Legal Definitions - burial insurance

Burial insurance is a type of insurance that covers the cost of a person's funeral, cremation, or other disposal of their remains after they die. It is a type of life insurance where the paid-up capital is used to cover the costs of the funeral services and merchandise.

When someone purchases burial insurance, they become the subscriber. They are the person who buys the insurance contract from an insurance company to ensure that a death benefit is created for their beneficiaries. The insured is the person whose death is insured, and in some cases, the subscriber and the insured can be the same person. The beneficiary is the person who receives the death benefit after the insured person passes away. The insurer is the individual or company who pays the death benefit, and the broker is the intermediary between the insurer and the subscriber when the contract is not marketed directly.

For example, if someone purchases burial insurance and designates their spouse as the beneficiary, the insurance company will pay out a death benefit to the spouse after the insured person passes away. This death benefit can be used to cover the cost of the funeral services and merchandise, such as a casket or urn.

Another example is if someone purchases burial insurance and designates their children as the beneficiaries. After the insured person passes away, the insurance company will pay out a death benefit to the children, who can then use the money to cover the cost of the funeral services and merchandise.