscription that best suits you.

About Choice

The regulations and by-laws for cemeteries do vary considerably. There is often a number of options for memorials, particularly cremation memorials. Your Monumental Mason has this information and will advise you on the various choices available.

Security of payment

Your pre-payment cheque is made out in the name  of the New Zealand Master Monumental Masons' Association. The payment is then lodged in a trust account operated by the Association's banking group. A Certificate of participation in the plan, with full details of the clients deposit record is issued to the purchaser. Funds are only released to the arranging Monumental Mason, when a memorial is installed, additional inscription completed, or following the maturity dates for memorial clean and inscription upgrade, when this option is purchased by the client.

When should I Purchase

Arrange now to visit you local Monumental Mason to discuss and understand more about the Memorial plan. Pre-purchasing your memorial at current prices is a responsible way to show consideration to your family and completes the process of funeral planning.

• ensure your special wishes are recorded and have a permanent memorial to remind following generations of your special place in life
• choose the memorial, the inscription and decorative features you wish to be remembered by
• relieve your family of the financial burden
• be comfortable in the knowledge that your funds are held secure by a bank
• know the plan is portable and can be transferred elsewhere in New Zealand, where another member of the Master  Monumental Masons' Association can complete the work
• where the option is purchased, know your memorial will be cleaned at a set time

Taxation Liabilities and Asset testing

Taxation Liabilities will be met by the Bank with deductions on interest earned. Under current government legislation, pre-purchased memorials are excluded from asset testing when assessing eligibility for long term residential care for the elderly.

NZMMMA Inc National Office
P.O. Box 4027, Mid Avenue, Wanganui, 4541, New Zealand

Fax: +64-6-343-1311
Web: www.headstones.org.nz   E-mail: info@headstones.org.nz

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