Sec. 42-203. Disposition of funds held in escrow. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 42-203. Disposition of funds held in escrow. Funds held in an escrow account in accordance with the provisions of a funeral service contract shall remain intact unless such funds are commingled in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f) of section 42-202 or the purchaser of funeral services, property or merchandise defaults in making payments required under the terms of the contract, as provided in subsection (e) of section 42-202 or until the services contracted for have been performed or the contracted for property or merchandise has been delivered. Upon submission to the escrow agent, by the funeral service establishment, of proof that the services, personal property and merchandise contracted for have been fully performed or delivered, the escrow agent shall pay to such funeral service establishment the amounts deposited therein pursuant to such funeral service contract, and all income earned thereon and retained in the escrow account. If, for any reason, the funeral service establishment which has entered into a funeral service contract for the sale of services, personal property, or merchandise and which has deposited the funds into an escrow account in accordance with the provisions of sections 42-200 to 42-206, inclusive, fails to meet its obligation under such contract promptly after the death of the person to be benefited, the family, the next of kin, or the legal representative of the deceased person, having provided for such services, personal property or merchandise on behalf of the deceased person, may receive from the escrow agent the amount of money in such escrow account. An affidavit which states that services have been performed or property delivered, signed by a member of the family, next of kin, or legal representative of the deceased, and by the funeral service establishment which has provided such services, personal property or merchandise, and which is delivered to the escrow agent shall be sufficient to authorize an escrow agent, acting alone, to make such payment without liability to the person making the deposit of such money into the escrow account or to any other person. Nothing contained in this section shall relieve the funeral service establishment of its liability for nonperformance.

      (P.A. 85-376, S. 4; P.A. 88-364, S. 55, 123; P.A. 90-46, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 88-364 changed incorrect references to "this section" to references to Sec. 42-202; P.A. 90-46 amended section to require that only one escrow agent, rather than two, be named to administer escrow accounts established pursuant to funeral service contracts.