Selling and issuing Preneed Funeral Contracts:

All companies that issue and hold preneed contracts must obtain a Certificate of Authority for each location where it conducts business. Additionally, any individual who wishes to sell preneed contracts must obtain a License to Sell.  A separate License to Sell is required for every location where the individual wishes to sell preneed contracts. Certificates of Authority and Licenses to Sell must be renewed each year before the first day of July.

All businesses that hold preneed contracts are required to submit a Biennial Report detailing the outstanding preneed funeral contracts for the prior two calendar years ending on the thirty-first day of December every other year. These reports must be filed with the Division no later than the thirty-first day of March.

Preneed contracts must be in writing and no form may be used without prior approval of the division. The Preneed Division has created contracts that can be used by all funeral homes and cemeteries and some insurers have contracts approved for use by the WVAGO. Upon the death of the beneficiary, a Report of Death is required to be submitted to the Division. The Division has created an excel file to assist in the completion of Report of Death Forms.

A Preneed Contract may be transferred to another funeral home or cemetery, but a form must be filed with the Preneed Division for tracking purposes.

Below, you will find the applications for a Certificate of Authority, a License to Sell, a Biennial Report template, the WVAGO Preneed Contract templates, the Report of Death Excel File, Transfer Forms, and an information sheet “Avoiding Common Issues When Filing Preneed Forms.”