The Florida Senate

497.459  Cancellation of, or default on, preneed contracts.--

(1)  CANCELLATION BY CUSTOMER WITHIN 30 DAYS.--A purchaser, by providing written notice to the preneed licensee, may cancel a preneed contract within 30 days of the date that the contract was executed provided that the burial rights, merchandise and services have not yet been used. Upon providing such notice, the purchaser shall be entitled to a complete refund of the amount paid, except for the amount allocable to any burial rights, merchandise or services that have been used, and shall be released from all obligations under the contract. This subsection shall apply to all items that are purchased as part of a preneed contract, including burial rights, regardless of whether such burial rights are purchased as part of a preneed contract or purchased separately.

(2)  CANCELLATION BY PURCHASER AFTER 30 DAYS.--

(a)  A purchaser, by providing written notice to the preneed licensee, may cancel the services, facilities, and cash advance items portions of a preneed contract at any time, and shall be entitled to a full refund of the purchase price allocable to such items. Any accumulated earnings allocable to such preneed contract shall be paid to the preneed licensee upon such cancellation.

(b)  Subject to subparagraphs 1. and 2., a purchaser may cancel the merchandise portion of a preneed contract by providing written notice to the preneed licensee, and shall be entitled to a full refund of the purchase price allocable to the specific item or items of merchandise that the preneed licensee cannot or does not deliver in accordance with this subsection.

1.  Such refund shall be provided only if at the time that the preneed licensee is required to fulfill its obligations under the preneed contract the preneed licensee does not or cannot comply with the terms of the contract by actually delivering the merchandise, within a reasonable time, depending upon the nature of the merchandise purchased, after having been requested to do so.

2.  In order to fulfill its obligations under the preneed contract, a preneed licensee may elect either or both of the following options:

a.  Subcontract with a person located outside the preneed licensee's market area to provide the merchandise; or

b.  Provide other items of equal or greater quality.

(3)  REQUIRED DISCLOSURE.--Each preneed licensee shall provide in conspicuous type in its contract that the contract purchaser may cancel the contract and receive a full refund within 30 days of the date of execution of the contract. The failure to make such provision shall not impair the contract purchaser's right to cancellation and refund as provided in this section.

(4)  BREACH OF CONTRACT BY SELLER.--Upon breach of contract or failure of the preneed licensee to provide funeral merchandise or services under a preneed contract, the contract purchaser shall be entitled to a refund of all money paid on the contract. Such refund shall be made within 30 days after receipt by the preneed licensee of the contract purchaser's written request for refund.

(5)  DEFAULT BY PURCHASER.--If a purchaser is 90 days past due in making payments on a preneed contract, the contract shall be considered to be in default, and the preneed licensee shall be entitled to cancel the contract, withdraw all funds in trust allocable to merchandise items, and retain such funds as liquidated damages. Upon making such withdrawal, the preneed licensee shall return all funds in trust allocable to services, facilities, or cash advance items to the purchaser, provided that the preneed licensee has provided the purchaser with 30 days' written notice of its intention to exercise any of its rights under this provision. The board may by rule specify the required format and content of the notice required under this subsection and the manner in which the notice shall be sent.

(6)  OTHER PROVISIONS.--

(a)  All preneed contracts are cancelable and revocable as provided in this section, provided that a preneed contract does not restrict any contract purchaser who is a qualified applicant for, or a recipient of, supplemental security income, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid from making her or his contract irrevocable.

(b)  The amounts required to be refunded by this section for contracts previously entered into shall be as follows:

1.  For contracts entered into before October 1, 1993, the refund amounts as amended by s. 7, chapter 83-316, Laws of Florida, shall apply.

2.  For contracts entered into on or after October 1, 1993, the refund amounts as amended by s. 99, chapter 93-399, Laws of Florida, shall apply.

(c)  Persons who purchase merchandise or burial rights pursuant to this chapter shall have the right to sell, alienate, or otherwise transfer the merchandise or burial rights subject to and in accordance with rules adopted by the licensing authority.

(d)  All refunds required to be made under this section to a purchaser who has canceled a contract must be made within 30 days after the date written notice of cancellation is received by the preneed licensee.

History.--s. 8, ch. 28211, 1953; s. 10, ch. 65-393; s. 6, ch. 77-438; s. 1, ch. 78-276; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 2, ch. 82-159; ss. 7, 31, 32, 33, ch. 83-316; s. 10, ch. 88-139; ss. 99, 122, ch. 93-399; s. 105, ch. 96-175; s. 23, ch. 96-400; s. 1150, ch. 97-103; s. 151, ch. 2000-165; s. 108, ch. 2004-301; s. 60, ch. 2006-1.

Note.--Former s. 639.13; s. 497.419.