NJ Virtual Forum: What’s The Role Of A ‘Funeral Agent?’

NEW JERSEY — The following news release comes courtesy of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Northern New Jersey. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

New Jerseyans may now choose a Funeral Agent to ensure that instructions for the disposition of their remains are carried out after death. The Funeral Agent has full legal authority to complete, with the help of funeral or cremation professionals, the end-of-life wishes of a spouse, family member, loved one or friend.

The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Northern New Jersey will host a virtual program on Sunday, May 1, at 2:15 p.m., on “The importance of Designating a Funeral Agent to Carry Out Your End-of-Life Wishes.” The presentation is a how-to guide for having the conversation with loved ones about selecting a Funeral Agent and what the agent is authorized to do.

The Funeral Agent talk will be presented by Warren County Deputy Surrogate Thomas K. Thorp, who will share insights about the Funeral Agent law and the agent’s responsibilities. He will also explain the painful issues that may arise if a person dies without leaving clear plans for disposing of his or her remains.

Admission is free, but preregistration is requested.

FCANNJ members, their guests and the public are invited to attend. There is no charge. Attendees are asked to pre-register by clicking on FCANNJ’s website: https://fcannj.org/.

Thorp will provide the following information about Funeral Agents:

• Brief recap of the Funeral Agent statute in New Jersey
• Advantages of appointing a Funeral Agent
• Importance of making time to share with family, loved ones, or friends, one’s end-of-life arrangements and wishes
• How to download the free form “Appointment of Agent to Control the Funeral and Disposition of Remains” (available from New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs website)
• Quick details about completing the form, where to store (avoid safe deposit boxes), and who should receive copies.

Thorp will also take questions from the audience after the presentation.

Thorp said, “Each year there are stories about families who get into disagreements about a deceased loved one’s funeral, burial, or cremation. The disputes have led family members to sue each other, and they have spent thousands of dollars on legal fees. Eventually, a deputy surrogate rules on how the loved one’s body is disposed.”

The deputy surrogate encourages families to have the conversation about a loved one’s end-of-life plans well before a person dies or becomes chronically ill.

Thomas K. Thorp was admitted to the bar in 1985. He is licensed to practice law in New Jersey. He was in private practice from 1985 to 2011 and has been serving as Warren County Deputy Surrogate since 2011.

The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Northern New Jersey (FCANNJ) is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization, which is unaffiliated with any funeral and cremation providers, burial ground businesses or online advisory companies that counsel families about death and dying. FCANNJ’s mission is to provide objective, end-of-life planning advice that people and families may trust and use to become more astute funeral service consumers. The organization also recommends that families choose end-of-life arrangements that are environmentally sustainable. FCANNJ, which is part of the nationwide Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA), serves communities in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, Warren and parts of Somerset counties. FCA’s New Jersey chapters were founded in the 1960s by volunteers from Montclair, Morristown and Paramus, N.J. More information is available by visiting the organization’s website www.fcannj.org.

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